Sarasota Orchestra Harmony Gallery Solo Exhibition

For those in the Sarasota area, you are invited to stop by the Sarasota Orchestra Harmony Gallery from now through October 31 to see my solo exhibition, Tropical Blues. The gallery is at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center - 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota and is usually open Monday-Friday 8:30AM-4:30PM and whenever the building is open to the public. You are also invited to the artist reception on Tuesday, October 22 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM.

You will see a collection of oil and acrylic paintings with the tropical theme of "blue" ocean and sky.

 

Have a great week,
Alan

 

Split Personality

I have been working on two paintings at the same time. One is a large oil seascape (Solomon Bay - St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands) and the other is a large acrylic seascape (a commission). I am learning how to shift my technique back and forth when using oil and then acrylic. There are pros and cons to both so I find that it's a matter of adjusting my thought process and my technique. When I find that I need a break from one painting, I load up the other on my easel and change out my paints.

In a way, it helps me to stay fresh and also provides the opportunity to try something that I was successful at when painting with oil and apply it to my acrylic painting and visa-versa. The result often turns out great (much better than expected) but occasionally it leads to a not-so-wonderful result. When that happens, I have also learned how to recover from a mistake in both mediums. Experimentation is initially a little scary, especially on a large canvas, but ends up being a lot of fun!

I am currently putting the finishing touches on Solomon Bay - 30" x 40" oil on gallery wrap canvas).

And, I am half-way through my acrylic commission seascape painting (an as yet an untitled 24" x 72" acrylic on gallery wrap canvas).

 

 

Have a great week and experiment a little!

 

Appreciate Each and Every Moment

For 30 years, my previous life revolved around human resource development and career development. I have always been passionate about helping people discover and follow their own passion in life. Most importantly, appreciating and enjoying each and every day that we live.

For this blog post I would like to reference a little story excerpted from my book, Choosing a Life Well Lived: How to Recreate Your Career and Your Life Through Value-Based Choices, that illustrates the idea of appreciating the moment – before it is gone forever.
 

 

 

The Fisherman and the Businessman

 

One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf.  He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.

 

About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was relaxing on the beach with a fishing pole in the sand instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. "You aren't going to catch many fish that way," said the businessman to the fisherman, "you should be working rather than lying on the beach!"

 

The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, "And what will my reward be?" "Well, you can get more poles and catch more fish!" was the businessman's answer. "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

 

The businessman replied, "You will make money and you'll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!" "And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman again.

 

The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman's questions.  "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!" he said. "And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.

 

The businessman was getting angry. "Don't you understand?  You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!"

 

Once again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?" The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, "Don't you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won't have a care in the world!"

 

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "And what do you think I'm doing at this moment?"

                                                               -- Author Unknown

Have a Great Week, Everyone!

Completed my WATER Series

I completed the third 30"x40" oil painting in my series about WATER. You may notice that I slightly changed the composition of the second painting. It was pointed out to me (and I agreed) that the starfish was a distraction to the overall composition. Thanks for that advice, Barry.

The third painting is my take on the view one has while paddling out to catch waves. The composition shows a close-to-the-surface perspective as the white water of a small breaking wave approaches.

So far, I have tentatively titled these paintings, Water #1, #2, and #3. If you have a suggestion for more appropriate and creative names for these 3 paintings, please leave your suggestions in the comments section of this post.

Water #1

 

Water #2

 

 

Water #3

 

 

Have a great weekend!

Appying Finishing Touches to Water #2

I am in the latter stages of the second in a series of paintings about WATER; warm, crystal clear tropical beach water. As a member of Ocean Futures Society, an organization founded by Jean-Michel Cousteau, missioned to preserve the cleanliness of our oceans, I wanted to bring attention to the beauty and fragility of our oceans.

I have been a water person for my entire life -- riding waves first with a blow-up raft when I was little, then transitioning to a surf board, and now, since the knees are a bit beat up, to a boogie board. And, every trip to the Caribbean includes great snorkeling adventures.

Consider joining me in support of future generations having cleaner ocean water than we have now.

This second 30"x40" in my series, using a large amount of glazing technique, is almost complete. I still need to even out the glossiness with a varnish once it cures, so I guess I'll begin painting #3.

Have a great week!



Water #2 by Alan Zawacki -- in progress



 

Water #2 by Alan Zawacki -- close up detail

Glazing My Way Through a Seascape

I am currently working on several 40”x30” canvases for an upcoming solo show in December at the Players Theater in Sarasota, Fl. In addition to my existing paintings, I am creating a series of water paintings using a glazing technique.

Although I had created paintings that incorporated some glazing in the past, these will be painted primarily through glazing many layers of blues and greens to try to achieve a translucent feel to the water.

The following are several progress photos of the first painting using this technique. I began with a grisaille (monotone under-painting) and then layered a glaze of color each day, letting it dry overnight. After six layers of various glazes, I am now in the later stages of adding highlights and modifying areas that still need some adjusting.

Grisaille

 

After 2nd glaze

 

After 4th glaze

 

After 6th glaze

 

After 2nd application of highlights

 

 

It's a very challenging way for me to approach a painting since I have to force myself to be patient with the day-to-day process. I still have some work to do on this yet but I can now see it coming together in these final stages. Then, on to the next.

 

Have a great week everyone.

Finished Oil over Acrylic Painting

I told everyone in my last post that I would let you know when I finished the Chapel and Flowers painting - a 24"x24" oil over acrylic on canvas. So, here it is.

 

 

 

This is an actual hillside chapel in St. Thomas, USVI, on the property where we usually stay. This painting was originally done in acrylic and I have over-painted the original with oils. Since I had the chance to slightly modify the composition, I made the painting a bit truer to the real-life scene. I'm enjoying the added brilliance and vibrant colors that I get with over-painting in oil. A photo of the original acrylic is on my previous blog post.

Have a great week!