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Friday, October 26, 2012

Gloria J Zucaro's "Taking the Steps"

Today I am going to show you the first three steps I have taken in making a painting that is larger than what I usually do.  It is also partly from life with a 3-D object(still life) and a fantasy background.  It all started when the president of the Hoffman Estates Art League, Sharron Boxenbaum, suggested to the members that we all try some kind of sculpture for the October meeting.  At first we were all "What"!  We are all painters.  But I had a month to think about it and knew I didn't want to do clay.  So I got out my trusty E-6000 glue that holds together all things of a non-porous nature.  I went into my junk drawer and took out some paper clips, some washer type pieces and a couple of other things, like old Christmas tree ornament hooks and a really heavy screw/nut thing that I thought would be good for a base.  In stages I laid the pieces on top of each other and dumped the glue on areas where the most metal touched.  I came up with a sculpture that is about 3 or 4 inches high.  See below.
At the meeting, everyone showed their sculptures.  Some out of nails, wood, clay, aluminum foil, tree limbs, origami, cardboard.  Someone, Sharron, I believe, suggested I make a painting of my sculpture on a larger canvas than I usually use.  So I took her up on it!  Below is the first drawing on a 24"H x 18"W stretched canvas.
In order to get the 3 inch object up where I could see it, I turned a waste basket upside down, but still needed something taller.  I put a planter on top of the waste basket, and put a cloth over the top.  But my sculpture was so far forward that I didn't get a nice shadow behind it, which was the original idea.  Also even though it really was on the front edge of the upside down pot, it looked peculiar, so I knew I would have to change that.  Then I decided that I would put in a "fantasy" background.  I would have my little junk drawer creation be like a satellite out in space.  But then I remembered another thing you are always supposed to do...ask yourself, "What do I want to say?"  As I thought about it I realised I wanted to point out the vastness of space and the smallness of we humans and my sculpture.  Well, OOPS!  My drawing had the sculpture too large to show the vastness of space and the small sculpture.  So in the end I will do two paintings of the galaxy  This one shows the planets small and the junk drawer satellite large, next it will be reversed. See below.
This is my block in and already I can see that I need to move Saturn, as it is in the "wrong" space as far as composition.  This is my entry for this weeks Paint Party Friday.  Happy PPF and have a great weekend!  Go see what all the PPF artist have done this past week.


32 comments:

  1. wow that is such an exciting project Gloria and you did brilliantly, loving the painting of it as well.
    Happy PPF, Annette x

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  2. So ambitious! The dark colors you used are great. Projects like these are so stressful for me you've don't such a wonderful job. Thanks for sharing!! I'm so excited to see what everyone is up to this week. I love all the inspiration....feeds my soul. Lucky to have you guys!

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  3. Gloria, you are so creative. Both the sculpture and the painting are great.

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  4. Great Challenge Gloria! Very cool seeing your "steps". Happy PPF to you:)

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  5. What an interesting project! Your sculpture is very unusual and creative, and makes unusual and interesting painting! Great job!

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  6. What an interesting project. I have so say, I love that galaxy background in the second painting. Well done. Happy PPF

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  7. WOW! Talk about an unusual challenge for a painter! But you did a fabulous job with the 'stuff' and as far as I'm concerned...both the sketch and painting are WONderful!

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  8. Wow Gloria..this is totally fabulous....beautiful artwork..so intriguing! You are so awesome!the sculpture makes me think of some powerful magnet drawing all these random pieces as one..very cool!
    Victoria

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  9. Wow! is right ~ what a magnificent sculpture then painting ~ very creative ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

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  10. Oh wow Gloria. This is totally awesome. How very creative you are. Absolutely inspiring. I want to do that. I love it!! Thx for sharing. You have inspired me.

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  11. Great study! You could also do a series of photos and make a collage:)!

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  12. this looks like such a challenge and you handled it brilliantly!

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  13. So creative and brave. Happy PPF!

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  14. Gloria,
    What a fun and different challenge!
    Love seeing your process and the wonderful results!
    ♥♥♥
    Happy PPF!!
    Mary
    Mixed-Media Map Art

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  15. Thanks for sharing your process!!A very intriguing project!! Love how you have accomplished the depth in this piece!! Really exciting artwork!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  16. I love the process and paintings. Great idea. I might try this with my class. Could be fun. It will certainly be messy... :D

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  17. looking forward to seeing this develop over the next week or so... it is at that exciting stage at the moment...xx

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  18. This is really amazing! I love how you take on the challenge. :)

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  19. Such a great idea! love the sculpture and the painting!

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  20. I love the sculpture idea. The painting is brilliant. Thanks for the visit. ATC are trading cards and ACEO are cards you sell. I sell them on Ebay. Blessings, Janet PPF

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  22. Oh! original work which is great, I never would have thought of something like this. Saludos

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  23. Great post Gloria. I'm always looking for new abstract ideas--love the idea of using a 3D piece of art (which on it's own is really cool) as the inspiration for your your 2D piece. Looks great already! Happy Paintng! Aimee

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  24. Hello Gloria:) How original this is! I love it. And that of some little things, glue and paint. You are genius!!

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  25. I LOVE your little sculpture and painting, Gloria. Blessings!

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  26. Wonderful Gloria...I like your painting so much ....the way the clips and the nuts and bolts stand there gracefully is amazing truly!

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  27. Wow, this is so intersting and what a great way to do something unexpected. Very, very nice!

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  28. How fun! And how terribly smart of the person who suggested you all try sculpture. I wonder if she had any idea where it would lead you. It lead you all the way out into the solar system!

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  29. Oh wow WHAT a cool concept! And I love that you took on the additional challenge of turning your sculpture into a painting - great work and discoveries, thank you for sharing your process! xoxo

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  30. very fun, and intricate! sculpture is something I've never tried so thanks for sharing!

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  31. Wow, that's quite a challenge, I have never tried that. You did very well!!!

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  32. Interesting sculpture and concept. Both works of art are very well executed.Quite original.

    Happy Halloween
    Annabelle m^..^m ~^..^~

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