European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Creative with Candle smoke Story and photos by Robert Leonard Naples Bureau in the hands of master Painter Salvatore Scherma Candle smoke is transformed into medieval scenes of castles Bridges and magnificent  does a Painter create Art with Candle smoke therein lies Scherma s creativity. He uses the finest porcelain plates and then carefully applies smoke from a burning Candle onto the plate. He then uses a variety of pens brushes and other instruments to painstakingly etch scenes onto the plates. This technique is the opposite of what an artist normally does. I work the reverse. I Don t put Black on White. I etch the White out of the Black said Scherma. During the Renaissance hand engraving on pure Silver plates was done by an italian Goldsmith Finiguerra of Florence. In the Early 1900s, an italian Painter Garigliano revived the Art of engraving on plates. Now Scherma has added another dimension to this Craft. Scherma s Zeal for life is reflected in his work. He paints on Canvas and etches on plates his love for people and his Bella Napoli. During world War ii Scherma went to work for the . Army As a forklift Mechanic and was befriended by sgt. Fred Franks. He attributes his knowledge of English to Franks but More importantly he said that Franks gave him a belief in giving More to friendships than just words leaving an impression with him that has lasted for More than 40 years. After two years of working with the army and after Franks went Back to the states Scherma went to work for an italian steel factory As a press operator. He worked for 22 years As an operator and 11 years As the lamination assistant for the Plant. During these years he spent his nights with his first love painting. I slept three hours a night so that i could realize my True ambition to be a better artist he said. It was very difficult making Money As an artist so i had to do it on my own time so that i could support my  in 1978, Scherma was awarded an honorary degree from the san Marco Art Academy of Venice. He received first prize in a 1985 Competition for sacred Art at Buon Italy and has won numerous other awards. Gennaro Cuomo a Friend and artist said Scherma has such a big heart that he must be a Good Painter. He takes the smoke of a Candle and makes a plate Black then out of the darkness he awakens a  a Friend was objecting to the paintings Scherma gave him Ever time they got together and Scherma said it is All i have and As Long As i live Ever time i see you i will give you a piece of  Scherma s plates can be purchased at the Naples Navy Exchange at the naval support activity. There Are two sizes a dessert size plate Sells for $60 and the dinner size Sells for $120. The plates can also be bought on the Economy in Naples at internationale galleria i Lucio Gambardella via Maddaloni Pignotti via Simone Martino and Orefic Ieria Stagno e Pinelli via Solimene Vomero. The Large plates sell for about 350,000 lire $220 and the Small ones for 140,000 lire about $88. During the summer months the Small plates can be bought in Marina do Camerota Saggiomo Piazza san Domenico for about 150,000 lire $95. Salvatore Scherma applies the smoke from a burning Candle to a porcelain plate. The artist then begins to carefully etch a scene on the plate. The finished product a plate with a Beautiful italian landscape. Friday March 14, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13