Carlo Costantino was born into a life of creativity. The 24-year-old Breckenridge resident is a fourth-generation artist who grew up in Maui, Hawaii, and says he is trying to bring the Costantino’s colorful impressionistic style to the Rocky Mountains. By day, the painter works as an eyewear specialist at Sun Logic in downtown Breckenridge, and he is currently looking for more opportunities to display his pieces in the community.

Summit Daily News: What kind of medium do you use?

Carlo Costantino: My family has used acrylic paint on canvas for generations so I mostly keep to my roots, although I have recently been expanding my horizons with spray paint, oil and pretty much anything colorful I can get my hands on.

SDN: Where could people have seen your art before?

CC: Although I have collectors scattered throughout North America, most of my work has been sold out of Costantino Art, my family’s studio in Maui, Hawaii. Us Costantinos have been creating and selling our art in the islands for over 30 years now.

SDN: How long have you lived in Summit and why did you move here?

CC: I moved to Breckenridge straight from Maui in September of 2011 — boy does time fly. I have always wanted to live in the mountains and growing up on an Island can really make you long for four seasons. I moved here never having been to Colorado, and now I’m quite sure that I may never leave.

SDN: How did you first get into art, and what kind of background do you have in the subject?

CC: From the moment I was born I have been surrounded by artistic and creative people. My papa is a third generation artist and focuses mostly on impressionistic and abstraction painting. My mother is an accomplished realism artist and has recently honed her skill as an impressionist. They never taught me to paint a specific style but instead let me explore my own creativity while giving me tips and tricks along the way.

SDN: What inspires you?

CC: Well, the mountains of course. If I am ever lacking in motivation or inspiration I simply look out my window at behemoth of a rock that is Breckenridge Ski Resort. The colors of nature and the unique way it makes me feel when I am exploring it drive me to attempt to recreate its beauty through paint and canvas.

SDN: What are your other hobbies and interest besides your art?

CC: Skiing, hiking, longboarding, and I have a borderline unhealthy obsession with video games.

SDN: What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

CC: There is no right or wrong way to paint or do anything creative for that matter. The very definition of creative is relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.

The Costantino’s have always said, you can’t mess up your art — just make a mess and fix it.