Layers Upon Layers: Mixed Media Art

Artist Profile: Zura Beth

by Cyndi on January 17th, 2008

Artist: Zura Beth
Website: Creative Clown

Zura, how do you describe your work, and why did you pick your business name?
That is an interesting question, because reading the first part, I would have answered that a lot of my work comes from a deep emotional place and a lot of it is quite dark. But reading the second part of your question, I realize that my answer would seem to contradict what I just said. My business is called Creative Clown. I picked that name because I am colorful, silly and want to have fun in all I do. Maybe by reaching those deep, dark places within myself through my art allows me to be happy and carefree.

Doll

What is your creative process like?
The process usually starts with an image in my mind. It may have been inspired by something I’ve seen such as a shape, a color or another work of art. Sometimes a certain picture or image grabs me and I save it, then just take it out and start my collage from that. Gold seems to be an inspiring color for me, so sometimes I just start with gold paint and create a background on a canvas and the ideas begin to form.

I do not work neatly, nor do I like neat, tidy works. I slap on paint and sometimes pile it up, or leave blank areas on purpose. I like to create the look of texture. I rarely cut out my images, but rather tear them. If I mess up what I intended to do, I quite often just use the mistake and work with it.

I don’t do art everyday. But when I do start working, I will often work for long hours without stopping. I usually finish a piece before I stop.

Asset

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I took art courses in college and I have had individual art training. But I think the most important thing for me has been just doing it. Until I gave myself permission to spend hours creating, even if the dishes weren’t done, I never knew what I loved. I didn’t have my own style until I did hundreds of pieces and tried dozens of media.

I can remember buying products that artists I admired said they used. I’m glad I did, because it exposed me to lots of products and techniques. But, I’ve found that when I have an array of things to choose from, I will choose the same products over and over because they are the ones that I find most suited to me.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
It is difficult to imagine picking only one. I guess it would be Gesso. I’m not sure it’s the most important one, but it is one of the most versatile. I use gesso in many ways and love the ability to change the texture, brightness and color of things with it.

Kahlo

What inspires you to create?
The need to express myself. As you’ve probably noticed, I’m not the most articulate person, and yet I have a lot to express. I’ve found that I can express a lot through my visual art that I can’t say with language. That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about art journaling. I can get the emotions of a big event in my life down on one page visually, that would have taken dozens of pages if I tried to write it out in words.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Sometimes I don’t :)

If I get very frustrated, at times I chunk the whole project. This doesn’t happen to me very often, so when I do feel like nothing is working right, I figure that I’m not on the right path.
I’ll take some time away and usually what I really want to do will come to me, and I’ll re-start the project or start over on a new one.

Since I dont’ mind messes and mistakes and often use them, I dont’ get frustrated easily. But if I find a technique difficult, such as drawing, I usually get down on myself. The old nasty voice in my head starts and convinces me there’s no use to continue trying. Sometimes I listen to the voice, but I try to take it as my cue to learn, practice and know that I can improve.

Enough

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Forget the final outcome of any project! Just find the process that you love to DO. If you love the feeling of painting on the surface of a canvas board, then go to a garage sale and buy all the canvas boards you can afford. And go to WalMart and buy all your favorite colors of acrylic craft paint. Then just paint canvas boards. Do what you enjoy doing. If you forget the outcome, then your imagination and creativity have a place to bloom. You’ll be painting your umpteenth canvas board and suddenly have the perfect idea for a painting or collage or whatever your mind can dream!

Creative Lover

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Doing tech stuff to maintain my blog and website. I have a little geek in me and I enjoy learning to do web design things.

And my kids! I have two wonderful sons and 4 beautiful grandchildren that are the joy of my life.

What’s your favorite comfort food, or other favorite things?
I dont’ find a lot of comfort in food, but probably my answer here would be t.v. I love watching shows about cops and forensics. I can get lost in the mystery of finding and proving who the killer was.

Habits

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POSTED IN: Artist Profiles, Collage, Creativity, Mixed Media, Paper