GLI Stranimali
Di Paola Pantani
Pantani Arte San Gimignano
Via San Martino 32 53037
San Gimignano Siena
P.Iva 00693890527
+39 3497743726
GLI Stranimali
Di Paola Pantani
Pantani Arte San Gimignano
Via San Martino 32 53037
San Gimignano Siena
P.Iva 00693890527
+39 3497743726
About Me & My Story
Hello! My name is Paola, and I live in San Gimignano, a beautiful town in the heart of Tuscany.
Ever since I was little, I breathed the atmosphere of an artisan workshop, surrounded by paintings, frames, and so many other creations that seemed to come to life like magic from my dad's hands. It was he who passed on to me the true value of handmade things. My father started what would later become our family business through years of hard work—starting as a shop assistant in a local carpentry workshop before striking out on his own.
In the early 1960s, he began producing furniture, later transitioning to picture frames and painting canvases. By the late 70s, he decided to open a gallery with an adjoining workshop in San Gimignano.
After completing our studies, my brothers and I decided to carry on this wonderful work alongside him. They work as artists, creating paintings and artworks, while I manage the administrative, social media, commercial, and public relations side of things.
I discovered the technique of needle felting during the lockdown period. I had always been fascinated by this art form, but I never had the time to fully understand how it worked. Suddenly having time on my hands, I bought my first felting kit online and started working.
From that moment, a marvelous new world opened up to me. It was wonderful because I managed to channel all my negative energy into this craft. Learning wasn't easy at first—it requires immense patience and care, as it's very easy to prick yourself with the needle. It was incredible to discover that so many wonders could emerge from a simple tuft of wool... and with zero waste, since any leftover wool is never thrown away, but always reused.
I started out creating fantastical characters, always connected to the animal kingdom—mice, cats—and when I needed a name for my project, Gli Stranimali (The Whimsical Animals) was born.
My creations are quite varied, though. I also love making realistic animals like dogs, cats, and woodland creatures—the fox is my absolute favorite.
When I work with wool, I feel as though I enter another dimension—a space where tension and negative thoughts fade away, and where I can finally dream and feel like a child again.
All of my pieces are entirely handmade. Every single work is unique; I don't use patterns or templates. Everything springs from my imagination and from the ideas brought to me.
