Gloria J Zucaro's "No More Fish"

Today I am posting my mixed-media project led by instructor Jodi Ohl.  I love Jodi's art and will be taking her "Dirty Birds" on-line course starting January 20.  Anyway, Jodi is one of the artists with Creative Jumpstart 2016 who is demonstrating to us her project inspired by Jean Mikel Basquiat.  I had a lot of fun with this the last couple of days, fitting it in around dentist's appointments and other LIFE interruptions! I was at Hobby Lobby and they were having a 50% off sale on wall decor.  I found two box like art pieces and got them each for 10.00  I decided to use one for Jodi's project. The first thing I did was gesso the tops last night.This afternoon I started the paint application, the text underneath and scribbles and scratches into the surface for texture and interest.  There were also some paint pens, and pastel watercolor crayons used. The last detail was to add a couple of Basquiat-like figures to the more abstract background.  I really hated to do it because I loved my straight abstract painting, but hey, it's the assignment!  The individual steps are below. Please click on any image you would like to see in more detail.

The Final Piece

Straight from the store

Gessoed

Adding color

This was my favorite stage.  I normally don't do abstract paintings, so it was a thrill for me.

I am calling this project "Fish", because that is what the cat is asking the king for, but the king ran out!

Have a nice day., and leave a comment if you are so inclined, thanks, Gloria

Gloria J Zucaro's "Paula, Basquiat and Me"

Our mixed-media artist instructor with Creative Jumpstart 2016 led by Nathalie Kalbach for January 10 was Paula Phillips. She showed different methods of layering.  The one I had never tried before was to layer several colors, and put in words or areas with a white oil pastel. Cover that with a thin layer of acrylic paint.  Then use your heat gun or hair dryer to melt the oil pastel layer.  Wipe away with a baby wipe and you will see the first layers underneath.  So cool.

Paula had a "stack of books" stencil which I did not have, so I looked through my stash to see what I had that I might use.  I found a couple of text stamps, and a Tiki mask stamp.  The Tiki mask stamp just had that Basquiat "feel" to me, so I stamped it in several places and then used the design as my focal point. Basquiat also sometimes used large hands in his paintings. They reminded me of Mickey Mouse glove hands, so I added those to my stick figure body. The final and steps are below. I used acrylic paints, Sharpie markers, Golden Gesso and some stamps with a Ranger ink pad. I also drew in words, crowns and scribbles with a Scripto ink pen # 08.

text and bits of magazines, stenciled on paint, matte medium

more paint pressed on with paper towel

stamping

add oil pastel words(tomorrow, ok) and Tiki basic lines for head, add acrylic paint layer, melt off oil pastel to see underneath.

outline Tiki head and the word "tomorrow" in marker

go over page with gesso, wipe some off

Add body, hands and text.  Outline with black and white, fill in some areas with red and black marker.

Gloria J Zucaro's "My Basquiat Queen"

The second artist instructor in the group using Jean Michel Basquiat as inspiration is Tori Weyers.  I learned so much from her layering techniques!  I am also learning about how you can pick apart another artists work and get to understand their style a little better.  I am more appreciative of Basquiat's art now than when I started.

My Basquiat Queen

The steps are below

Done with Gelatos and NeoColor Watercolor crayons

More

Add Gesso

Next paint over magazine pages with warm and then cool colors.  That is Gwen Stefani in an Ulta add.  Also look for large test.

There are also small pieces of paper painted in the similar warm and cool paints.  I glued on the cut-out of the head then added some pops of color.

I glued on torn pieces of paper and text and a small picture.  I used the large word "Finally" as the base for her crown.  Basquiat used the crown symbol in a lot of his work.

I added more gesso, stream of consciousness wording, little drawings, stars and scribbles and details on the face and hair.

I hope you enjoyed my process.  See you for the next Basquiat!

Gloria

Gloria J Zucaro's "Self-Portrait inspired By Jean Michel Basquiat"

Today I am posting the first of what will be five paintings or mixed media projects led by five more of the 25 artists in Creative Jumpstart 2016.  Our artist to be inspired by is Jean Michel Basquiat.  When I first took a look at his work I actually felt myself pull back.  I felt it was full of anger.  But then as I looked more closely I understood better the individual pieces of his work that I might be able to work with. Our first instructor for this artist is Birgit Koopsen. Here is my final page.  There is an example of his work below as well as the steps to my piece.

Below is one of his works.

So as our instructor for this first day of Basquiat did, so did I!  First find a portrait of yourself, then trace it onto your surface.  From there I added a stencil, Dylusions paint, Sharpie marker and scripto pen work to imitate a Basquiat.  Some steps are below, with the final page.

Stencil from Stencil Girl by Jessica Sporn, "Borders".

I hope you are enjoying viewing these projects as much as I am enjoying making them.  It is so important to step out of your comfort zone.  See you soon!  Leave a comment if you are so inclined.

Gloria