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Steven Tyler Study by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

Painter Tracy Burke lives in Orlando, Florida and is accomplished in both abstract and figurative work. Her style is unmistakable, and her large, colorful canvases exhibit a mastery of composition and attention to detail.

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to ask her about her process and her experience in the art market:

You are one of the few painters I know who has success with both figurative and abstract work. Why do you choose to do both?
In college, my full attention was figurative. I wanted the emotional eye-to-eye contact of the subject to engage the viewer. My abstract work came much later as an exercise in expanding the backgrounds of the figurative work to be just as engaging as the people.

Verdun #20 by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

In what direction is your work going?
I’m working on a new series merging both styles – I want to capture what needs to be said from the figure and push back the rest into pattern, shape and color.

How’s business?
Business is good, but has taken on a huge transformation over the past couple of years. I’ve had to adapt and try new avenues.

Billie Joe Armstrong by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

What are your ideal working conditions?
I like lots of light, space and good music. Sunlight is motivating, and I find that my productivity slows to a crawl on rainy days. I blame it on the drying time for paint layers, but I’m sure it’s more than that!

Do you have any advice for someone just getting started as an artist?
It’s all mileage. Don’t concentrate on showing or selling, developing your style or finding your niche. Just log the hours and put in the mileage. Everything else will fall into place.

Tidal by Tracy Burke on Zatistsa.com

What other art medium would you like to attempt / not attempt?
Encaustic. I’m so drawn to so many encaustic artists and works. I’d really love to learn more about it as a medium.

You are married to the very talented painter, Ralph Verano. How is it having two working painters in the house?
We have very different styles, but the work situation couldn’t be better; I have a like-minded sounding board on what I’m working on at any time. We work in the same studio, and benefit from each other’s feedback and support all the time.

Jim Jarmusch by Tracy Burke on Zatista.com

More and more, collectors looking for original art are turning to online venues like Zatista. What can you tell our readers about your experience?
I’ve had great success with Zatista! They have a great website, an aggressive marketing campaign that has targeted the right art buyers, and a flexible platform that has allowed me to sell to my collectors seamlessly, including custom commissions. I’ve been with them for over a year now, and have been fortunate to enjoy great sales and a great relationship with their team.

Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.

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First, a little history lesson. When pop art entered the scene in the late 1950s, it swiftly became the art of the masses. Common objects like Campbell’s Soup Can labels and boxes of commercial soap were used to inspire feelings of romance, sentimentality and humor. Leading the movement was Andy Warhol, an American painter and filmmaker. Warhol was in love with the cult of celebrity and enjoyed infusing the images of some of America’s most beloved icons into his work.  One of Warhol’s famous pieces, “Eight Elvises,” recently sold for a record $100 million. In case you’re wondering what $100 million looks like, here you go:

"Eight Elvises" by Andy Warhol (courtesy of Upper Playground.com)

Thankfully, you don’t have to be a millionaire to infuse your home with the flavor and fun of pop art. Here’s a perfect piece for your TV room- especially if you’re a fan of Transformers (because clearly, that’s why everyone is into Megan Fox):

"Megan Fox" by Dan Griffin-Hayes, a Zatista artist

Instead of hanging one of those country kitsch “restroom” signs that have become so popular, why not hang a referential Vaseline Hair Tonic magazine ad?

"Oh-Oh Dry Scalp" by George Fryne, a Zatista artist

If you’re looking to ignite discussion, there’s nothing like an image of Fidel to stoke the conversational fires…

“Fidel” by Martin Wachter, a Zatista artist

Of course, some naysayers believe that pop art is a hackneyed, juvenile hobby for artists who can’t execute their visions using traditional mediums.  While I strongly disagree, do you consider pop art a valid form of artistic expression?