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Watercolors
Fine Arts and Commercial Art merge in the eye of Frank Zorman
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By Manuel Arteaga
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Frank Zorman's interest in art started back in Cleveland, Ohio, where he grew up. He then went on to attend art school, graduating with an Associates Degree in Advertising Art and Design.
In 1965 he was hired at the Cleveland Press Newspaper in the Advertising Art Dept., where he designed newspaper ads and in 1979 he was promoted to Art Director. During those years, he also painted watercolors and acrylics as a hobby. He still does.
Frank's graphic design background influenced his watercolor style. He paints in a realistic style, basically copying from selected photos and creating new compositions. He transfers the drawing to paper and then he accomplishes its realism with the colors on his palette, adding more interest with variations of colors than the photo actually shows.
When creating a new design or painting job. What should we keep in mind?
As in graphic design when I start a painting I try to organize my starting point, which is composition, then use color to create an interesting background, a middle ground, and a foreground.
Do you have any experience you want to share with us about painting or design?
In addition to yachts, I paint still-lives and landscapes. But I find flowers special. I've painted many of them. They inspire me because of the variation of colors and the detail.
When I do paintings of yachts I usually do an accurate drawing of the yacht, then add color to the sky, water reflection, and try to compose the painting so it is pleasing to the viewer, still maintaining realism so the yacht looks like the photo.
How do you get your mind set prior to starting a painting or design? Do you have special rituals?
I've always tried to balance my desire to paint with my career in graphic design. I believe the mind-set is totally different between design and painting. In graphic design I try to convey interest with the style of the text I choose and balance type, images and color so it is pleasing to the eye, but yet informs the reader so that it accomplishes what the client is seeking.
When painting I have more flexibility in color and composition where I try to express my talents and hope the viewer is pleased. I usually paint in daylight hours because I see colors in their actual hue. Sometimes I blend artificial light with actual daylight. And yes, a glass of wine while painting sometimes helps me loosen up… (he lets out a laugh).
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Have you ever painted portraits?
Occasionally I will paint a portrait as a commission. It's not my favorite because the likeness and colors have to be pretty accurate so that the viewer can recognize the person. I also do them from photos.
Portrait painting is a very specialized form because not only do you need to accomplish the likeness of the person, but also interest with color and composition.
How do you select your colors when you are creating a painting or a design? What do you base your selection on?
When painting a watercolor the subject dictates what colors I will use. I have all my colors in my palette and use them as I create interest with variations of colors. I have no plan on which colors I will use until I start to develop the painting.
In graphic design I have to organize my type, images, color, and composition- not necessarily in that order. Different mind-set than painting.
Can you paint with total freedom knowing that is a project for a client?
I like to paint when I am inspired by an idea or photo. When I do commission painting I feel a bit restricted. My landscapes and flowers reflect my freedom and enjoyment in painting.
In today's world art seems to make changes continuously and without direction. How do you keep your style and mind set about it? Do you have any advice for first-time artists?
Even though art changes continuously I have always tried to be realistic rather than abstract. My advice for upcoming artists is to enjoy creating and to express yourselves with color and style. It can be very lucrative if you are patient and keep striving to get better whether in graphic design or fine art. Take courses in computer graphics for print and animation. For painting, take lessons in fundamentals then take it to your limits, but enjoy it! You can combine and complement both tendencies.
I even enjoy digitizing my paintings and creating different color versions on computer. I'm very lucky that I have computer graphic design background and can combine it with my painting.
Today's art is becoming very objective because of technology - and where it will go nobody knows, especially computer graphics.
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