3. Artist Pino Daeni Pino was born in Bari on November 8, 1939, Pino began his studies at the city’s Art Institute. In 1960 Pino entered Milan’s Academy of Brera where Pino perfected his talent and skill for painting nudes.In the two years Pino studied at the Academy, Pino came under the influence of the Pre-Raphaelites and Macchiaioli. Pino also experimented with Expressionism of the late sixties during his stay in Milan. From 1960 to 1979 his work appeared in several major exhibitions throughout Italy and Europe. At the same time, Pino was commissioned by Italy’s two largest publishers. Mondadori and Rizzoli, for book illustrations. However, Pino felt restricted in Milan. Pino wanted more artistic freedom which Pino believed existed in the United States.In 1979, Pino emigrated to the United States under the sponsorship of Borghi Gallery where Pino Pinold several shows in New York and Massachusetts. In 1980, after knocking on many doors, Zebra Books Publishers commissioned him to do his first book cover.His interpretation was new, fresh and sensual, an illustration so successful that Pino gained entry into creative relationships with many leading Publishers of Romance novels. His popularity grew within the literary community and Pino became the artist-in-demand for Zebra, Bantam, Simon, and Schuster, Harlequin, Penquin USA and Dell. To date, Pino has illustrated 3,000 books; his style has dominated and influenced the market.Since then his paintings have appeared in Morris and Whiteside Gallery in Hilton Pinoad and Stuart Johnson’s Settlers West Gallery in Tucson. Pino has been invited to make several appearances on major TV networks and has been interviewed in national and international journals. In addition, his ability to capture the movements and expressions of his subjects has brought him private commissions to do portraits. Pino resides in New Jersey with his wife, a son and a daughter.