Giovanna Bonasso, owner of Flutterby Creative, has sold her art in the forms of landscape photography, block prints and ceramics from Hawaiʻi for about three years.
The Salt Lake resident moved from Hawaiʻi Island to Oʻahu roughly two years ago, taking on a daytime gig as a nurse for the Queenʻs Health Systems.
When asked about the origin of her business, Bonasso told Aloha State Daily the name honors her mom, who was an artist and musician, as well as the various mediums to create something new.
“I always loved butterflies growing up [in West Virginia],” she recalled. “My mom and I were really close when I was younger, and I have a memory of us sitting outside talking and she said, ʻI think butterflies got its name wrong, because itʻs actually supposed to be something that flutters by.ʻ
"I feel like I got my creative side from her.”
Flutterby Creative “features handmade block prints and pottery inspired by nature, made for the adventurous spirit,” its website notes.
Bonasso added, “My target audience has been women who find beauty in small things, in nature, and who have appreciation for one-of-a-kind pieces that speak to their soul. The person that is wild, creative, care-free, feminine, etc. Those are my people.”
On the business side, she shared that some of her initial challenges were waitlists for existing pottery studios and a three-month delivery time for a wheel, which she stores at home. “On the Mainland, if you order or buy a wheel, it usually takes two to three weeks, so just trying to get supplies out here took months longer than on average.”
In the interim, she worked at fishcake in Kakaʻako, and said, “that place was absolutely amazing.” Now, her wheel-work and block prints are done by hand in her condo, although she does drive into town to use a kiln. “I transport upwards of 20 pieces at a time in my car, and I probably go back and forth every two weeks.”
Though the roots of the business was photography, Bonasso said right now, her favorite art style is pottery. “Something about getting your hands dirty, I really love. And also, specifically with pottery, you have to be so focused. It’s a way to disconnect from whatever is going on at home, work, or outside of the studio. You have to be present, otherwise the piece can get wonky.”
But even if you mold a piece you like, during the glazing process, “nine times out of 10, the kiln decides what it’s going to look like,” she laughed, adding, “It’s all about managing expectations and to let the process happen.”
When picking colors, Bonasso said her inspiration is the Islands; blues found in ocean waves; yellow, purple and green flowers and plants; and sunset pinks and oranges. Her hobbies beyond art include hiking, swimming, camping and backpacking.
"My favorite part about being an artist is making something tangible that you either hang on the wall or use every day,” she said. “[Artists] make something out of nothing, and through their creativity, it comes to life.”
Since pre-school, Bonasso knew she wanted to become an artist, but it was only recently that she started thinking about how to make it a full-time job.
She recently applied for a grant to open her own brick-and-mortar pottery studio. She told ASD, “I would use the funds to rent a studio space here on island, purchase kilns, wheels, clay, glazes, and start my dream,” which she hopes organically, would build a community of creatives and another space to sell locally made products.
"The sky is the limit.”
CONTACT
Flutterby Creative
Giovanna Bonasso, owner
Etsy: picsbygigi.com
Instagram: @flutterbycreative
Website: flutterbycreative.com
Next in-person markets: The Haleʻiwa Town Maker's Market at Waialua Community Association on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ala Moana Center Makerʻs Market on Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
