Back in the Garden

"Turnips in the Garden"

© Nancy Laliberte

5.75" x 5.75"

Acrylic on panel

$65

Another study for my Square Foot Garden series. It has been very helpful for me to draw thumbnails and paint small studies before working on larger pieces. It's a great way to get loosened up and try new things.

I'd Like a Salad, Please

"Mesclun Mix"

© Nancy Laliberte

5.75" x 5.75"

Acrylic on panel

$65

Not wanting you all to think I only paint (and eat!) cupcakes, I changed things up a bit and tackled lettuce. Not ordinary iceberg, but the good, healthy stuff! The more colorful the better (and better for you) is what I say. Even my 7-year-old will eat spinach or romaine greens on his sandwich. We just call it "lettuce" otherwise he probably wouldn't eat it. But I digress...this piece is a study for a larger painting for my "Square Foot Garden" series, all of which are 12" x 12". Yes, a square foot. I knew you would get it. ;-)

Cupcake in Paradise

"Tropical Delight"

© Nancy Laliberte

8" x 8" Acrylic on panel

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I felt like I should have been listening to Jimmy Buffet singing Margaritaville or Barry Manilow belting out Copacabana while painting this culinary delight. Not only was it piled high with creamy frosting and coconut, but it also had a pineapple surprise inside as well as the one on top. Sweet Lola's doesn't miss a beat. It reminded me of a pineapple upside down cake. I have to admit, these cupcakes have been a blast to paint and eat! Oops, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to type with my mouth full ;-)

A Whole Lotta Chocolate Going On!

"Chocolate Heaven On Earth"

© Nancy Laliberte

8" x 8" Acrylic on panel

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Chocolate and peanut butter--count me in! Another cupcake from the Sweet Lola's Cupcakery and Bake Shop stash. This one was loaded top to bottom, inside and outside with chocolate and pieces of peanut butter cup. Yes, I did eat it. No, not alone (I always share with my family). And yes, it was delicious! Bon appetit!

Calorie-free Treat!

"Almond Joy"

© Nancy Laliberte

8" x 8" Acrylic on panel

Available

It is interesting what a trip to the farmer's market can do for an artist! If you recall from my July 22nd post, I was inspired to paint cupcakes after a trip to the downtown Wausau farmer's market on the city square. My family has been cheering me on to paint these as quickly as possible. Why the rush? So they could eat my still life props!

On another note, I was one of five lucky artists to have my blog selected by Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry to be featured on this morning's blog talk radio show, Artists Helping Artists. They shared some great tips on enhancing your blog helping it work harder for you while you are in the studio or out in the field doing what you do best--painting! I'll be making a few tweaks to mine over the next few days. Click here to listen!

Water Colors

"Summer Reflections"

© Nancy Laliberte

9" x 12" Acrylic on panel

Available at the Center for Visual Arts, Wausau, WI

Available

My good friend Sharon Rotz has a book called, Your Artist's Brain by Carl Purcell. It talks about what you see vs. what you think you see and teaching your brain and hand to work together to paint/draw what you see. Sounds simple right? Try it. This is a plein air painting I did of Thunder Bay in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. My challenge was to paint the colors I actually saw in the water, and not what I thought they should be. It was great fun putting all of the spots of color together to get water colors.

Links:

Sharon Rotz

Center for Visual Arts

There's a New Cupcake Lady in Town...

"Ode to Joy"

© 2010 Nancy Laliberte

8" x 8" Acrylic on panel

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...and her name is Sweet Lola's Cupcakery and BakeShop. She (actually, it's Tara Nowak and her family) shows up every Thursday on the 400 block of Third Street. But I need to tell you, don't sleep in or wait to take your coffee break at 10, because her culinary delights sell out fast! This was a vanilla cupcake heaped with creamy chocolate frosting, chocolate sprinkles and a cherry on top. Two tips for painting cupcakes; don't paint on an empty stomach, and share your still life with your family. They will love you for that :-)

PS: Just so you know, soon you will be able to get a daily fix of Sweet Lola's treats. In September they are opening a bakery across from Washington Square on Third Street in Wausau. Yummy.

Riverfront Art Center's Visions XII Show

"Along the Creek"

© 2010 Nancy Laliberte

8" x 10" acrylic on panel

sold

I am happy to say that my painting, "Along the Creek" has been juried into the Riverfront Art Center’s Vision XII show. The RAC is located in Stevens Point and is a wonderful gallery with an equally wonderful director, Brenda Gingles. Tomorrow evening (June 10) is the opening reception from 5 - 7 pm. I will be at my daughter's soccer game at that same time, but if you are in the Stevens Point area I encourage you to attend. There is always a great turnout of participating artists--wine and snacks--need I say more? And, we artists love to talk about our work. ;-) The show runs until July 31st, so stop in and enjoy some art therapy in the gallery and possibly a piece for your home or office.