Gloria J Zucaro's "Three A Day"

After three weeks I am back from my road trip with my 92 (years-young) mother.  She is always ready for a new adventure.  We met in Chattanooga, TN for a family wedding, both flying in for the occasion. 

We attended the rehearsal dinner along with everyone else who was from out of town at the "Blue Water Grill" hosted by the groom's parents.  We were served great food and the wedding party entertained us with funny stories about the bride and groom.  

The wedding the next evening was at "The Church on Main", which is actually no longer a church but an event venue.  The old building had been stripped down inside to show the brick and rafters, but was still enclosed by beautiful arched windows and the old wood flooring.  The front half of the space was separated off with white curtains and was set up with a stage and seating for guests.  The back half was closed off until after the ceremony, but was set up as a buffet with food, bar and wedding cakes(bride's strawberry..groom's oreo) areas to be enjoyed after the vows were taken.  The stage at the front had a white curtain to hide the band set-up which would be revealed when time to dance.  In front of the white curtain there were three beautifully painted aqua wooden doors hinged together decorated with small lanterns and a painted wood cutout of the bride and grooms' initials.  There were 8 bridesmaids and groomsmen and a tiny ring-bearer, the son of the grooms' brother.  All the ladies were dressed in the color tangerine, and they all wore turquoise jewelry.  But the really unique thing is that every single one of their dresses was a different style that they each chose themselves to suit their own taste.  All their jewelry was different, too!  So cool!

My cousin , the mother of the bride, and her husband invited everyone over for a huge brunch feast the next morning, then Mom and I left on our road trip to Alexandria, LA to visit my sister and brother-in-law for 4 days, then on to San Antonio TX where my Mom and brother live.  I stayed with Mom for a week and flew home to Lake Zurich, IL which is Northwest of Chicago.

See a couple of pictures from the wedding below...

The backdrop for the ceremony

The guests on the grooms side waiting

The bride and her father

Two pastors and the groom, and the grooms father in back

The ceremony with the brides' sister(the matron of honor), another bridesmaid in left front.  The brides bouquet was tangerine flowers in a beautiful tight nosegay. See the photo of the bride at top.

One couple in wedding party exiting after ceremony ends.

And finally my entry at The Artist's Playroom called "Three A Day" done on my IPod Touch 5 with the ArtRage app.

Our theme from Jennifer Mclean this week is "fruit".  Many times these three fruits are the ones I try to have everyday.  Have a great day!    gloria

Gloria J Zucaro's "Culmination"

Today I am linking to Jennifer Mclean's theme of the week which is "Woman".  The idea of the theme came from the International Woman's Day Celebration on March 8th.  I decided to do a journal page using the word "Culmination" as my main focus.  I feel that my attitudes as a woman are a culmination of the environment in my original home with my parents and my life experiences.   I used some of my gelli plate paper to write my journaling upon.  Then pieces of torn paper printed with various "roles" I have played in life.  A couple of attitudes like "Go with the Flow" and "I am Woman" were also added.   I don't know if other woman are the same, especially if they are younger, but I never had a bucket list, and was brought up to always be "nice".  I moved a lot as a child/young adult because my father was in the military.  There was no choice about that, but my mother always had a good attitude about moving, so as children we didn't feel like it was a bad thing, but a new adventure.  The most valuable thing to me is freedom of choice.  I am fortunate to be able to make choices for myself, as I now live alone.  I realize that many women are not able to make some choices because of great financial limitations.  
I definitely do  believe in equal rights of all types for all women.  If a woman has the same education and devotes the same amount of work-day time to a job, she should be paid the same amount of money as a man in the same work position. 
I used pen, markers, Silks Acrylic Glaze, stickers and rubber cement.  I found out that matte medium will remove your ink printing, but rubber cement will not.
Please visit "The Artist's Playroom" to see how everyone interpreted this theme.

Click on image to enlarge

9"H x 12"W Sketchbook.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Featuring"

Today a plug for a new magazine that I just love!  It is called "Featuring:" and that is what it does...every issue(they come out quarterly) features artists from around the world.  It is a beautiful magazine very heavy weight glossy paper and wonderful articles on all artistic subjects.  Since it is published in Europe, I thought it might be too expensive and might take a long time to get here.  But they have a deal on the magazine for readers in the USA, so shipping costs not a problem and it arrived within a week.  My issue, #3 is fabulous!  It has articles on painting with paper by an artist in Florida, an article about monotypes and how they have evolved into do it yourself at home with no special equipment, (except if you have a Gelli!).  There is an article about the collaboration between a Dutch rock band and an artist in Chili who makes their new vinyl(records)covers.  How to create "found" poetry, an article on the creation of luminescent paints filled with mica, Stephanie Dromers' work with photography, collage and digital manipulation, The Top 2000 musical recordings and how the "list" got started, then how motherhood and art combine successfully in interviews by three artist moms.  I could go on and on with articles about sculpture, overcoming your fear of starting your art life, journaling, a "featured" blogger, photographs of the artist studios, and also opportunities for you as an artist to send in your works for inclusion in the magazine.  The pictures are large and in full color in "Featuring".   So I say give this magazine a look.  The forth issue is coming out soon, featuring "Mail Art" sent in by readers/artist.  On the back of the third issue there is a rectangle of "inches" sent in to "Featuring".  At the bottom of the back cover it gives the name of each artist whose inchie is included.  I can't wait for the next issue, and then the editors are starting a subscription service which will lower the price even more!  Thank you Jennifer Mclean over at "Just Add Water, Silly!" for suggesting this great magazine.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Blorange"

My painting today is for Jennifer Mclean s' The Artist Playroom.  The theme of the suggested challenge is to paint something predominately in blue and orange.  One of our participants in these challenges is Tracey Fletcher King and these two complimentary colors are her favorites.  I chose to paint an orange on a blue plate.  It is very impressionist and loose...why, because I was testing out a new app on my IPod Touch 5 that my son and his wife gave me for Christmas.  It is called Art Rage.  It is a drawing/painting app.  You can choose your tools, your supports and your palette of colors.  This is my first attempt using it, and it was somewhat of a struggle in control on a small screen.  I think I need a stylus or whatever you call the tool you use instead of your fingers .  I also don't know how to get my paintings done in the app to my regular camera roll on the Touch, so couldn't email it to myself.  I took a picture of it with my regular camera and put it into Adobe Elements 9 to try to "fix" the distortion from taking it off the screen surface.  I was introduced to this app by Susan Ploughe who has done several studies with it on her IPad and will use them for future paintings.  Now if I could only figure out how to save it to my camera roll.  I tried the three finger tap on the screen, and the two finger tap, but can't find any button to send it to my email.  Help!

Gloria J Zucaro's "Jenn's Valentine"

12" x 12" square Original Oil on Canvas panel.

To Purchase

Click on image to enlarge

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!  I am posting my painting today to Jennifer Mclean's challenge of the week  for The Artists Playroom, which is Valentine themed.  This will also be my early post to Paint Party Friday.  I may try to get my Diva challenge done, too and post to "I am the Diva".  I painted a still life today in what is a contemporary impressionistic style.  I had placed a stem with multiple flowers on it in my Belleek vase.  I had some Lindt Chocolate Truffles, so put them on the table.  I hope you enjoy my painting and your Valentine's day.

5"H x 8"W

Colored paper, Spray Ink, Glitter Paint, Gel Pen, Rhinestones

I am participating in Carolyn Dube's "Use Your Words" on-line workshop.  This was a funny

mess because I did not have a stencil and the Cricut die-cut machine I have does not have the silhouette feature to make stencils so I thought I would just spray over the letters I cut out. But I already had a black background with a white heart. The red did not show up on the black when I sprayed the ink. So then I tried gold glitter spray, well that was a little better, but blew the letters away! So I just used white gel pen around the misplaced letters and then added a little 3 piece strip of rhinestones to the heart. I wrote my journaling with the white gel pen, but it picked up the red ink and came out pink!  The reason I picked the word "pain" is because I have been going for physical therapy on my neck and shoulders for the last three weeks.  It is just arthritis, which is what happens when you get old!  LOL!

Gloria J Zucaro's "Give it a Spin"

Today I am linking to the Daily Paintworks challenge "Make It Move" offered by Francesco Fontana.  I am also linking to Ria Hills January challenge  which is to do a piece of fruit in a still life, an apple was suggested.  I am combining both these challenges into a painting called "Spin the Apple"!  I also did a painting today for The Artist Playroom site hosted by Jennifer Mclean.  Her thought was to portray our weather wherever we live, well it is darned icy!   I combined two ideas again.  The movement from Daily Paintworks and the weather theme from The Artist's Playroom for "On Ice" below the apple.

"Spin the Apple"

8" x 8" Original Oil on Museum Quality Canvas Panel.

Click on images to enlarge.

To Purchase

"On Ice"

5"h x 7"W Oil on Museum Quality Canvas Panel.  I found this photo on Google and think it is probably Kristi Yamaguchi doing a move called the Sit-spin. 

To Purchase starting Jan. 16th

Gloria J Zucaro's "Celebrate"

8.5"H x 11"W

Pastel on Cardstock with Sparkling H2O's and Clear Glitter.

Linking to Jenn's last Artist Playroom of 2012.  Tonight's the night!

Happy New Year everyone!

Click on image for close-up!

Gloria J Zucaro's "Seeds of Life"

I am adding this to Jennifer Mclean's Thanksgiving themed challenge this week over at The Artist's Playroom.  I actually did this last year, but it is perfect and I am busy getting ready for Thanksgiving, and for get-togethers with friends and a returning college grandson!  

I used an 18"H statue for my model.  I have an Indian woman, and a male and female Pilgrim, too.  I put the smaller set on my kitchen window sill and the larger on the fireplace mantel.  I have a great big turkey-shaped metal serving tray and sundry gourds and pumpkins around.  

My title relates to the fact that both the seeds of the sunflower and pumpkin may be eaten, and have some protein as well as other nutrients.  And the pumpkin has many ways of being served and feels"substantial" whether soup, breads or muffins, as squash or pie.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Gloria J Zucaro's "Glub, Glub"

Last week on Jennifer Mclean's "The Artist Playroom" we were to paint something with pairs.  I started this greeting card on Thursday with a wet watercolor wash.  I let it dry completely for two days because I had thoroughly wet both sides of the card.  On Saturday morning I had planned on finishing my entry into the challenge which ends at noon.  But "life" intervened and I did not get back to the design until Sunday.  As you can see, my "pairs" are two nosey goldfish and a pair of goggles   I did the design in black ink with a Sakura Micron pen # 01.  Then added Silks Acrylic Glaze for the other colors.  The two fish are highlighted with gold.  I finally sprayed the face of the card with Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist by LuminArte 

5"H x 7"W   Comes with envelope as a greeting card or may be framed in a 5 x 7 frame.

$6.00  To purchase go to  Daily Paintworks and PayPal

You can see the "sparkle on the photo below.

Click on images to enlarge.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Mardi Gras Frame-up"

 These are my entries for Jennifer Mclean's "Masquerade" prompt at The Artist's Playroom.

This is an ink drawing on a 5"H x 7"L watercolor greeting card that I did earlier this year for a Diva challenge.

I ran out of time to come up with something new, I'm sorry, Jenn!  But here is what I have done with it .

I have put it into a double mat, first black next to the white of the card, then a white mat, glass and plain black wooden frame.  Have a good week everyone, and I will come to visit your masquerade entries today and tomorrow!  The framed design is available on the Daily Paintworks Auction starting at $65.00

Gloria J Zucaro's "Goin' With The Flow"

"Things that inspire" is our prompt this week from Jennifer Mclean at The Artist's Playroom  

Well, color in nature, sunsets and sunrises.  
Storm clouds, dark and menacing.  
Butterflies and dragonflies, flitting by.  
Chipmunks...Now be nice!  They are very cute little guys!  
Newborns and two-years old's!  I love seeing their personalities develop. 
Panoramic views of untouched meadows and mountains.  
I love beautifully landscaped ponds and the exotic butterfly Koi and fancy tail goldfish. 
I love the wind on a stormy day and also a slightly warm breeze on a Summer day with temperatures no higher than 73! 
Sunshine and shadow always appeal as do many vibrant colors in my pastels and oil paints.  

New, New, New!  Learning about some new technique, art form or product is always inspirational. I think that is why I enjoy all the websites and blogs I get to visit when I participate in challenges and see what other artists are doing..  You are always learning.   Here is my entry.  Click to enlarge image for better detail 

9"H x 12"W Soft Pastel on Sanded Paper

SOLD

Gloria J Zucaro's "Have A Snack"

9"H x 12"W Original Oil on Board

$75.00         S&H  $10.00

Boy!  I really had to scramble to get this done for Jenn's "Turquoise and Lime" prompt for this week's challenge at The Artist Playroom.  I love my snack set and knew I had the colors for the prompt.  But considering that Saturday is the last day to post before the next challenge, this is late,late,late!  Where did this week go!? I notice that my Turquoise cup on my monitor looks more blue, so who knows what it looks like on yours!

I did enjoy painting this and really piled on the paint.  Have a good weekend, and go on over and see the other artists' entries.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Jenn's Peppermint"

6" Square Original Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel

$35.00/$7.00 S&H

For more detail, click on photo above

This original oil is for Jennifer McLean's latest challenge of Red & White.  Jenn is from Canada and July 1st was Canada's' Independence Day. Their flag colors are red and white.  Since our July 4th holiday was yesterday, I added a blue background for the good ole' USA.  This challenge entry goes to The Artist's Playroom hosted by Jennifer.     http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/search/label/APR

Gloria J Zucaro's "At The Peak"

8"H x  8"W Original Pastel on La Carte Sanded Pastel Paper

Framed in plain black wood frame w/Glass Ready to Hang

To enlarge click on painting.

$75.00/12.00 S&H

"Hello" to my fellow artists in The Artist's Playroom hosted by Jennifer Mclean. http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/     This week the assignment is anything with a garden theme.

I love the vibrancy of pastel so decided to use them instead of my oils today.  Be sure to visit Jenn's site to see all the other artists' artwork.  The weekly challenge ends on Saturday.

Comments appreciated................Gloria

Gloria J Zucaro's "De Deux Poires"

6"H x 6"W Original Oil on Panel
$35.00/$7.00 S&H

To see framing options, see tab at top of this page

For some reason on days when I don't have anything in particular in mind to paint, pears and apples come to mind.  Is that like com"pear"ing apples and oranges?!  I decided on some nice plump pears.  And to give them extra humph, I decided they are French pears, la-di-da! 

This painting is entered in the Artist's Playroom with the theme of "rainbow", hosted by Jennifer Mclean at  http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/search/label/APR

Gloria J Zucaro's "Good Will Towards All"

7"H x 5"W Original Ink Drawing with Acrylic Silks Glaze

$6.00 starting bid on Daily Paintworks auction site.

Click on image to enlarge.

This is my entry into Jenn's challenge this week at The Artist Playroom.  We were to use the word "Galaxy" for our prompt.  I thought I would do a design for a Christmas card.  The Star that the shepherds followed, the triangular pieces of the church foundation, the triangular tree, to me symbolize our higher power, God, and the Trinity.  The stars reaching out to all mankind.  The painting is on greeting card watercolor paper and comes with an envelope.  Inside are the words "Good  Will Towards All".  I wanted to emphasize each of the words "Good" and "Will".  See below.  I attached the wording with matte medium and a wash and then spritzed it with some very 

fine glitter mist.  I put a little black edge around both photos in Elements, so that the white cardstock would show up better against the blog page.

Gloria J Zucaro's "A-Pear-Rent-Lee"

Original Ink Drawing with Watercolor

5"H x 7"W Greeting cardstock, with envelope

May be used in 5 x 7 frame or mat to use in 8 x 10 frame.

Click on photo to see more detail

SOLD

This is my weekly entry into The Artist's Playroom hosted by Jennifer Mclean. http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/search/label/APR  Be sure to check in there and see what the other artists have done.  Our assignment, any type or style or media showing pears.  

Gloria J Zucaro's "Color My World"

OOPS!  If looking for Diva Challenge check further down the linky list, I put the wrong link!

4"H x 6"L Greeting Card done with Luminarte's Silks and Twinkling H20s, 

which are both luminescent acrylics.

$4.00 starting bid on Daily Paintworks auction

http://dailypaintworks.com/buy/auction/73666

darker version- click to enlarge to see the glimmer!

Lighter Version

Although I am still very much "coldey" and have to go to the Doc in the A.M. because of fevers, I wanted to get something in to Jenn's Artist Playroom this week.  Jenn's prompt was paint something in your favorite color.  Well, picking one would be impossible!  I find I usually use an array of colors from the warm side of the color wheel and a few from the cooler side.  I tend not to like earth tones or very muted colors.  I am most happy with orange, yellows, roses, aqua, lime green, and emerald green. I also love sparkles!  I just got new paints listed above and they are a wonderful pigment filled with mica.  The originator of these fabulous paints is Leslie Ohnstad and the paints can be found here, LuminArte.  The picture doesn't do the card justice as far as the richness and sheen of the paint.  You can see it better in the darker version but the lighter version is more true to the brightness.

Gloria J Zucaro's " Seven Step Inkblot"

This is Step One in my challenge entry for The Artist's Playroom. http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/search/label/APR                                           

The challenge prompt this week from Jennifer Mclean is "INK".  

The first thing I thought of was inkblots.  

The second thing I thought of was that I don't have any ink that I could do an inkblot with. Then I realized my new Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils could be used like ink.  In my class on how to use them I learned I could make shavings from the pencil lead and then add water.  So I started with a piece of sketch paper and folded it in half the long way.  Then I put my inky orange on the paper, folded it and when I opened it, this is what I had.  My inkblot looks like a roasting chicken to me! SCROLL DOWN

This is Step Two

I added the color Fuchsia and folded it across the diagonal.

This inkblot looks like a bee sitting on an iris to me!

(I think he is missing his wings, but maybe they are just see-through!) SCROLL DOWN

I had forgotten to take a picture when I added the Blue, so here is Step 3 & 4  Blue and Poppy.  Now I kept rotating it to see what it brought to mind. I folded the paper on the opposite diagonal and across the short way for these two colors.

I couldn't figure out what it could be, so then I made it Black and White and rotated it a few times.    Then I saw it! Do you see it? SCROLL DOWN

Step 5

  

                                              An Indian Head with Arrows!  

Now that is all I can see!  SCROLL DOWN

Step 6!

Now for Step 7!  Some Micron pen enhancing!

Click on any photo to enlarge for more detail.

SEE THE INDIAN HEAD?  LOOK AT THE LEFT SIDE

The End!

Gloria J Zucaro's "Favorite Summer Salad"

5"H x 7"W Ink Design with Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils

This is a greeting card with the painted design on the front.  When you open the card out flat, the recipe is on the top half.  There is an envelope to go with this card.  The inside is blank.

Click on photo to enlarge

SOLD

This is my challenge entry into this weeks The Artist Playroom hosted by Jennifer Mclean at  http://www.justaddwatersilly.com/search/label/APR.  We were to pick our recipe and create art to go with it.  This week I am also doing lesson one of Dion Dior's class through Joggles.com titled "Watercolor Pencil Workshop with Dion Dior".  I signed up last Friday thinking it started July 28th, but it actually started June 28th, so I am two weeks behind.  One of our projects in Lesson One is to make a simple line drawing with our pen and then cut it up into sections with a curving line running through it to make a sort of stained glass effect.  So I combined my two ideas.  The recipe and the project.  I am linking this to Paint Party Friday, also.  Go see all the other entries,too!  http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/