Lillian Scalzo Memoir - University of Illinois Springfield

Lillian Scalzo
Q: This was in 1959, I see, right?
A: Yes. (counts paintings) I did seven.
Q: Oh, I missed the two on the back. Now, how did you do these?
A: Oh, I went out and sketched them and then I took photographs. And
then I came back and painted them, because they have to be done twice the
size or maybe four times the size. They're bigger than this table when
they're done. They're quite large.
And what kind 05 paint did you use?
I used casein with a pallet knife.
And what is casein?
Casein is a heavy watercolor.
So the affect is somewhat like . . .
Oil.
Like oil.
Yes.
Did you ever teach a class on household gadgets? Using household
gadgets?
A: No. No.
Q: T saw that in one of those articles and I thought well.
A: No.
Q: That didn't sound too much like your line. One time you were quoted
as saying--talking about painting nudes and you said that you had to "be
in a nudi mood." (laughter)
A: No, when I was doing enamelings I did a great many nudes in enamel
which are very difficult to do.
Q: Oh, I can imagine.
A: Yes, and that's the reason I said, "You have to be in a nudi mood."
And I love nudes. I think they're the most beautiful thing you can do.
Q: Yes. What is a "nudi mood?"
A: Well, you just feel at that time that you want to do a nude instead
of doing sorething else. You're inspired by nudes.