Gloria J Zucaro's "Camelia Plus"

This week "The Diva" has given us "Camelia" by Ann Marks as our challenge tangle.  It is very relaxing to do and can easily be combined with other patterns.  Please go to "the Diva's" site to see all the beautiful patterns created for this weeks' challenge.

3.5" Square

I will probably either turn some of my squares into coasters or use them as a centerpiece on a greeting card.  On Friday I will post this to Paint Party Friday.  They have a huge variety of media and subject matter each week.  Please check to see what's new each Friday.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Ostrich Eggs"

"Ostrich Eggs"

3.5" Square of Watercolor Paper with original Ink and Pencil Drawing.

I thought it was getting quite late for my iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com challenge for the week.  Laura picked a new Zentangle demonstrated by Maria and Rich at Zentangle.com.  It is called a Zentangle Quest Challenge because it has not been named yet.  Have a look at all the variations you can do with this tangle on the Diva's site.   I will be on hiatus for a few weeks after this post, so will have a lot to catch up on when I return!

Gloria J Zucaro's "The Unmasking"

Today I am sending a pastel that I just finished on over to the February challenge offered on Ria Hills' site called "Shoot and Paint".  Every month Ria and her artist buddy Pamela White Murphy post one of their photographs and invite you to paint them in your own style.  Here is my pastel of the challenge photo.

Click on image to enlarge.

It is on Canson Mi-Tientes Pastel Paper and is 16"H x 12"W.

I will be offering it next week for auction on the Daily Paintworks or you can email me with questions.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Diva # 107"

My post today is for the Diva's Challenge #107.  It is a pattern called "Quandary".  It looks easy but is not!  But hey, I just let go and had fun.  It reminds me of pieces of rice, so some of my other patterns also start with the letter "R".  Of course, "Fescue" does not!  But I just felt I wanted some there.  Other pattern variations are from "Ragz", "River", "Riverstone", and "Rosewood".   Be sure to click on over to Laura's website to see the other artists drawings. Have a great day!

3.5" Square on watercolor paper.

For Sale through Daily Paintworks

Gloria J Zucaro's "Chinese New Year"

I finally got around to last Monday's challenge from Laura Harms at her Diva blog.  We were to do something for Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Snake.  "Ancient Chinese wisdom says a Snake in the house is a good omen because it means your family will not starve."  This is a quote from US Bridal Guide, horoscopes! I had been thinking about it during the week and wanted to do not only a snake(tangled pattern "BLT Joos"), but Chinese Lanterns("Bulb Lantern") and some fans. I had also thought of  the rising sun but ran out of room.  I am just getting in under the wire!

3.5"H x 3.5"W on Official Zentangle Paper Tile

Gloria J Zucaro's "Sunset at Sea" Pastel

My pastel painting today is from a photo by Michael Yates.  He posted it in 2010 to Paint My Photo which is a copyright free site.  I painted this for the Daily Paintworks Challenge of the week.  The challenge was to paint with your non-dominant hand and was suggested by Christine Holzschuh.  I knew when I saw the challenge that I would try a landscape/ seascape.  I had recently had an email from a friend in Hawaii who is an artist on vacation from Illinois.  Lucky her!  We just had some ice, then a downpour of rain and thunder!  Anyway I didn't want to use her photo because she might get really mad at me!  My friend Corrine had told me about Paint My Photo.  I went to their gallery of photos and searched for "Hawaiian sunset".  Believe it or not this was the only one I found with that tag.  I was true to the challenge until the very end when I forgot one time and found myself changing to my right hand to get the mast drawn in as straight as I could.  I quickly switched back to my left hand.  Working with the opposite hand was not easy, and I have a stiff neck from holding my body in a different direction.  But other than that I found I could accommodate to it.  Maybe my brain grew a little? Ya think?!

Click on image to enlarge....SOLD

16"w x 12"H on Canson Mi-Tientes Pastel Paper.

To Purchase 

Gloria J Zucaro's "Sunshine for Julie"

This is my latest painting, which I am thrilled to say is going to a good home, with an artist and friend.  

I am posting this for the Paint Party Friday Challenge.  

Thank you Kristin and Eva for hosting.  

I hope you will visit their site to see what the accomplished artists have done this week.  

Click on image to enlarge.

12"H x 9"W Original Oil on Canvas Panel

SOLD

Gloria J Zucaro's "Thanksgiving Zinger"

Here is my submission to Paint Party Friday for this week.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Front

Today's' post is for the Diva's challenge of using the tangle named Zinger originated by Maria Thomas.  "Zinger" is the name of the tangle shown here that has a "stem and then a circular shapes that encircle but decreases as it flares outward.  I incorporated a Thanksgiving turkey along with the Zingers!  This is the front and back(Below) of a 5"H x 7"W greeting card and comes with envelope.  I may add some watercolor to this, maybe along the bottom and the "sky" area.   What do you think?

This is the back

5" x 7 " Ink design on Watercolor paper greeting card.

Click on image to enlarge.

May be framed in standard 5 x 7 frame.

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 "Getting My Stripes"

Original Ink Design on 7"H x 5"W Watercolor Paper Greeting Cardstock

Comes with Envelope.  May be framed in 7"H x 5"W frame.

$6.00 starting bid on Daily Paintworks Auction.

Click on image to enlarge.

This is my entry into this week's Diva challenge.  It is using stripes as your string.  This was really fun to create, decide on how to arrange the stripes, and how to use all the different patterns to fill the stripes.  This involved several hours on several days this week!  I really got into trying some new patterns. Now I am going over to the Diva site to see what all my tangling friends have been up to this week.  Won't you join me!?

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 " Smile for The Camera"

Original Oil on Raymar Panel

6"H x 6"W

$35.00  $7.00 Shipping

Hello!  Here is my Daily Paintworks "The Old Truck Challenge" painting posted for this week by Carol Marine.

I chose to crop it down to my favorite parts of Carol's photo.  I really like the front of the truck, the sunshine and shadow on the driveway and the windshield wiper blade.  The Disney look of this truck was my aim for the painting, as I am sure it must have been a model for one of the trucks in "Cars the Movie".

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 "Pick Me Up At Eight"

5"H x 7"W on Stretched canvas Original Oil painting

See framing options tab above.

This week's Daily Paintworks Challenge is to crop a larger reference photo using any part of the photo that you wish.  To me there were a couple of areas that caught my eye.  this vintage automobile and the circular porch roof.  Here is the reference photo.  Which areas would you have chosen to paint?

Gloria J Zucaro's "How Are Ewe?"

6"H x 6"W Original Oil on Panel
Questions?

This weeks Daily Paintworks Challenge is called "The Up-close Animal Challenge" offered by Taryn Day.  Taryn did a sheep's head.  I decided I would also do a sheep, but a different one which I again searched for my reference on Wet Canvas in their image library.  For some reason I was spooked by the look of the sheep's eyes!?  So instead of running away as fast as possible, I just stared him down.  And guess what he said to me "How are Ewe?" in a very soothing and soft voice.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Even While Sleeping!"

6"H x 6"W  Oil on Panel

Questions?

The Daily Paintworks challenge this week is a "reclining" figure.  I didn't have a photo of a reclining figure, so I used one of the images on Wet Canvas.  WC has a huge image library of copyright free photos.  This young man has fallen asleep with his phone open, hence the title of my painting.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Race For The Eggs!"

6"H x 6"W Original Oil Painting on canvas panel

Sold

Well, I am finally home and well enough to paint!  I had a wonderful 10 day trip to the pacific     Northwest to visit an old friend in Anacortes,Washington for 3 days then drove down Whidbey Island to the town of Langley.  The Whidbey Island Fine Art School operated by Cary Jurrians was hosting a Dreama Tolle Perry workshop for 5 days.  I was intrigued by Dreama's use of transparent oils in her paintings and her wonderful writings and paintings in her blog posts, so just forced myself to take a trip out to see her in person! LOL!  Any excuse!  I am so glad that I did because Dreama is a wonderful instructor and a fun and giving person.  I met lots of other artists from across the USA, too, and we hope to keep in touch.  Cary was an absolutely wonderful hostess with fresh fruit, coffee and homemade baked goods every morning.  Faye Castle , the class monitor was such a help with any questions about supplies, restaurants, and putting out all the goodies every day. Cary and her husband hosted us for dinner on Sunday with the most wonderful homemade breads, choices of pasta, salad and fresh berry cobbler for dessert.  I stayed at a lovely B & B called Country Cottage of Langley operated by Tom and Jacki Stewart.   A beautiful waterview room with delicious breakfasts every morning.  They were eager to arrange meal times and anything else you might need.  The last night I was there I came down with  "stay up all night" stomach issues.  They were so kind and brought crackers and gingerale, ginger tea, ginger chews to try to ease my upset.  I slept later than checkout and they gave me help with the suitcases to the car and insisted I take a banana to see if I could keep that down a little later.  That trip home was not the best I have ever experienced!  But all is well!

Now for the painting above...This is the weekly challenge from the Daily Paintworks site.  The theme is anything Easter.  So here is a still life of one of my Easter decorations.

"Two Cruellers, A Filled & A Long John, Please"

8"H x 8"W Original Oil on Raymar Canvas Panel

Questions?

The Daily Paintworks assignment this week is to "Paint Your Donut".  So, of course, one was not enough since I would be painting at the Mainstreet Studio with my friends.  I ran(not literally!) to Jewel and picked some donuts from the bakery department thinking I would maybe just paint the green decorated Long John in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.  I had brought a red plate and a green plate with me, figuring that most donuts have a reddish tone to them.  When I started my set-up I thought I liked it better with a variety instead of just one donut.  I finished the painting by lunchtime, so these were our dessert.  Yum!   

Gloria J Zucaro's "Out To Pasture"

6"H x 6"W original Oil on Raymar Panel    SOLD

This is the challenge from Carol Marine at the Daily Paintworks for the week.  I brought the horizon closer to the horse and tried to keep the shapes in mind..  I had toned the canvas with cad red before beginning and let it show through around the silhouette of the horse.