Friday, November 16, 2012

Petite Peintures - original acrylic paintings by Nancy Laliberte

"Nestled In"
© Nancy Laliberte
4" x 4" x 1-1/2" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas 
available at Riverfront Arts Center - Stevens Point, WI


"Little Nesters"
© Nancy Laliberte
4" x 4" x 1-1/2" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas 
available at Riverfront Arts Center - Stevens Point, WI

I can't believe it is Friday already! I have been working on several paintings of all different sizes for gift gallery shows and Christmas commissions. If you have something special you would like painted, there is still time to make your request. Just email me at lalibertefineart@gmail.com to get your commission painting started.  

In the meantime, pictured are two of several petite peintures that are available at Riverfront Arts Center in Stevens Point, WI. Tonight is their opening reception from 5 - 7:30 pm. All of their shows are wonderful and the Fine Art Gift Gallery show is no exception. The artists participating work hard to provide artwork at many price points making it easy to purchase uniquely creative gifts for everyone on your Christmas list. I love that! I will be there getting a head start on my shopping, and I would love to see you there, too. Plus, they always serve up some delicious food and drink.  

To see more of my paintings available at Riverfront Arts Center, visit my studio facebook fan page of Nancy Laliberte Fine Art, and while you're at it (and if you haven't already), "Like" it so you can be in on the behind-the-scenes happenings in my studio and more.   

Also taking place tonight is the opening to the "Form and Function" show at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau. My artist friend and amazing fine art quilter Sharon Rotz is one of the artists participating in the show. Check out Sharon's blog and website to see the incredible work she does. The opening reception is from 5 - 7 pm. The CVA's gift gallery will also be open this evening for your holiday shopping.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

You Are My Sunshine – Always and Forever - original acrylic painting by Nancy Laliberte


"You Are My Sunshine – Always and Forever"
© Nancy Laliberte
10" x 8" acrylic on canvas panel

I looove being a part of surprises and gifts, and painting commissions give me the opportunity to do just that! A collector called me after seeing my sunflower post last week, and requested a larger version for an anniversary gift. How sweet is that?! This morning I received an email saying, "She has the gift and she loves it..." Totally made my day! Happy Anniversary B and C!

All framed and ready to go. 

Original art is a wonderful, lasting gift for any occasion. Commissions are always welcomed whether it is a painting you fell in love with on my blog or website and it has already sold, or your own image of a special place, person, or thing. Contact me at lalibertefineart@gmail.com and we will work out the details. 

Monday, October 15, 2012

You Are My Sunshine, and more...

"You Are My Sunshine"
 © Nancy Laliberte
8" x 6" acrylic on panel

Recently The Women's Community of Wausau held their annual fundraiser, The Art of Healing. Several Wausau area artists, myself included, contributed artwork for the auction portion of the event. "You Are My Sunshine" has made a bright and cheery addition to someone's growing art collection, and helped a very important organization in the process. 


The "and more" part 
Tuesday evening, October 16th, I will be facilitating a session on "The Art of Care" at Aspirus Women's Health annual "Goin' Out for The Girls"event. In my session, each participant will be creating a Gratitude Journal through stamping, collaging, painting and writing. There will be all kinds of fun papers, inks, paint, stamps, word tickets and other ephemera along with suggestions to make each journal unique. Why a Gratitude Journal? Scientists have done studies showing that having a positive outlook and an "attitude of gratitude" can make a difference in healing and happiness. I wholeheartedly agree! As a 11+ year breast cancer survivor, I know first-hand how attitude can be everything in making it through a health crisis or personal crisis of any kind. The event runs from 5:30 - 8:00 pm at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. There are still some spaces available, just call 800-847-4707 to register. So gather up your girlfriends and treat yourselves to a FREE night of "Goin' Out for The Girls!" See you there!

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Culture and Agriculture 2012

"The Family Farm"
© Nancy Laliberte
18" x 24" acrylic on canvas
sold

I am pleased to announce that I have had two pieces juried into the Culture and Agriculture 2012 show at New Visions Gallery in Marshfield, Wisconsin. This is their signature show and, having grown up on a farm, one of my personal favorites. Please join me and other exhibiting artists at the opening reception on Sunday, July 8th, 2012, from 3 pm - 5 pm at the gallery. The show runs from July 8 through August 31, 2012. 

My painting, "The Family Farm," was inspired by my maternal, Irish grandparents. Their farm was located in the Black Valley area outside of Wilton, Wisconsin. I have many fond memories of staying with them for a week or so each summer. The smell of creeping charlie, hearing a cow bell every morning and evening as the cows went in and out of the barn and pasture, and my grandfather dousing his sliced tomatoes with pepper are just a few of the many memories of my stays with them.


"Grandpa's Boys"
© Nancy Laliberte
16" x 20" photograph
available

My other piece in the show is a photograph I took at my brother's place that includes my father's restored '54 Chevy and my son and two nephews. It was a warm summer afternoon and my parents, myself, and "Grandpa's Boys" had all piled in my father's truck to check out the blueberries at my brother's house. As we were getting to leave, I turned around and saw this. I love the backlighting in this scene, and the slice of life and time it tells.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Visions XIV Show at the Riverfront Arts Center

"Beckoning"
© Nancy Laliberte
24" x 36" acrylic on canvas
$1,200
available
"Juror's Choice" award


"Reflecting"
© Nancy Laliberte
10" x 8" acrylic on canvas panel
Sold

I am excited to announce that both of my entries were juried into the Riverfront Arts Center "Visions XIV" show. This is an open-themed show featuring 2-D and 3-D work in all mediums and genres. Tonight is the opening from 5 - 7 pm. There is always a great turnout of artists (I will be there) so it is a wonderful opportunity to view and talk art, and just catch up with old and new friends. 

The show runs from June 14 through July 29, 2012. The shows at the RAC are always outstanding and there are several other art galleries nearby, along with some great local restaurants.  

Friday, June 8, 2012

Pear Day Red and The Big Reveal

 "Pear Day Red"
© Nancy Laliberte
4" x 4" x 1-3/8" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas
Sold

Another addition to the Petite Peinture series, Pear Day Red. I have found these to be the perfect solution to fit in some daily painting on a time-challenged day. While to some it may be a green pear with a red-orange background, for me it is a chance to work from life, experiment with brushwork, edges, paint, surface application, lighting, shadows, color, and more. There is always more than what meets the eye—yes?!

The Big Reveal
Pictured: Sherri Holmes and Jennifer Smith, both from Aspirus Wausau Hospital; Ann Saris of the Wausau YWCA, myself, and Dr. Julie Luks also from Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Recently, I presented the two collages I made to the YWCA Wausau and to Aspirus Women's Health of Aspirus Wausau Hospital. It was very exciting to see their responses. Don't you love the power of art? I know I do!  

Up close and personal--which is what these collages were all about. You can read more about them here and here.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Starts and Finishes, and The Graduate

"An Apple a Day"
© Nancy Laliberte
4" x 4" x 1-3/8" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas
Sold

Yep, I'm still here. It has been an incredibly busy spring! My painting time has been just small chunks here and there and so 4" x 4"s (I like to call them Petite Peintures) are the perfect size for working on those starts and finishes of the painting process. It's learning to work through the exciting, adrenaline-filled starts, the middle "what the heck am I thinking? this isn't going to work" talk, to the finishing touches that make a painting come together. It's the process--experimenting with brushwork, subject matter, color, lighting and all of that good stuff that makes me keep coming back for more. 

This painting looks great sitting on a shelf or desk and would also make a great teacher thank you gift.


The (happy!) Graduate

And a congratulatory shout out to my daughter Erika who recently graduated from Wausau East High School as co-Valedictorian. She will be heading to Ripon College this fall. I think the smile says it all. 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Painting with Paper

"The Power of Pink I"
© Nancy Laliberte
24" x 24" x 1-1/2" collage on wood panel
gift to YWCA, Wausau WI

I recently completed a very fun hand-painted paper collage project that I had been working on for several weeks. It was done in conjunction with a 12" x 12" one I created this past winter. A while back I facilitated a group art project at a women's breast health event at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Working with several groups of participants I had the ladies paint, stamp, doodle and share their personal stories on various types of paper. By the end of the evening we had created some beautiful and unique paper. Back at my studio, I layered the painted paper to create a multifaceted art piece filled with the energy of each person who shared a piece of themselves that night. 

Besides using the painted paper created at the breast health event, I also included pieces of my palette paper and other ephemera such as my 8-year-old son's homework, Dove® dark chocolate wrappers, memorable fortune cookie sayings, postage stamps, newspaper clippings, stickers, old sheet music, and more. 



A detail image showing some of the uniquely painted papers.

This detail shot includes my son's homework in the lower right corner, pieces of dried palette paper, paint splattered paper toweling, and a postage stamp to name a few.



"The Power of Pink II"
© Nancy Laliberte
12 x 12" x 1-1/2" collage on wood panel
gift to Aspirus Women's Health at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, Wausau WI

Read more about this piece here.

Now that I have my studio cleaned up (although I am still finding bits and pieces of collage paper all over my house and myself!) and set up for daily painting again, look for more regular blog posts, and definitely more collages.  : )

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. : )