Wednesday, September 30, 2015

"The Afterlife of Roses" original acrylic painting by artist Nancy Laliberte, Day 30

The Afterlife of Roses
© Nancy Laliberte
24" x 20" acrylic on canvas
click here for more information


This painting is part of an invitational show, The Artist's Muse:  Wisconsin Artists and Poets, exhibiting at the Center for the Visual Arts in downtown Wausau, WI. Artists and poets teamed up for what is an amazing show. The Afterlife of Roses was inspired by Louisa Overidge Gallas' poem by the same title (listed below). Stop by the CVA Friday evening from 5 - 7 pm for the opening gala, including readings by some of the authors. 

The afterlife of roses

Have you ever fallen
naked together
in one easy glide
onto the faded yellow petals
of roses gathered to scatter
beneath you one late silky summer day
these petals of roses loosened from the bough
whose cool flesh still remembers
the ride high on long stems
in twilight rain

these roses you bless
with an afterlife
against your skin against skin
your embrace     your heat merged
with their last flourish of faint yellow
journies of pollen,
froth of bees in your kisses
memories beyond memories, the rhythm
of wind through your open windows
these petals bruise sweetly beneath
your weight, beneath your bellies
in your murmuring sheets they spend
their last visions of fleet white moths
and final secrets, secrets they shared
with pastel sweet peas, scarlet peonies
secrets now tangling in your hair;
         
             if only you could sing 
to all those flowers, who were neighbors
of the yellow rose, who miss those old blossoms
if only you could sing to them
the song of your ecstasy
until the whole garden realizes fully
the future of blooms about to release
from the branch. . .that you will come come
to gather them up by the handfuls
just before they fall, just then
just when they feel certain
they’re completely
finished  you will 
you will     come

Louisa Loveridge Gallas
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Whoa! Day 30? Happily, I have been painting and/or sketching daily this month. That was my biggest goal - though my blogging portion doesn't show that. Rest assured, the sharing of creative joy will continue long past today! Keep following, and even more than that, if there is a longing in your heart for some creative joy, follow your heart, and start. 
___________________________

See additional artwork at www.nancylaliberte.com
Connect and follow along with the studio on Facebook
Looking for a Creative Time Out? Join me for a class or workshop  

Friday, September 11, 2015

Work-in-Progress - Day 10 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days with artist Nancy Laliberte

Work-in-Progress...I never met a painterly sky I didn't like! Sharing a detail of the sky portion of the commission. I like that it could be it's own painting. 

Speaking of painterly skies, check out artist Mary Maxam's sky paintings and other beautiful work here.  

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy with you!
- Nancy

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See additional artwork at www.nancylaliberte.com
Connect and follow along with the studio on Facebook
Looking for a Creative Time Out? Join me for a class or workshop  

Do what you Love, Pass it on - Day 9 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days with artist Nancy Laliberte

Samples from my sketchbooks
ink and watercolor on arches watercolor paper
I teach a weekly art class at Acton Academy in Wausau, WI. Today's class involved going on an ARTventure in the school courtyard. Taking the time to see and sketch with an artist's eye is a great way to instill attention to detail habits in a fun way that can carry over to other areas. The meditative aspect to being outside in nature can't be beat. And, when we finish a bit early, I make the kids play for a bit before going back inside. ;-)
watercolor and calligraphy pen on paper
A page from my sketchbook/planner/journal - a quote from the late Dr. Wayne Dyer - while catching a part of his movie, "The Shift." 

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy (and life) with you!
- Nancy
_____________________


See additional artwork at www.nancylaliberte.com
Connect and follow along with the studio on Facebook
Looking for a Creative Time Out? Join me for a class or workshop  

Work-in-Progress - Day 8 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge with artist Nancy Laliberte


Work-in-Progress...detail of painting-in-progress. It's like sharing one puzzle piece a day. I can't wait to share the final piece! Patience is a virtue, right?! ;-)

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy with you!
- Nancy
_______________________

See additional artwork at www.nancylaliberte.com
Connect and follow along with the studio on Facebook
Looking for a Creative Time Out? Join me for a class or workshop  


Work-in-Progress - Day 7 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days with artist Nancy Laliberte


Work-in-Progress...detail of commission painting...  

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy with you!
- Nancy

Work-in-Progress - Day 6 - 30 Paintings in 30 Days with artist Nancy Laliberte

Work-in-Progress...the creative joy continues as I keep plugging away on the big commission. I always love the initial block-in of painting, because it goes very quickly for me. The push and pull of color and temperature (warm and cool colors) is the part where I have to slow down, but not over think it. "Look twice, paint once." 

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy with you!
- Nancy

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Sketchbook Saturday - Day 5 - 30 paintings in 30 days with artist Nancy Laliberte

Oh my! Lunch
© Nancy Laliberte
ink and watercolor on paper

While I am continuing to finish my two WIP's (work-in-progress) paintings from days 3 and 4, I wanted to share a sketch from my daily sketchbook/journal/planner. After purchasing my produce at the Wausau farmer's market this morning, I noticed Urban Bistro's big orange food truck and headed over to see what was on the menu. Many things were already sold out (their food is DELISH!), but not the lamb kebabs! Yay! Lunch dilemma solved, and triple JOY - sketching, painting and eating. By the way, you have no idea how hard it was to sketch and paint this before eating it! :-)

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy with you!
- Nancy 

Work in Progress - Day 4 - 30 paintings in 30 days with artist Nancy Laliberte

Day 4 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge included working on a landscape commission. This piece is 36" x 24" and requires more than one day of painting time. Several days, actually, and I wanted to give a sneak peek since that was the project for the day. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy (and life) with you!
- Nancy

Work in Progress - Day 3 - 30 paintings/30 days with artist Nancy Laliberte

Sharing my creative joy with painting demo during downtown Wausau's 1st Thursday was a part of my day 3 of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I know getting out and painting in front of people can be a bit daunting for some artists, but give it a try. Painting from life and in public may not only bring you joy, but also inspire someone else. 

The finished painting will be a part of the Center for the Visual Arts' "Art by the Foot" fundraiser taking place in October. 
When the street lights came on I knew it was time to wrap things up for the day (night!). Thank you to my artist friend, Theda Hewuse, for the photo.
This amazingly talented young woman was sharing her musical gifts just a few feet away from me. 

Thank you for allowing me to share my creative joy with you,
- Nancy

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

"Summer Love" original oil painting by artist Nancy Laliberte, Day 2 - 30 paintings in 30 days

"Summer Love"
© Nancy Laliberte
10" x 8" x 1-1/2" oil on gallery-wrapped canvas
sold

Oh, how I love peony season! I can't help but wonder if the blooming season of a flower is to remind us to be in the present, to enjoy the fleeting moments of today. Recording the joy of my day in paint, or with a sketch, truly fills my creative "well."

What brings you joy? Please feel free to share your joy moment(s) in the comments.

Thank you for being a part of this creative journey, 
- Nancy





Tuesday, September 1, 2015

"Together" by artist Nancy Laliberte, 30 paintings in 30 days

"Together"
© Nancy Laliberte
6" x 8" oil on panel
click here to view or purchase

September 1 - definitely a day of fresh starts, new beginnings, a change of seasons. I had a great summer with my family, and I hope you did, too. I'm kicking off September by participating in artist Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge. My personal theme is "Creative Joy." I'll be sharing paintings and journal pages - activities in my daily life that bring me creative joy. 

Painting peonies is definitely one of those things that brings me joy. I have always loved peonies, and then there is the fun part of moving paint around in colorful shapes! 

Thank you for being a part of this joy-filled journey,
Nancy