It’s a late Monday afternoon in february, at the Art Studio/Store and home of artist Lazaro Amaral in North Miami, Fl. I am sitting on his patio floor while he is inside cleaning fresh paint off his silkscreen. He made me a coffee, we shared a smoke and now I write and he works. He is preparing for the coming show at Calix Gustav Gallery in Miami’s Design District in a little over two weeks.

His work reflects his latin influence and the surrounding tropical climate. Always using multi-layered images, repeating prints, using my words to create a pattern combined with the power of image to convey a message or story. For me, he is a creative outlet, a muse and channel for my poetry , a constant source of inspiration as I witness this working artist in constant pursuit of new goals and dreams.

Today I am writing about his new installation, a piece inspired by the title of the art show, ‘Art Bitch’ and inspired by Sarah Palin. Rife with comedy and strong political over tones, he has constructed a rotating manikin with Sarah Palin as a ‘moving’ target printed on it with hanging puppets sporting President Obama before a backdrop of poetry, color and image.

So news came Lazaro's way that the three canvases previously commissioned for the Calix Gustav Gallery (NW29th St.) in Wynwood, Miami's Design District will be featured in an opening reception for Barbara Hulanicki's 1st stateside solo exhibition. 'What exciting news!' He heard me cry. 'We must do something fabulous!' Lazaro agreed. So...

As two of the three canvases feature my poetry and Lazaro is designing T-shirt and art prints of our collaborative work, we decided this would be a fantastic opportunity to advertise our up and coming clothing line in addition to Lazaro's current work and to attract pedestrian traffic to The Store on1675 NE 123rd St, Miami 33181.

Lazaro will also be DJ, mixing in recordings of my poetry to classic 80's Kitch. In addition, we will be handing out a collaborative book produced by Lazaro, cataloging our future prints.

The book serves as correspondence art coupled as business cards detailing promotional information on products and classes.

Stop by the Calix Gustav Gallery on December 4th between 6-9pm or call (305) 576-8116 for more info.
Keep posted to see a video diary of how it all plays out!

Thanks for keeping up with Lazaro Amaral Art & ChloeBirdPoetry (chloebirdpoetry@wordpress.com)

Tommy Hilfiger donated a four print press to the South Florida Arts Center for the infamous Art Basel event. For the first time this magnificent machine was thrown before us, a mass of nuts and bolts. With nothing put an instructional DVD Lazaro and I descended upon the project of assembling, studying the steps and figuring out how to move the Print Press from the Art Center to Hilfiger’s store on Collins Ave.

This donation enables the artist to print up to four T-Shirts a time, with a rotational head, a new revolutionized ‘joy stick’ method that gives the printer the freedom to accurately register and align the design and to print multiple colors onto the fabric with speed and precision.
This was indeed the ultimate progression. From taking Lazaro’s printmaking and silkscreen class to printing in front of a crowd at Tommy’s store for four days straight.

Having received the images from Hilfiger’s offices in New York, Lazaro and I spent an evening exposing the images onto the Silkscreens, with all exposed; we transported the equipment to the store.

As the days unraveled myself, Lazaro and Nina became the ultimate dream team and the task of assembling the Four Print Press was an obstacle easily overcome. We found a rhythm together, one printing, one drying the inks and the other hanging and aligning the next T-Shirt, making it print ready. Not only did we feel cool and smart, but as time passed, our clothes got paint splattered, the crowds came for there garments and watched in wonder as the print heads rotated and we printed, printed, printed! Printed until I got a blister on my thumb. I have never been so proud of a blister, I finally felt like I had mastered the art of Printmaking.

Thank you Lazaro, Thank you Nina, Thank you Art Center South Florida and Thank you Tommy Hilfiger!

The Four Print Press will remain at the Art Center for the foreseeable future and I encourage anyone with an interest in creating their own designs and prints to take Lazaro’s class and get involved, as I have done. Very rewarding and happy to have paint splattered clothes.

I found Lazaro at the South Florida Arts Center (S.F.A.C) on Lincoln Road, Miami Beach when I enrolled to take a Printmaking & Silkscreen Class. Since that time this talented local artist has been ever inspiring, continually teaching me new ways to creatively express myself and develop my talents.

Lazaro's Art Inspiration & Style

Lazaro Amaral's unique sense of artistry was inspired by, Lillian Hellman's Pentimento. The word itself Pantimento relates to repetition, multi-layers and dimensions. It was during Lazaro's time at Parson's school of design in New York City that he was inspired by Pantimento and the city. He noticed the build up of old posters on vacant walls that would tear and reveal a section of graffiti or an old print beneath it. There is always something more, an underlying foundation or a glimpse of what it could become.
This is captured in his art through the use of vibrant colors, multi-layers and repeated prints. The effects created using silkscreen prints is a method unique to him and has left other printers scratching their heads and wondering, how did he do that? The result, his work is visually stimulating and immediately eye catching look closer and you will always find a new hidden detail, previously overlooked peeking through a new layer. 

It would seem Lazaro's gifts are a plenty, an exceptional artist and teacher. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to organically progress from student to his unofficial assistant with a lot to learn still, being able to watch and learn from a working artist is priceless.

I would recommend Printmaking & Silkscreen to any artist looking for a new avenue of expression. As a writer I was drawn to the class, I wanted to be able to print my words, explore images and text without having to pick up a paintbrush or pencil. In practicing printmaking I have also been opened to the world of photo shop and other related computer programs which only add to my skill set, capabilities and confidence.

For more information about Printmaking & Silkscreen at the S.F.A.C go to
http://www.artcentersf.org/_education/art_studies.php

BERRY PATCH PEOPLE PROJECT

Berry Patch People Co. Is a small start up business, founded by two mothers with a common interest in promoting healthy eating to children. Through the South Florida Arts Center they sought out Artist and Printmaker, Lazaro Amaral to produce 100 prints of the Berry Patch People onto children’s pillows and blankets.
 This was a monumental project for me to undertake. I had progressed from a first time printer, taking Lazaro’s Saturday morning class at the Arts Center to becoming his unofficial assistant.  I also saw this opportunity to utilize my Creative Writing Degree and develop story poems for the Berry Images.  This was really amazing as I had the opportunity to play with words, images of fruits and I have a heartfelt interest in promoting healthy organic foods to young children. Here a few of the story poems I wrote to compliment the images I was assisting Lazaro to print.

COCONUT

Kokai Coconut fell from a palm tree
He thought how are the others different from me
And then a thought cracked his hairy shell
And was able to see
Where there is no food or water
He can give life to thee
With milk from sun and sea

STRAWBERRY

Scarlet the Strawberry
Wore her seed on her skin
Blushing berry and full of vitamins
Good in ice cream, short cake
Or all alone,
Scarlet is summer sweet
And always a simple treat

PINEAPPLE

Tupi the Pineapple is a wild fruit
Always in hot pursuit
Everyone loves his juicy flesh,
Sunshine sweet and fresh
He fights the cold, the grey and flu
When eaten, he takes care of you.

PREPARING THE IMAGE

With the Images and Text decided, Lazaro applied his technical skills and used the illustrator program to adjust the images to size and width of print. The image required colour separations to make it print eligible. With this complete, images are printed out onto Acetate or Transparency paper.  Some of the images were too large to fit onto one sheet of acetate and in some cases up to four sheets were used and sellotaped together. Use an exacto or scissors to trip off excess paper; this gives you a bit more room for other images on your screen.

PREPARING THE SCREEN

Must be done in yellow light. Place images on the outside of the screen and fix using minimal pieces of scotch tape. Turn screen over onto black light. Get cut cardboard or cellophane and evenly fill inside of the screen. Apply even pressure on the screen, over the images using weights, phone books, even heavy objects. Turn on the black light and expose for 3-5 minutes.
Once complete, gently rinse screen under cool running water, until you can see the image appear on the screen. Dry screen and apply contact paper to outer side of screen, blocking out areas that you don’t want to print.




Prints of Grape Next to Silkscreen.             Final prints under Silkscreen                Silkscreens & Images

This photo shows the exposed image                                                                     Above shows images on transparency paper
on the screen and the final grape print.                                                                   pinned to wall and beneath it is the image on
                                                                                                                                 The Silkscreen.


PRINTING THE IMAGES ONTO FABRICS

Now the screen is ready, I help Lazaro set up to print.  Fix screen to clamps on printing table. Take a large piece of acetate to the side of the printing table. Run a long strip of masking tape along the side, so that the paper can be flipped away from the screen on a self made hinge. It is vital for the acetate to be secure as it is printed on and used as a point of reference.  Print onto the acetate and dry it. I then place the fabric under the acetate and ‘register’ it, lining it up to fit under where previously marked. And mark where the corners of the fabric are on the table with masking tape. Once image is aligned, lift acetate and print.
This process is repeated. Washing the screen in-between colors, taking care to not get unwanted ink on fabrics, printing fast enough so the paint doesn’t thicken and dry between prints, very tedious at times but rewarding when you fall into a rhythm.  




 Printing.                                                         Pineapple Print                                       Coconut

 Green paint is pushed through                      The first two color prints                         Lifting the screen to reveal a
 silkscreen creating the shape                                                                                       final print of the coconut & text
 of the exposed image.                                                                                                  on the blanket.





 Peanut                                                            Final Pineapple Pillowcases                    Final Coconut Print on Blanket

 Final prints of Peanut on                               
 pillowcases


I am very proud to be a part of this project. Proud to have had the opportunity to assist Lazaro Amaral and for the opportunity to write for Berry Patch People, I have learnt a lot, not only about printing but the nature of the Art Business and the creative process.  

A Typical Day... (Thursday 1st October 09)

I made it to Lazaro’s shop at 1pm. Coladas aka Cuban rocket fuel and then to work. Lazaro sprays the 8 by 5 foot canvas of David Bowie outside while I mix paints and begin to print; all the while enjoying the finest British 80’s music has to offer. When Lazaro returns he shows me the poem I wrote for the Bowie piece. It is arranged artistically and precise, I think it reads beautifully.

This is the first time I have seen my poetry presented with style,on display and merged with images. It’s also the first time I’ve felt a true sense of self and achievement in a long time. A moment that you want to inhale and hold in your lungs, a slip of skin, a flash that maybe a dream, ideal or goal can be achieved, that hope is not for sell but hidden between body and soul. My vision is to take poetry off the page. Words are like paint that creates a different picture in each in each person who reads it. With Lazaro’s talent, experience and guidance I strive to collaborate and celebrate words, color and images.

Check out Madonna, Michael Jackson and David Bowie that Lazaro createdfor the Calix Gustave Gallery, Miami. I played the attentive studentand assistant and have since advanced in the mastery of the exactoknife, printing and power tools.

To check out Lazaro and Me at the Calix Gustav Gallery showcasing his trio of Madonna, Micheal Jackson and David Bowie (Madonna & David also feature original poetics my me) follow link...

For more information on Lazaro’s creative shenanigans and mine signup to our blog or stop by the store 123 Biscayne, we are alsofrequently at the South Florida Arts Center on Lincoln Road. 

Below are some pics of the canvases in the making..

Lazaro sprays in Madonna

Me blocking out the red so Lazaro could print all over her face

To view the finished masterpiece follow this link

Repeat backdrop print of of David Bowie captured as Ziggy Stardust

Here I am blocking out areas before spraying David's face...

Finally blocked out we drag him outside, assist as Lazaro colors him in. Check out finished print

Michael before we sprayed his face purple.

Me painting a black outline around Michael's face

Applying the finishing touches...see complete

IMAGINE CURE
(Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 84”)
Lazaro Amaral 2009

IMAGINE CURE is a work created for the American Cancer Society, Relay for Life, Miami Shores, FL, by Miami artist Lazaro Amaral.

Lazaro Amaral was born in 1962, in Havana, Cuba. He fled to the United States with his parents in 1965 and graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York in 1988. Thereafter, he returned to Miami to launch his career in creative art.

Amaral is an accomplished artist whose work has been exhibited in Florida, New York, and California. He uses his talents in many ways; creating contemporary art pieces, both prints and sculptures, designing storyboards and sets for television and printed media, and teaching silk screening and print making.

Critics describe his style as action painting; it appears to be in motion. His openness to using found materials is a sign of his interest in the Dada collages, assemblages, and ready-made pieces of the ‘teens and twenties’. His work is also influenced by the 1960’s Pop movement’s attention to commonplace items as well as Abstract Expressionism’s rich, potent colors.

Amaral’s creations evidence a strong sense of personal destiny and a faith in the transcendent power of art to bind us together. His works invite contemplation. They stick in the mind and stubbornly refuse to go away. IMAGINE CURE does precisely that.

To see more of the artists work visit:

lazaroamaralart.com 1675 NE 123 ST North Miami, FL

This entry will be on present design work in general day to day stuff that I come across .

Have a new project that I'm working on . My friend Jane Russel gave me the idea to start making pop signs on buildings that she is promoting . So I came up with the idea to make them three dimensional . So I will be posting my progression on this with photos of all the stages on how I made them .         After the plaster sets , it has to be sanded down to create a softer look to the shape .    Just finished painting it today !   And here it is !   Been working on some designs for one client with a  religious them to them. Check them out!