Earring and Portrait Series 1-8

Hello again after 6 weeks! 

I hope you are all well and staying safe. 

Or if you are a doctor, a nurse, health care worker, fireman, police, delivery person, grocery store worker, mailman THANK YOU SO MUCH!

I have stayed in isolation since March 15, so really appreciate all of you who are out there helping me.

I have been doing a series of contour drawings using the same reference photo but doing it from an upside down position and without looking while I am sketching. And a different pair of my earrings on each one.  I realized that I tend to wear the same earrings all the time, so thought I would have fun painting them  on this young lady who comes out so different looking each time, usually very wonky!

I am posting to Paint Party Friday

Gloria J Zucaro's "Triple Labyrinth & Desert Glory"

The Zentangle chosen for this weeks Diva challenge is called "Labyrinth".  Laura gave us a link to see how to draw two versions of a labyrinth.  I used them both in my tangle this week.  Here is the link if you would like to try one.   How To Draw a Labyrinth

I am posting this on the I am the Diva's site.

Please visit and see all the wonderful versions of this prompt.

This week I also am posting an acrylic painting I did in January before I went to Texas to be with my mother.  It is called "Desert Glory"  I knew that I wanted some desert mountains and sky in back so am happy with the end result.  I did this in a class with Sharron Boxenbaum at Positive Strokes in Palatine, IL.

!0' x 10" Acrylic on Canvas

I am posting this to Paint Party Friday.  I just found out my post from last week was chosen for this weeks PPF!  Wow!  I am honored!

This week I also finished and mailed my April Swap project with Bridget in PA. 

My theme was favorite movie.  Believe it or not I saw the new"Cinderella" three 3,3,3 times!  Once with my daughter, once with my mother and once with my usual movie buddy, Risa.  I loved it every time!  It was beautifully done and the computer animated mice, geese and coach were unbelievably wonderful!  Here is a picture of the front, some close-ups and then on the back some pre-made stick-on pieces with the movie theme.

Have a great week, and thanks for looking.

Gloria

Gloria J Zucaro's "Three Down, Two to Go"

This week I finished three small projects and got two others started.  I finished "Rope Jumper". Here she is below with her rope.  I watched a champion rope jumper on You Tube to see the handles in her hands and how the rope would drape.  I gave her a face and took away her chunky forehead.  I also added more paint all around her.  This painting is Oil on a gessoed board and is 7"H x 5" W.

We finally had our family Christmas on Sunday the 11th.  On Monday I wrote my thank you notes.  I made a special one for my 7 year old grandson, hoping he would take notice.  He called today and he was so impressed!  I got a big kick out of it!  I had drawn with black ink the two presents that he had picked out for me especially.  One was a new wallet.  He had given me one the year before last and it was shot.  he knew that and picked a new one.  He also gave me a little cache pot with a young boy kneeling near a cross.  I printed his note rather than using script.

 

Before I forget..My friend Polly who lives in Anacortes, Washington gave me the neatest "altered" book.  It has 96 multimedia pages and was made by "slow art studio & bindery" on Lopez Island, WA .  It also has two little pockets on the front and back inside covers.  And look at the neat covers!!!  

Front

Inside Front

Inside Back

Some Pages

Back Cover

I also did a Zentangle for the first time in quite a while.  I did it on a 4 x 6 card.  The prompt was from Laura Harms at the "iamthediva.blogspot.com" website.  It is Laura's 200th post and she asked us all to do a monotangle.  We were to use just one design, our pick.  I used a pattern called "Stiricles".

The card is sitting on a journal page that I am doing for Community Thrive, a new group I joined to learn more about journals, collage and art forms other than painting.

One of the two projects I started but haven't finished is a pen drawing of an impromptu music concert at The Clearing Folk Art School in Ellison Bay, WI a couple of years ago.  I plan to finish it in watercolor.  I think next time I will need to use a different pencil for the initial drawing. This one is too smudgy.

The reference below

And finally the last item this week.  An oil painting of a mission church in Arizona just barely blocked in in some areas.

The initial steps of the painting, with the reference below.

I am linking this post to iamthediva.blogspot.com, Paint Party Friday, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Community Thrive.

Have a good week and check the Zentangles and paintings done on the sites mentioned.

Gloria

Gloria J Zucaro's "ATC's Theme Glasses"

I had a lot of fun with this month's theme.  I used catalogs, old story books and magazine ads for the basic background pictures.  Then I added gesso, paint, glitter, line drawings, and of course the glasses!   Here are a few of the 21 cards I made.  There were fewer than usual artists present, so I only traded 5.  That means more for you to trade with me if you would like! :>)

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 "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 "Most Unique Vase"

Here is my second "Thank You" card for a Christmas gift.  This one is for my other sister-in-law.  The gift is a very unique and beautiful glass flower vase.  When I began to draw it, I realized that although the neck of the vase is round, the body of the vase is oval. It is also unusual being on a stand and having a perforated lid with which to arrange the stems.

6"H x 4"W on Cream colored cardstock with Pen & Ink design.  

I put a tangle design around the borders of the card.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Bead Stack"

This week Laura, the hostess with the mostest at "I Am The Diva" asked us to join her in making beads tangles to represent the organization known as "Beads of Courage".  As Laura says "Beads of Courage" is a wonderful charity that helps a child with a chronic illness or condition to tell their story of courage and strength as they take their medical journey. Every single bead represents something your child has done - a test, a poke or needle, a procedure, a doctor's appointment, therapy, special accomplishments, an xray, use of oxygen, mobility issues, etc.  It's incredible to see what your child has been through in a very tangible way."  I have done a bead stack on a 7"h x 5"W watercolor cardstock.  Inside the beads are various tangles.

To see better detail in the design, click on the image.

$6.00 with Envelope.  S&H  $2.00

To Purchase or ask questions

Be sure to visit Laura's site to see what other artists have done with this challenge.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Cadent Floral"

Original Pen & Ink Drawing on Official Zentangle watercolor Tile

3.5" Square

$3.00 plus $1.00 Shipping.

May be framed, see tab above.

This is my challenge entry for the www.iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com   The challenge Diva Laura gave us this week is called "Tanglation Nation: Cadent"  A tanglation is when you take a recognized pattern and change it's design by adding another design to it, or distort its shape.

Gloria J Zucaro's " Eccentric Circles"

Original Pen & Ink Drawing on 3.5" Square Official Zentangle Tile

(Watercolor Paper)

$3.00  $1.00 S&H

Well, I am finally back doing a little artwork, after a week of coughing-like-crazy and Pink Eye and an allergic reaction to the pink eye drops!  But all is well, now, so let's have fun!  This is my creation for the  http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/  challenge of the week which was to draw a string of circles that were not quite circles but were defined as eccentric circles, which means not quite centered!  Sounds like some people I know...thankfully, because they make life more interesting.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Life Source"

3.5 Inches Square Original Pen & Ink Design On 140lb Watercolor Paper

$3.50 unframed $1.00 Shipping 
Email Me with any questions

See framing options tab on home page.
Would love to have your comments.

This week the Diva challenge was to use a sepia color in our designs.  I was a little hesitant because I love the traditional black and white designs.  However, once I got started with color, "Eureka!", I loved it and decided to use some blue, green,and orange.   I had decided to make a tree's roots in the sepia color, and wanted my other patterns to be organic.  I really like the final effect.  My title reflects the fact that our roots are the source of everything that comes later in our lives.  Go on over to visit all the other artists,including Laura,aka"The Diva",to see their superb designs!  http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/   PS, don't be thrown off by the date on this post.  In order to get all my tangles on a separate page tab in my blog, I have to put them all on December 2010 so they are at the end of all my posts.

Gloria J Zucaro's "Hugs & Kisses" Valentine Card

5"H x 7"W ink, marker and colored pencil on watercolor paper.

$2.00 includes shipping.  My Email\

Click on image to enlarge for more detail

My original design in black and white is below.  I had cards printed from my photos.  After the cards were printed I added the color to the two hearts.  The basketweave shadows are with pencil, the brighter colors in the two hearts with paint pens.  I notice that the background of the card looks blue for some reason.  It is not, it is sepia toned. This is considered a ZIA, Zentangle in art. This is my Happy Valentine to you all.  Thank you for appreciating my art.

This is my Paint Party Friday entry, too.  Happy PPF!.