Friday, January 27, 2012

Weekend Sketchbook

"Bearded Iris"
© Nancy Laliberte
sketchbook journal page
canson sketchbook, pentel brush pen, yarka pan watercolors, 
golden fluid acrylics, zig paint pen

Flipping through my sketchbook, I realized I did not post this entry from a while back. I experimented with some new materials when I created it with some results being successful and some not so much. Let's just say, fluid acrylics you are my friend. : ) And that is what a sketchbook is all about. Experimenting, allowing for some oops, and just goofing around and not being perfect. As my artist friend Bob Burridge says, "Perfect is boring." 

Now go grab your sketchbook, a notebook, even hotel stationery will work, and experiment--goof around with pens, crayons, make a mess, whatever. Just fill some pages and have some fun!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Winter's Garden Exhibit and More

Square Foot Garden series
© Nancy Laliberte
• sold
Nine 12" x 12" x 1-3/8" acrylic paintings on gallery-wrapped canvas


The Steven's Point Riverfront Art Center's Winter's Garden exhibit opens today with a reception from 5- 7pm. Last week I was at the Riverfront Art Center to jury the show. What a rewarding and challenging experience with so many outstanding pieces of artwork. Nancy Thorson is the new director and I thoroughly enjoyed working with her. "Winter's Garden" also received some nice press coverage from the Steven's Point Journal. Reporter Jamie Jung wrote a great article promoting the show which runs through February 19th. 


Below is the juror statement I wrote for the exhibit. 

Juror's Statement
Winter's Garden 2012



It was a pleasure for me to have the opportunity to jury the Riverfront Art Center’s Winter’s Garden 2012 exhibition. The process was a rewarding and challenging experience. There are no hard fast rules; one comes armed only with an understanding of composition and design, an appreciation of a wide range of styles and media, and a good eye for images that manage to communicate something more than the sum of their basic elements. My approach is to look carefully and respectfully at every piece before making a decision. By looking at four key areas: concept, composition, commitment and craftsmanship/presentation, selections were made. Artwork was selected that fit this criteria standing on its own and as a part of the exhibit as a whole. Just as a living garden has design, shape, color and form, so, too, does this exhibit. It was my intent to not only showcase incredible works of art, but to make the experience of viewing and walking through Winter’s Garden as rewarding as possible. 

I would like to congratulate and encourage every artist who submitted work for this show. Being an artist is a tough gig, but the opportunity to create makes it so worthwhile. Above all, follow your heart and keep sharing.

_________________________

Also opening tonight is Wausau's Center for the Visual Arts Midwest Season's show. The reception for that exhibit is from 5-7 pm. It too, is a wonderfully inspiring exhibit, and a favorite in the community. The show is up until March 3rd, so if you can't make it tonight, be sure to stop in before then.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Work and Play

 "Thinking of You"
© Nancy Laliberte
4" x 4" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas
$35 plus sh


side view

I have been busy with some freelance design work among other projects, but did manage to fit in some painting time. It is all about balance, right? That definitely applies to me. This is a painted version of a collage project. I loved the subject matter and wanted to paint it again. 


In my last post I mentioned the warm weather we had been having. After that spell it snowed a bunch and as you can see in the pictures below we are enjoying our backyard playtime. These were from Sunday afternoon and it was beautiful outside.


 
My son Nicholas taking a spin while Dad (Mike) watches. 
We had to build a berm to keep from hitting the trees.

Nicholas leading the way down the hill.

A double decker tube sandwich! Yum!

Friday, January 6, 2012

Summer in January

"Lily Trio"
© Nancy Laliberte
12" x 12" x 1-1/2" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas
Sold

It is a whopping 42 degrees here today and I'm loving it! Our backyard "tubing" hill is melting, but it is great snow sculpting weather so the kids are now channeling their energies to snow fort construction. Here is the finished painting from Monday's sneak peek. I told you I am already thinking summer, even though my 8-year-old informed us that he wants to move to Antarctica. 

Monday, January 2, 2012

Sneak Peek

work in progress

Happy New Year everyone! My family and I had a great holiday and I hope you did, too. Today, the kids went back to school and I was able to get back in the studio. It was a warm-up, get back in the groove kind of day as I worked on a couple of paintings that had been started a while back. Here's a sneak peek at a portion of one of the pieces...it's only January and I am already thinking summer. : )