Guido R. Zanni

Biography

I classify myself as an abstract fluid artist. My training consists of college courses and numerous workshops. To a large extent, I am a self-taught artist, developing my own techniques and style, using mostly acrylic paints.

I have been extremely active from 2010 to the present, producing several paintings per month. During this time, I have honed my skills and developed my own application techniques. It has only been within the past five years that I have entered my art in curated galleries and exhibits.

Within the past few years, my art has been featured in both solo and group shows. To date, I have received three awards in curated exhibits.  I am a member of the Alexandria Art League as well as a member of Gallery 75, exhibiting works there on a regular basis. Both galleries are located in Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory, a thriving art center that houses over 80 studios. More recently, I have been accepted as an exhibiting artist at Gallery Underground and I look forward to sharing my works with patrons and visitors.

Inspiration

Most of my works are derived from the beauty and richness of nature. Consequently, my abstracts reflect the serenity of losing one’s self in nature’s stunning pigmented colors. I attempt to capture the gentle movements of nature be it wind or light with the goal that viewers are temporarily distracted from the grind of daily life.

I rarely go into my studio with a clearly defined outcome in mind.  Rather, I tend to visualize emotions, themes, or movements that I would like to capture. I always strive to create art that is uplifting and comforting.

Fluid Art

Fluid art originated in the 1930s; Jackson Pollock is perhaps the best known fluid artist.  I work mostly with acrylics, which are mixed with a thinning medium and poured onto a canvas. The flowing paint is then manipulated into the desired design.  Brushes are rarely used; paint is manipulated with air guns, chains, strings, and palate knives.

Fluid art is not a random process; outcome is guided by an understanding of the physics and chemistry of paints including paint density, viscosity, reflective properties, pigmentation, and texture. The entire work must come together before the paint begins to dry.  At best, I have one to two hours to complete the work. Consequently, I devote considerable time in planning and preparing paint mixtures.