“I watched my dad wake up and go to work every day of his life,” Vivirito said. “My mom was a homemaker and I saw how hard she worked. So that was instilled in me pretty young.”
A student of art, Vivirito was eventually able to combine his sound work ethic with the creative talents with which he was born. Since he was 19, he had been working for other companies, traveling from Boston, Mass. to Denver, Colo. and building his reputation as an exterior and interior painter. Once he hit his 30s, he decided it was high time to be his own boss.
“I was lucky enough to do it for years, realize my potential and say, ‘Okay, here’s my opportunity to go out on my own and start my own business,” he said. “I’m glad I did it. It was the best move I ever made in my life.”
As with most new business ventures, news spread by word of mouth: Vivirito’s first clients were family and friends. Next, friends of friends and then the cold calls began.
“People are always looking for a good painter,” he said. “It’s a tough thing to come by, it seems.”
Vivirito acknowledged the many top painters across Cazenovia and beyond, and said he’s grateful to compete with the best of the best. He takes pride in the quality work he provides, he said, yet his plans are to rise even higher.
“I want to be the best,” he said. “I want people to say Capricorn when they think of painting.”
Vivirito’s passion lies with interior painting, where there’s room for inspiration and expression. He looks for projects where people may have remodeled and want something special done as a finishing touch.
“That’s what I’m looking for,” he said. “Is that little bit of creativity where these people are creating something for themselves and the paint is really the icing on the cake. [It’s] absolute satisfaction to see the job done and see [clients] smile.”
Any challenges along the way?
“Keeping the schedules straight because I get a lot of demand,” said Vivirito, the sole employee. “It’s lining up people that have the patience [to wait for me] because painting is all about patience. Extreme, utter patience,” he emphasized with a laugh.
He tells people there are 10 steps to painting, with painting being step 10.
“You gotta get through the other nine before you can even put paint up on your walls, interior or exterior,” Vivirito said. “That’s how you determine whether you have a good painter or not, is how much care he’s gonna put into the prep. It’s all in the prep work and if it’s not prepped right, your paint job’s gonna look awful, and that’s really how you gauge a good painter.”
Vivirito enjoys holding consultations with each client prior to starting a project, adding it’s one of the many highlights of being a painter.
“That’s where the magic happens,” he said. “Other than seeing it done is setting it up.”
To see samples of work by Capricorn Painting, just hop online and visit myspace.com/capricornpainting for various faux techniques, stamping and traditional cut and rolls. Contact 655-2910 for more information.
