ZinnoArt - News from Artist Dan Zinno

Commission continues

2009-10-17T16:17:00.001-07:00

Once I'm finished adding the 3D elements and designs, it is time to add the paint.

I mix up some acrylic to match the paint swatch the client gave me. Acrylic will dry fast and give me an opportunity to do more underpainting in the same day. If I used the oil paint that will be used for much of the process, I will have to wait a couple days for the oil to dry.

I place items under one end of each panel and allow the watery paint mixture to drip down the surface and settle in the crevasses and valleys I made in the gesso applications. With many layers of varying colors, I will be building depth while capturing the freshness of the drips to bring the viewer the feeling that when they are viewing the final piece, it still looks as though it were wet and in movement.

Depending on the look I'm trying to achieve, I can pour the paint on, brush it on, or drip it. Then I tip the panel to the desired degree to get the paint to flow how I want it. Once I get the effect I want, I lay the panels flat to dry before the next layer.

New commission

2009-09-24T18:13:00.000-07:00

So I've had this commission looming for some time and I'm finally getting to it. The procrastination can be explained... it always can, that's what's so dangerous. Well, I thought I'd chronicle the process through photos and this blog to illustrate my process. Since debuting this style last winter, I have received countless inquiries into the process. Many artists dare not share their process for fear of someone stealing the technique. I don't mind sharing. For one, any artist stealing another artist's technique and running to the gallery with it ain't worth a damn anyway. If someone wants to try out what I'm doing, experiment, make it their own, I'm all for it. Hell, don't think this just came to me as if delivered my the Arch-Angel Galbriel... I got inspiration by viewing the artworks and interior faux finishes of Danny Phillips at InYourSpace. I had it in my head for about a year, then worked on it for the same. Now it's yours to take it to the next level.

I Build my own art panels as shown in the pic above. Have for many years. I get better quality and value and the freedom to experiment.

I have 3 panels, each 1 ft w x 3 ft h. they will hang 9 inches apart above a bed and between 2 windows. They are going to a client in California and to save on shipping, I designed it in 3 pieces. My pricing is based on the sqft of surface so breaking up the panels and hanging them with space in between also covers more space while saving money.

I put a thin coat of Gesso on the panel surface to accept the oil paint. Once dry, I lay a pre-made stencil made for faux finishes down (I work on the floor) and lay a thick coat of the Gesso on using my finger. This will take some time to dry. I let it cure up a bit but not dry before peeling the plastic stencil off. I will do this again and again, adding to the design, until the desired look if achieved. Now I have the 3-d effect that will be the bones of my final painting.

More to come...

Who do you work for?

2009-04-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

As artists, we have a big decision to make every day... What kind of work are we going to make?
Art is not just a pretty picture. It has to be more. We have to make it more. That is our job. What does it say? Why are we making it? Who is it for? In essence, who do we work for?
If we plan to make a living at making our art, we'd better hope that someone likes it enough to spend money to pay for it. We have to keep this aspect in mind but is not the most important thing. Maybe we work for them, the buyer. The galleries who sell our works, they know what sells. They know the clients and what they are looking for. Maybe we work for the galleries. The truth is that clients who will buy your work are looking for you and what you have to say. The galleries are selling you and your unique ideas. If you have nothing to say, what is you are selling. What are they buying? Just a picture?
You work for you. Let me express that again because it is very important. You work for you... and you owe it to yourself to be you in your art. Without you, your art is just a picture and not worth a thing. If your art is you, then it is worth everything. Be you. Be an Artist.

Shot of Penicillin

2009-03-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

It's tax time and I've been reviewing my books for 2008. Not the kind of topic you expect to find on an art blog but, yes, I'm a business owner, too. In assessing my numbers for last year, it is evident that the recession hit this small business in May. After May, there was not a steep decline in revenue, though. On paper it is more like a slow leak. But thinking back, I can remember how each sale required more and more effort to set up and to close after May. Now, after several months with little activity, galleries closing, and inventory accumulating, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Seemingly all of a sudden... I was invited to exhibit at SxSW, one of, if not the biggest music and media festival in the country; I have 2 group exhibits poised on the horizon to open within a month's time; 2 trusted brokers are setting up client presentations of my work again; and I recently received confirmation of a private commission. With all of the promise that these signs bring, I expect that we are on the road to recovery. And if this trend continues, it's going to be a good second quarter!

Looking for a new New Deal

2009-02-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot of talk of late about the Great Depression and how similar our current situation is to the early 30s. Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything like what was created under the PWAP or the TRAP. If you don't know, in the 30s, artists were paid by a division of the Treasury Dept. to paint and sculpt and design for federal buildings and offices. Hundreds if not thousands of artists including Jackson Pollock would work to create pieces of art in their chosen medium and subject, and when a work was complete, they would turn it in to "the man" and receive a check. Some of the works were places in public places, some were stored and later destroyed. I think the motivation behind the government project was that either these artists were going to be making money from their art or they would fall into poverty and resort to crime. Yes, in essence Uncle Sam was paying for a product that he didn't really need but it served to uplift the people and make them feel neccessary as they were contributing something to the cause. I keep hearing about "shovel-ready" projects. While I agree that our national infrastructure does need some attention, I know I have some "easel-ready" projects that, once finished, would look great in a federal office, like one that is oval, for instance. So, Mr. Obama, if you're reading this, while you're rebuilding the nation's economy, don't forget about the we creative types. We could use some help too.

New Year, New Start

2009-01-14T04:35:00.000-08:00

Here it is, the beginning of Jan. It always sneaks up on me. All the anticipation and lead up to the holidays and then, Yea... We're in 2009! Then all of a sudden, it's March before you know it. What I'm saying is that the beginning of each year always seems to go so fast. I have recognized it, I am aware of it, so it can't best me again, right?
In this new year, when we are supposed to reinvent ourselves (Dr. Phil told me so) I have decided to do something about it. I have had an idea for a new series in my head for a while now. In truth, I've had ideas for several hundred series in my head but there is one which is ready to be realized. It will require an introspective look at my relationships with male members of my family, my forefathers, and how I came to be who I am. I have always been interested in social history through the ages. Examining how we arrived here as a people? Which key moments and individuals shaped our laws, borders, speech, attitude? Now I am applying this examination to myself and my family tree. Who came before me? Who influenced me? What lead me to become an artist from a line of doctors?
I am very excited about this new line of work. Because of this, I will be taking my time to form the ideas before crafting the look and application of those ideas. This will be a break from my MO of the past few years when I felt I had to create as much work as humanly possible, send it out to my galleries and representation, and they sell it, right? Not so much in these trying times. Sales have slowed considerably as several of my galleries are having trouble staying afloat. I have been so prolific over the last 2 years that I have created an inventory which far exceeded sales, even when sales were good. This means that I have plenty of inventory to carry me through the foreseeable future, even if the economy turns around and sales pick up sooner rather than later.

Make a list, check it twice.

2008-12-22T12:34:00.000-08:00

With the holidays already here, we're all making lists... wish lists, gift lists, shopping lists. As artists, we are often overlooked as small business owners (often by our own doing). We need to see ourselves in this way and we need to plan accordingly. This is the time to look back at the year and evaluate our sales numbers as well as production and marketing. How many paintings did you make in 2008? How many did you sell? What was your average sale amount? Now forecast for 2009? Where do you want to be? What if you increase production? what if you raise your prices slightly? Maybe you need to increase marketing. We are all in different stages in career development but it is true for all of us that we can only improve if we have a plan. Look at what you did well this year. Maybe you finally felt comfortable approaching that gallery you had your eye on for some time. It worked out well and they not only accepted to show your work but also sold several pieces. Great! So next year, you should be looking at other galleries to reach out to to broaden your retail territory. Maybe you found a patron who is supportive of your work and your career. Next year you should be looking at ways to being that individual closer into your process and making them feel apart of your art so they continue with their support. This is the time. Make a plan. Write it down and keep it handy through the year. Return to it often to make sure you are on track. You can't get to where you want to be unless you know where you're going. Be well. Happy Holidays.

Beware of this Scam

2008-12-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

"Good day to you,the great painter,

I am full of enthusiasm with your work ,I am interested in purchasing these creative artworks from you...
kindly tell me their various last asking prices.I will be happy to have these selected artworks hanged in our new home. As well, I want you to take out the shipping cost because I have contacted with a shipping company that will be shipping other house decoratives. We will be moving to our new apartment as soon as possible.On Paying for the artworks,I will be glad to pay you with a Bank check in US Funds and you can cash at your local bank,please let me know on how to procced for the payment of the creative artworks. I will await your response on how to proceed.

Have a blessed day."

The above email was recently received by one of my galleries about some of my works. I have been sent many a similar email over the past few years. If you have also received correspondance like this, beware. It starts innocently enough with broken english and need for a lot of art. Generally, the way these inquiries go, the buyer is in England (though can't communicate in good english) and is moving into a new house. They desperately need your art as soon as possible. They have already made arrangements with their shippers and are ready to pay you in "US Funds" (who talks like that?!?) There is a back and forth email correspondance of details, then, for some reason, they want to send you MORE money than you quoted, all the while, they are reitterating how the check they are sending is certified and the funds are readily available. If you end up following this crazy train to the last stop, you are FedEx-ed a bogus Certified Check from some small, independent bank in whatever far corner of the country you are not in. If you get to this point in the transaction, you NEED to call the bank to verify funds. Luckily, when I got to this point, I was well aware of the scam being perpitrated upon me and was always one step ahead of the bad-guys. The bank in question did actually exist and they verified that the check was indeed fraudulent. Upon my verifying to the "client" that the check was received, the perpetrator of the scam immediately fell upon an emergency and demanded all of their funds returned. There is the 'rub'. They want you to cut them a check immediately (before you realize that the check that they just sent you and you deposited is fake. Of course, when I alerted them that the funds were not available and to please send alternate payment, They disappeared and I never heard from them again.
This current saga is still in process. The gallery owner who received this message and I are cautiously continuing down this path just incase. You never know... maybe, just maybe, there is a woman in England , who speaks in broken english, and who desperately needs my art for her new house, and will pay "with a Bank check in US Funds". We don't want to walk away from a potentially real sale, but we are always mindful that this is just another scam.

Visual Artist

2008-12-13T10:42:00.000-08:00

Textured Landscape 1

encaustic on panel

6x8

2008

I have long categorized myself as a "Visual Artist". The opinion recently changed. Last week I attended a holiday party for my local encaustic group and we were all encouraged to bring a small work to exchange. I wrapped up the painting featured above and it was selected by another member of the group. As the paintings were being selected and unwrapped, we passed them around for all to see. When the recipient of my painting was asked to pass it around, he said, "the first one to see this painting is my wife.: Now I should say that his wife is legally blind. He passed the small 6x8 encaustic panel to her, she took it and ran her fingers lightly across the textured surface. I've never seen someone viewing my painting in that way before. It was humbling to see her have a totally different appreciation for my work than I had ever intended. We all see so much every day that is easily dismissed. Most people will look at a painting for a few seconds and then move on. This woman touched every centimeter, every bump and crevasse. I believe that she appreciated the painting on a higher level that most of ever will. It was quite a thing to watch.

Changing Culture

2008-11-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

I had a meeting yesterday with Donna Wetegrove of Tips on Art (http://www.tipsonart.org). Though I have been showing with Donna for a few years now, yesterday's meeting was the first time I've seen her in about a year. She is always in the best mood and greets you and speaks with a grin ear to ear. Listening to her describe her projects is captivating as she talks with such enthuseasum and drive. If she isn't working on securing a new arts venue for an artist event, she is working on her plans for an arts center, or simply finding new art from promising, overlooked artists. She is slowly changing the culture of how the populous views art and artists. We spoke yesterday about not having enough time... so many projects planned and the year coming to a close. Little bites. We just have to keep plugging away, taking little bites and changing the culture of art and broadening the view most people have to art. Many of you may be reading this from across the country and across the world but here in central Texas this is a real problem. The popular view is that if the painting does not have a cow, barn, or the state flower (the bluebonnet) in it, it is not art. Most Texans would be more than happy to simply hang a painted representation of the Texas flag on the wall and call that art. Changing culture. That's what we need to do and we can't do it separately. We are stronger together. So if you're not involved, get involved. There are Advocates and Arts Groups all across the country who do what Donna does. My advice is find one near you, join, and contribute.

Just keep swimming

2008-11-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

We all know the current state of the world economy. For a while I was checking the news daily to see how the market was doing and if it had rebounded any. I quit doing that. It will rebound... eventually. But I know that if I expect good news daily, I will be very disappointed most days. My son, Bennett, is 19 months old and obsessed with Finding Nemo. If you haven't seen it, it is one of the good ones. I should know. I watch it about 6 times a week (down from 10 times/week one month ago). Short synopsis: When little clown fish Nemo is taken off the reef by divers, Nemo's dad sets off on a journey to find him with the aide of an other fish named Dorie. Now Dorie is not the brightest bulb. She suffers from short-term memory loss and often forgets where she is and what she is doing. Nemo's dad, Marlin (clever) is a little high strung and always worried. Long story short... Dorie makes her way navigating through a complex world with the mantra "Just keep swimming." Throughout the movie, when times get tough and circumstances seem insurmountable, she sings her little song..."Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming, swimming..."

The point of my ramblings is this. Times are tough, yes. Especially for artists and galleries. People don't buy art when they are loosing their homes and jobs. We all know the economy will turn around, the only question is when. So we all have two choices... we can worry and obsess about it every day and make ourselves crazy, or we can follow Dorrie and just keep swimming.