Congratulations to artist Lisa Zinna, our latest Instagram Winner! Based in Austin TX, Lisa is a photographer who experiments with mixed media. Lisa describes her work as color crazy photo art: "I'm a fan of pretty colors, layering photos, swapping background colors, minimal compositions, and abstracts/collaging. Most recently, I've been doing some abstract art pieces using hand cut resin shapes and plaster."
Does where you're from or where you currently live influence your work?
I'm originally from New York, but have been in Austin for over 20 years, so I've gotten used to the dryer landscape and now enjoy nature photography, including cactus, trees, flowers, beach scenes, and palm trees. I also do a collaboration with Sylvia Troconis (@stroconis) where we highlight the local Austin and Texas scenes (popular and local restaurants, etc.), creating, what we call, 3D photography.
What's your art background? Are you self taught or did you study art?
I was a technical writer at IBM for 27 years, but always had a love of photography. I started seriously editing photos (on my phone, mostly) about 10 years ago. It became almost an addiction, but it was also my relaxation. I took art classes in college when I needed a "fun" elective as a mathematics major. Other than that and online learning, I was self-taught through lots of practice and experimenting.
I was a technical writer at IBM for 27 years, but always had a love of photography. I started seriously editing photos (on my phone, mostly) about 10 years ago. It became almost an addiction, but it was also my relaxation. I took art classes in college when I needed a "fun" elective as a mathematics major. Other than that and online learning, I was self-taught through lots of practice and experimenting.
Are you a full time artist or do you create around work hours?
I retired 7 years ago and have been doing art more seriously since then.
I retired 7 years ago and have been doing art more seriously since then.
What do you love about the mediums that you use?
Photography can be done anywhere, all the time, and editing can be done in a grocery store parking lot, if "necessary".
When did you discover resin?
I discovered resin about 8 years ago. I was frustrated by it at first and gave up on it for a couple years, but then once I started back, I took it more slowly and didn't do as much experimenting so I could get the basics down first.
How has resin impacted your artwork?
Everyone loves the shine of resin and it makes my photos pop, for sure. It's very important that I don't let resin drip down the sides of the wood panel. I like the very clean look of that. It's my signature look to have a perfect coat of resin...no drips, no runs, no errors, as I like to say.
Can you provide a brief rundown of your process?
Because I use resin on a photograph on a wood panel, it gives me a completely flat surface to apply the resin. Having that completely level surface is half of the battle of not having the resin run down the sides. The second trick is to measure correctly. I think people don't realize at first how watery it is. I like to use the ArtResin measurements and subtract 1/3 to get a nice top-only coating that doesn't drip. Pour the resin in the middle and push slowly out to the sides, right to the edges. Torch the bubbles and then put a plastic container over it to keep out the fuzz, dust, hairs. I don't use masking tape for the sides, but that's just because I've had years and years of practice. If it does happen to drip, I sand it after it's hardened so that it still looks clean on the sides.
Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?
I'm an ideator, first and foremost. Thinking creatively and being curious and experimenting are good for my soul. With resin alone, I'm always trying to come up with new ways to use it and apply it, be it sanding it for a matte finish (completely, in spots, or stripes or dots) or pouring it on parchment paper and then cutting it into shapes after 16 hours or so. The resin tints add even more possibilities! Pouring leftover tinted resin into a small milk carton, and after 10 times, removing the paper container (it comes off cleanly!) and there's a striped block that I'm going to do "something" with...stay tuned.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Photographic editing is relaxing for me when I'm feeling overwhelmed. Staying up into the wee hours with ideas that I need to try is so exhilarating and I absolutely love the surprises that come about from layering photos that seem like they have no business being together, but then they do.
What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art?
My art is colorful and I hope that it fills someone with joy or makes them happy. With our collab pieces, they are nostalgic and bring back pleasant memories and we love to hear the stories people have to tell about why they connect to a piece or place.
How do you define success as an artist? What does success look and feel like for you?
Success for me, is this exact thing, where someone contacts me out of the blue(ish) and says that I've done something they want to highlight or feature and they appreciate what I do and how I do it. Keeping my head down and creating, creating, creating leads me to those places that surprise me and delight me beyond my wildest dreams.
Where do you sell your work?
Just recently, I was lucky enough to get studio space at Canopy in Austin, which is an artist community. My work and our collab work is available at Art for the People Gallery (@aftpgallery), Julie Ahmad Contemporary Art (@julieahmad_art), and the Blue Genie Art Bazaar (@bluegenieartbazaar). At the end of last year, Sylvia and I had a two-person show featuring our individual works, plus our collab pieces at the Georgetown Art Center. That was the highlight of my art career thus far.
To see more of Lisa's work:
Follow her on Instagram: @lisa.zinna
Follow her on Instagram: @lisa.zinna
Visit her website: www.lisazinna.com
Congratulations on your win, Lisa!
Every month, to celebrate our community of artists, ArtResin will send out a 32 oz kit to two lucky people who have tagged us on Instagram, showing the work they've created with ArtResin.
ArtResin: Made For Artists, By Artists
