Meet Gaby Zapien | A Passion for Portraits.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gaby Zapien and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gaby, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too” by Chilean writer Isabel Allende.

This quote is a reminder that there will never be a “perfect time” to do what you want to do, and that as a creative, you can’t wait around for inspiration, because it might never come. It’s really important to have a daily practice, to be continuously working on your craft, even when you don’t feel like it. Start creating without any pressure or expectations, just for the fun of it. Get in the zone, lose yourself, and that’s when magic happens.

Quite often, the best ideas come as the result of something you’re doing at that moment without even thinking about it… You happen to grab a different paint color, brush or tool than you normally would, and the results are unexpected and wonderful.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
.I work on two different portrait series, one which I call “Lifelines” with heavy outlines, flat, a bit abstract. In this series I focus on creating a pleasant composition with flowy lines and unexpected color palettes. Before I start painting, there’s a lot of sketching and planning until I’m happy with the lines which are the most important part.

I also work on another series, more free and expressionistic. These are fun to paint as there’s not much planning, I just go where the painting takes me.

I enjoy playing with a variety of media: watercolor on raw canvas, acrylic, oil and cold wax, mixed, digital. Most of my subjects are female, I like painting strong, beautiful young women as well as young children.

I’m excited about the future. As an emerging artist it’s so wonderful to hear positive comments about your work. It’s really encouraging to feel appreciated.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When I’m not painting in my studio I like being outside hiking or riding my bike. When friends and family come to visit I like to take them to my favorite parks: Roxborough State Park, Chatfield State Park, South Valley Park, Bear Creek Lake Park and so many others. Go to the Denver Art Museum, take a walk downtown, stop by Union Station for some drinks and treats. And if possible catch a concert at Red Rocks.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents, my husband, family members and friends for continuous support and encouragement. I’m also very thankful to many of the artists I’ve crossed paths with and that have been willing to share their experiences and valuable advice.

Website: https://www.gzapien.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabyzapien/