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- Words Notion Staff
Visual artist and Venice Beach local Claire Salvo on creative process and finding beauty in the objects we discard.
This article was originally published by NeueJournal, an editorial platform from NeueHouse, a private members’ club dedicated to culture, design, and creativity. It is being republished in partnership with NOTION.
Meet Claire Salvo, the visual artist who has gained a devoted following on TikTok and Instagram for her hyperrealistic portraits—often rendered not on canvas but on dollar bills. While her dollar pieces have achieved viral recognition, her larger-scale works expand the medium further, transforming everyday objects — a Dodgers hat, a crumpled In-N-Out wrapper—into striking, intricate art. We spoke to the Venice Beach member about creative process, inspiration, and life as a working artist in LA.
Describe your ideal workspace (both the physical and mental essentials):
Quiet, clean, cozy. Podcast on, admin tasks done (emails, errands, etc).
I never leave the house without:
My little mini rose flavoured chapstick.
What’s a metaphor to describe your creative process?
Herding cats.
Current obsession:
Debbii Dawson
The best part of the work I do is:
Having the freedom to explore ideas and turn them into physical things. Waking up every day and getting to do what I love.
The hardest part of my work is:
Wearing so many hats – while I do have gallery representation in LA (Tappan Collective), I handle a lot of things on my own.
How do you get yourself out of a creative rut?
It’s hard to force, but I’ll try to visit museums or galleries. Seeing other artists’ work usually inspires me to try new things or pull at a new thread.
Who or what artist, piece of work, or movement has most inspired your creativity?
The first artist I remember loving is Chuck Close. His ability to render people so hyperrealistically inspired me to try that too. In recent years, I’ve been really inspired by CJ Hendry. She’s a master of her craft but beyond the work itself, she puts on incredible exhibits in unusual spaces. Her shows make art feel accessible to everyone.
Your dollar bill portraits are incredible and the process videos are just beyond impressive to watch. What inspired the idea for this series? Who was your first portrait?
Cardi B. I tried a bunch of new things early in Covid: food art, ballpoint pen, and painting on bills. I remember watching the WAP video and thinking it would be fun to try and paint her into a dollar.
Where do your ideas typically come from? How do you decide what to create?
For the past few years, I’ve been focusing on consumer packaged goods – things we eat, discard, etc. It started randomly with a McDonald’s fry box I saw on a walk. I was just struck by the brilliance of the red reflecting against the pavement. Sometimes, it’s as random as that. As I’ve spent more and more time exploring the subject, I’ve loved seeing how nostalgic certain brands or packaged foods are for us—the attachments and meanings we assign to disposable things.
Your work spans hyper-realistic portraits on dollar bills, illustrations on Oreos, and massive canvases that can cover the floor. How do you navigate working at such different scales?
Where do you feel most at home? For the most part, my work is relatively small. I think it’s a product of working within a tiny space and also working in so much detail. Even small pieces take a lot of time. I love the bills because I can start and finish one in a single sitting. Larger pieces take weeks or months, so finishing them is satisfying in a different way.
I love the process videos you share on social media. As an analogue artist, what’s your relationship to the digital art world? How if at all does the demand for digital presence add pressure to your creative process?
My practice is so solitary, and I’ve found that being able to share my process online makes it feel social. I also love being able to show people what goes on behind the curtain—how the work is made. I don’t really feel pressure to document and share – it’s a fun part of my process.
How does living in LA influence your art?
I lived in NYC for almost a decade before moving to LA – relative to that experience, LA feels incredibly calm and quiet. In that way, it’s been a great place for me to sit for hours and just draw or paint. I’m not distracted by things going on outside – I’ve been able to invest a lot of time in my work and improve a lot on a technical level.
How has NeueHouse factored into your creative process or daily routine?
As much as I enjoy my studio space, being able to change my environment is so important. Taking my sketchbook or laptop to NeueHouse breaks up my day and helps me refocus.
What does “thinking outside the office” mean to you personally?
Understanding that experiences anywhere can impact and enrich your career or life. There is value in taking breaks, going for walks, spending time with friends, getting out of your space and exploring a new one.
What do you do outside of visual art to recharge or find inspiration?
Get out – I’ll book a trip somewhere random or get in my car and take a day trip somewhere. I also love cooking for friends, having a game night – just spending quality time and having a solid laugh with friends.
Favourite life hack?
If you freeze your liquids, you can carry them through TSA. I’ve brought yogurt, shakes, etc from home and onto planes.
