Say goodbye to the brush at Art Fusion

Jackie Saccoccio creates abstract paintings without ever using a brush. At Art Fusion during Downtown Art Walk on September 7, guests are invited to create paintings inspired by her process.

Saccoccio uses a variety of methods to achieve the striking look of her “improvisational portraits” featured in Confronting the Canvas: Women of Abstraction. She tilts canvases, allowing paint to drip. She interacts with the materials on her canvases as they dry to lift layers, spread pigment, and create oily webs of color. Most surprisingly, Saccoccio uses her canvases to paint on other canvases! She drags the edge of one canvas across another, which means some works share paint with one another.

Inspired by Saccoccio's methods, create an abstract work of art by scraping, dragging, pulling, and even dripping paint. Use a palette knife, a piece of cardboard, or even the side of a willing neighbor's work--anything except a brush. Use your instincts to decide which colors to choose, where to apply them, and how much to use. While the idea of throwing paint onto a canvas might seem easy, it is surprisingly difficult to create an abstract work that is balanced and pleasing to the eye. Don't worry if you're not happy with your first attempt; layers are encouraged! That's another method Saccoccio uses. And just as Saccoccio uses mica to give her canvases a shimmery look, try incorporating glitter into your artwork.

Inspired by Renaissance and Mannerist portraits, Saccoccio uses pools of translucent paints and varnishes that could be thought of as faces and figures in traditional portraits. Hence the name “improvisational portraits.” What will your inspiration be?

Although the Confronting the Canvas exhibition has ended, one of Saccoccio's works remains at MOCA Jacksonville forever. She is the first recipient of the Brooke and Hap Stein Emerging Artist Prize, which means her painting Time (Smelt)   was acquired for the Museum's Permanent Collection. Her painting is a vivid reminder of the groundbreaking exhibition.