Value Studies are...Valuable

Value study examples
© Nancy Laliberte
oil on canvas

Last Saturday kicked off the first of three mini workshop series I have scheduled at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. I had an awesome group of students who were more than willing to leave their comfort zones, dive in, and paint a lot of value studies and whatever else I made them do, "...you have three brush strokes left to finish that..." First we talked about values and grouped them into darks, mids and lights. Then I demonstrated and discussed setting up a still life, determining values and deciding what values would be dominant, secondary and just a bit in the painting. Starting with simple still life set ups and building up to more complex ones, students worked from life observing, comparing, and painting values. 

A lot of concentration, "seeing" and painting going on in the CVA studio

A sampling of class value studies

The Secrets to Great Color and How to Mix It

The next workshop series takes place on Saturday, April 6th from 12 noon - 4 pm, and will focus on the secrets to color mixing (no more mud)! Space is limited and spots are filling quickly, so I encourage you to register today by calling the CVA at 715-842-4545. The supply list is available on their website. Scroll down a bit for workshop information. I look forward to seeing you there!

More workshop and class listings are on my website

More workshop photos are available on my studio FB fan page  

Like and Share while you are there :)

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. : )

Petite Peinture: After the Storm

"After the Storm"

© Nancy Laliberte

4" x 4" x 1-3/8" acrylic on canvas

sold

...a nice vignette with your favorite farm toy...

A landscape today to change things up a bit after painting several fruit still lifes. I have to say, I love painting landscapes. Actually, I just love PAINTING. It doesn't matter what it is. Including the red flag thing-a-ma-bob on the mail box. Which is one of the things I painted today even though it was on hubby's to-do list and not mine. But since life is all about trade-offs, he kindly unloaded the dishwasher for me.  : )

And before I forget, a big "Thank You" to my prop man, Nicholas, for providing me with the blue tractor for today's second photo. 

The Week of the Iris

"Rhapsody in Blue II"

Petite Peinture

© Nancy Laliberte

4" x 4" x 1-3/8" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

sold

I am having a blast painting irises this week. This is the second in a series from my June 2nd post. If you remember back in my June 4th post, I mentioned that it was looking like my iris plants were finally going to flower. And, guess what? They are blooming! And I am painting them. 

Just for the Art of It

"Unleashing My Inner Artist"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8" acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

SOLD

Every spring the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau has its annual "Just for the Art of It" fundraiser. For the past three years, Val Berkely and I have been co-chairs for the "Art by the Foot" grid. My painting donation for this year was a still life from my studio--some of my favorite art goodies. The winning bidder shared with me that he won an art award in ninth grade and was looking forward to getting back into art once he retired. I was very touched by his story. It is always exciting when your artwork inspires others.
  
Check out the CVA's Facebook page for more paintings that were a part of the auction. If you are bummed you missed out, mark your calendar for next year. It is usually the first Friday in May. 

Last 4 Days...

Take a break from your busy day and enjoy some colorful art therapy...

Now through Sunday, November 7th, you can view my most recent paintings along with the work of Wausau artists, Val Berkely and Chris Mosse at the Center for the Visual Arts, 427 4th Street, Wausau. Gallery hours are 10 am - 5 pm Thursday and Friday, and noon - 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Family Trees and More

"Family Tree V"

© Nancy Laliberte

7" x 5" Acrylic on archival paper, matted

Available

"Family Tree VI"

© Nancy Laliberte

7" x 5" Acrylic on archival paper, matted

Available

"Family Tree VII"

© Nancy Laliberte

7" x 5" Acrylic on archival paper, matted

nfs

Some daily paintings from the last couple of days painted during my "Artist in Residence" stint at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. I am usually there from Tue-Fri 10:30 am until 2:30 pm happily painting away, greeting gallery guests and talking art. Very fun!

and More...

A big THANK YOU to Wausau Daily Herald photographer Corey Schjoth for stopping by this afternoon and taking photos of our show. You can click here to view.

Variation of a Theme

"Beckoning"

© Nancy Laliberte

24" x 36" acrylic on canvas

$1,200 framed

Available

And the tree fix continues...

I started this painting by toning the canvas with a cadmium orange. Then, every time I cleaned my palette I added more brush strokes and blobs of paint. I just kept layering and layering, changing this and that, adding more paint, layering some more, and then finally I started seeing what I had been envisioning... color and lots of it. On view now at Where We Live at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI.

For the Love of Trees

"In the Morning"

© Nancy Laliberte

10" x 10" Acrylic on archival paper

Sold

"Afternoon Glow"

© Nancy Laliberte

10" x 10" Acrylic on archival paper

Sold

We have been having absolutely gorgeous weather lately. Peak fall color is past us and now the leaves are falling like golden snowflakes from the trees. I love painting trees. Perhaps it is a metaphor of connecting to the earth, or for family, I'm not really sure. Regardless, I enjoy their shapes, gestures, personalities and color.

From my three person show, where we live, now on view at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI, our "hall" filled with color. Also featured is Chris Mosse's handpainted furniture and Val Berkely's paintings. If you are in the Wausau area, please stop by. The show is delightfully colorful and happy and that is a great place to be.

Barns and Farms

"The Family Farm"

© Nancy Laliberte

18" x 24" Acrylic on canvas

$800, framed

Available at the Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI

This painting was inspired by my Irish grandparents farm near Wilton, WI. I love the hills and valleys and farm fields of that area. It is a beautiful part of the state!

And from my current show, where we live, at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau WI, a grouping of farm and field paintings. I guess I am a farm girl at heart. ;-)

October Painting Challenge

"Reflecting"

© Nancy Laliberte

10" x 8" Acrylic on canvas panel

sold

I really enjoy listening to the Artists Helping Artists weekly blog radio show hosted by Leslie Saeta and Dreama Tolle Perry. Each month they issue a painting challenge to anyone who is interested. This month is October and since I love landscapes and fall colors, which we have plenty of right now in Wisconsin, this is my contribution to the challenge. Will a turkey dinner still life be next up for November? Hmmm, could be kind of fun actually...

The Complete Garden

"Square Foot Garden ~ Zucchini"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold

Zucchini falls under the "Summer Squash" category and personally, I love summer and winter squash. Summer squash for salads, stir fry, dipping in ranch dressing, lasagna, you name it; and winter squash for mixing it with cinnamon, butter and maple syrup. It makes my mouth water just typing!

And as promised, the whole square foot garden on view at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI.

Square Foot Garden Series

© Nancy Laliberte

A Foot of Flowers

"Square Foot Garden ~ Nasturtiums"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

sold

Center for Visual Arts, Wausau WI

A classic edible flower for the garden – nasturtiums. I have not tried them myself, but I have heard that they have a "slightly sweet, strangely peppery flavor." So now I am curious, and am definitely planting them in my garden next year. I love the flowers and I love the curly tendrils – very organic and flowing. And I think the blossom would look lovely on a cupcake. ;-)

Colorful Greens

"Square Foot Garden ~ Mesclun Mix"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold

Hmmm, I could just cut these greens, add a few walnuts and strawberries, or maybe some dried cranberries, a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil, a twist of fresh ground pepper...

You Say To-may-to, I Say To-mah-to

"Square Foot Garden ~ Tomatoes"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold

 

Another "square" from my Square Foot Garden series in Where We Live at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. Tomatoes are a must have in my garden. As a child, I once ate so many tomatoes I became very ill. Still love them anyway. We have had some chilly nights here recently and I have been covering up my tomatoes. There a few left on the vine trying to ripen and I am not ready to relinquish them to Jack Frost!

Colors of the Garden

"Square Foot Garden ~ Turnips"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold

Interestingly enough, the colorful veggies that are so good for you to eat also make great painting subjects!

On another note, these last few weeks as I finished up my studio work, I listened to Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland which I borrowed from my local library. While I did not need an incentive to get to my studio to paint (I had a show deadline!), audio books make a great studio companion when you want a change from music. It was a great story and I love art history.

Square Foot Gardening

"Square Foot Garden ~ Eggplant"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold

I first learned about square foot gardening from an article in City Pages, Wausau's weekly entertainment newspaper. Basically, you take a garden plot or raised bed and divide it into 1 foot by 1 foot sections. With proper planning and planting, you can grow a lot of vegetables in a small space. With this series, I am gardening vicariously through painting.

Fresh From the Garden

"Square Foot Garden ~ Chives"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold 

Gotta love those chives! Hardy, tasty, and easy to grow, their shape and color is a nice complement in the garden. This painting is a part of the Square Foot Garden series in Where We Live now on view at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI.

All Moved In!

"Square Foot Garden ~ Carrots"

© Nancy Laliberte

12" x 12" x 1-3/8"

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold

After two days of "moving in," Where We Live opens today. Valerie Berkely, Chris Mosse and I have turned the Center for Visual Arts gallery into a home. From the kid's room to the kitchen, the dining room to the office, we even have a backyard with a square foot garden! Stop by "Where We Live;" you don't even have to call first or take off your shoes. ;-)

Opening Friday, September 24th...

Where We Live

September 24 thru November 7, 2010

Center for Visual Arts

427 4th St • Wausau WI • 715.842.4545

Gallery Gala (aka House Warming Party)

Friday Oct. 1, 5 - 7 pm

Home is where the art is. Three Wausau artists present their passion for the painted surface. Valerie Berkely, Nancy Laliberte, and Chris Mosse each depict how they live in a world of art by turning the gallery into a living space. You may want to move in!

Artists in Residence

During regular gallery hours, stop by where we live to see the artists in action. Find out how they do what they do through live painting demos and gallery talks.

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Hope you can join us for the "house warming party" or any time during the show. It is going to be colorful and fun! After all, it is where we live...