Gloria J Zucaro's "Just A Few"

Today my oil painting is of a crocus and other small Spring flowers nearby.  Even though our weather is very chilly and gray and rainy, I see some of my tulip bulbs have started to emerge.  My painting is from a photograph by Lee Brown the host at A Day Not Wasted and is the challenge photo for April.  I am also submitting to the Daily Paintworks challenge of "Market Day" which is our interpretation of flowers, fruit, people and tents.  Carol Marine offered a photo from her visit to a San Francisco market.  I chose to concentrate on one flower grouping instead of a whole scene.  I am also linking to Paint Party Friday.  All of these sites have wonderful artwork, so take a look!

10"H x 8"W on Board

Auction at Daily Paintworks for one week.  $75. plus $10. S&H in US.  Other countries email me 

Yesterday I worked on my class lessons from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer about using deli wax paper in collage and art journals.  I drew small flowers and shrunk them even smaller on my printer to use inside of some umbrellas for my Artist Trading Cards this coming weekend.

Here I was testing all my supplies on the waxy side of the paper to see how they reacted on the slick surface.  I wrote the name of each pen or pencil, paint or stamp pad.  Below I repeated each mark on the dull side.  After I finished that, I used tape to run my wax paper through my printer, copying off small drawings  and altered famous paintings covered with sketches or stencils.  Click on photos to enlarge.

If you love all sorts of mixed mediums and journaling or fabric art, please visit Julie's site.  She has all sorts of on-line classes to pick from.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Coastal Light"

Today my oil painting is linked to "A Day Not Wasted" .   The March challenge from professional photographer Lee A Brown is a photograph he took while he and his wife were traveling along the Northern Coast of Ireland.  
I am also linking to The Hoffman Estates Art League.  The president of the League, Sharron Boxenbaum has challenged us to paint with a limited palette of red, blue, yellow and white for our March 6th meeting.  I picked Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Cad Yellow Light and Ultramarine Blue for this painting. 

10" Square Oil on Artist Quality Canvas Panel

$100.00 plus S&H

Click on image to enlarge.

My third link is to the Daily Paintworks challenge for the week of "The Bright Path Challenge".    We are to visualize that which inspires us.  I like the picture I chose for several reasons.  I love the coast with its' panoramic view, its' intense sunlight on the sides of the Church which seems symbolic, the bucolic view of the fields surrounding the old churchyard, the peacefulness of  the whole area.  These are things that feed my soul.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Swiss Cream"

8"H x 10"W Oil on board

Click on image for more detail.

$65.00 starting bid on Daily Paintworks auction.

http://dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/72372

This cow, which was so much fun to paint is my entry for the A Day Not Wasted hosted by Lee Brown, a fabulous photographer in Monument, Colorado.  Every month, Lee posts one of his photographs for artists to paint or draw in their own style.  This months' entry is the Swiss Alps with this wonderful cow portrait!  You may still submit an entry until September 15th.  Don't you feel like you are Maria Von Trapp when you look at this view?  I loved when Maria sang "The Sound of Music" on the mountain top.  I am also entering this painting for the Paint Party Friday site.  Go see all my artist friends there, who share the art they have been working on for the past week.