New Work: Inspiration and The Why

Fostering Brilliance, 30"x40"x2", acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel, 2016 copyright Mary Zeran

Fostering Brilliance: The Story Behind the Title

It seems like nowadays everyone is "brand".  I like to imagine slogans hovering over the heads of people in my neighborhood.  "Fostering Brilliance" would be a slogan for young parents. It sounds so exciting, so grand, real super hero stuff. So full of hope for their young children.

Artists dream about art in the same way. We are always chasing after the elusive masterpiece. Do we get there? Sometimes, but more often not. Fostering Brilliance is a way of stating a purpose or intent for each art making session. Even if the piece doesn't end up being a masterpiece, it is part of the learning process that contributes to the ever elusive masterpiece.

Visual Inspiration

Do you store images in your head? I do....I'm constantly focusing on creating visual memories of vacations, good times, and moments. The first time I saw this strong red form was about 6 years ago. This modern bit of architecture was in the Colima Zoo, in Colima, Mexico. The texture and density of this adobe building  was so interesting because of the sharp angles. I wonder what the rooms felt like inside.

The Albert Paley sculpture outside of Cedar Rapids Public Library has similar shapes and color.   The red is such a strong, dominant color that just screams POW!!! 

One day I was foraging through my red scrap drawer and I saw the red formin "Fostering Brilliance". Instantly, I thought of that wonderful trip to Mexico. I also remembered riding my bike passed the  Albert Paley sculpture on Tuesday evening. It was one of those perfect evenings where the temperature was just right. Lots of people where out and about enjoying the weather, our new Green Square Park, and the Summer. These memories where so strong I built the whole piece around this shape.

Another Shot at The Carnival, 36"x48"x2", acrylic, Dura-Lar on cradled panel, 2016 copyright Mary Zeran

Another Shot at the Carnival: The Story Behind the Title

I've always had a love of super sweet treats. I will eat them until I am nauseous. One of my strongest memories from childhood is sitting in the back seat of my parents car and...consuming a whole bag of Circus Peanuts. Do you remember those weird, textured, orange, confections? I sure do. The first time I had these I remember consuming the whole bag. These seemed magical to me. So squishy, so sugary, such a strange color. Why orange? The texture and color in the large pink form in "Another Shot at the Circus" reminds me of Circus Peanuts.  I think it is the mysterious of the color and the imperfection of the marks.