All That Glitters!

Over the weekend I attended a party/art opening @ Frenchy's Beauty Parlor. My friend Kym & I walked around, sipping our Lonestar's & talking about the art. My favorite of the evening was Sue Zola's glitter art. Portraits of popstars, pornstars, film & fashion icons lined the walls. All of them 100% glitter! My friend Ashley, who is a stylist @ Frenchy's, came up as I was admiring the portrait of Mick Jagger, his giant lips sparkling like ruby's & she says "Don't fall in love, he's taken! I bought it!" (!!!)
Then she took my jealous ass to meet the artist.
Sue is talented, friendly & hilarious! She truly is the Glitter Art Diva. She was kind enough to do a little Q n A with me, enjoy!

ME: After meeting you at Frenchy's the other night (such a fun party) I realized that I didn't notice one stray piece of glitter on you! Not in your hair or stuck to your dress, nada! It seems impossible to me! How do you keep all the glitter under control?

SZ: You may not have looked close enough, because believe me, glitter gets everywhere.....maybe it was just hiding in all the places that didn't show!


ME: I'm guessing that you never thought you'd be the THE Glitter Art Diva when you grew up. When you were a little girl what was your idea of a dream job?

SZ: Up until 1999, I was a musician. I came to Austin, the "Live Music Capitol of the World" from New Haven, Ct. to pursue music but ironically, I never actually got anything going.
Instead, I met my husband Dave, bought a cute little house in South Austin, and started doing glitter art as a hobby. Now my little "hobby" has become a career....hhmmm, go figure!

ME: You've been showing off your glittery goods in gallery's since 2001, has there ever been a masterpiece that you regret parting with?

SZ: Oh there have been quite a few pieces that regretfully I had to part ways with. Actually, right now I'm recreating a piece that I did about a year ago; Van Gogh's "Starry Night".
It looks pretty incredible in glitter, although it is definitely my own interpretation.


ME: What's the strangest thing you've ever committed to glitter?

SZ: There have been lots of strange custom pieces throughout the years, but the strangest piece was x-rated.....a certain manly body part that was an actual picture of the aforementioned body part....yikes!

ME: The other night you mentioned that you recently did a group art show in Vegas for Breast Defense with Iggy Pop & Kim Gordon! Did you get to rub elbows with either of them & if so did you mention to Iggy that in the past you have glitterized him & all his glory?

SZ: Oh I wish I had had the opportunity to rub elbows with Iggy Pop, the guy is a living legend, but alas, I have never met Iggy or Kim Gordon.
Who knows what the future holds though....

ME: I know you get a lot of requests for custom pieces, does one come to mind as most challenging or most flattering?

SZ: It is by far the most challenging to do a memorial piece, there's no room for error, plus it's a daunting responsibility to make it come to life and come out perfectly.

ME: You have done so many amazing portraits, have you ever done a self portrait? If so, can we see it?!

SZ: Nope, no self-portrait as of yet. There are too many better things out there to do in glitter than my mug!

ME: Last but not least, what can all of us glitter fiends expect to see in the future?

SZ: Well, rock stars never go out of style, but currently I am still obsessed with vintage cereal box glitter art, and I am on another cupcake kick!
Also, lately I have been in a girlie phase, so I absolutely love making flower glitter art!

You are probably looking around & noticing a serious lack of glitter in your life. If so, you will want to hit Sue up for one of her masterpieces.
Email her allthatglitters@austin.rr.com or contact her on myspace


AND if you want to look like one of Sue's masterpieces I suggest you try this Starry Eyed Eyeliner by Too Faced. They are fantastic & have the most fitting names imaginable! My favorites?
Obsessed Fan * Drunk Dial * Ooh Aah * Super Freak * Gold Digger