"Endless Summer" original oil painting by Nancy Laliberte 3/30

"Endless Summer"

© Nancy Laliberte

6" x 6" oil on panel

click here to view and purchase

This is painted from life from a still life set up in my studio using hydrangeas from my dear neighbor Sarah's garden. I did not realize that hydrangeas have a sweet, spicy scent. I love it! My challenge with this painting was all about mixing whites and grays. Loved that, too.

And the 30 paintings challenge continues! I started two more today, but did not finish them. (Insert ringing school bell here.) With the start of school this week, I am quickly realizing how important and precious it is to make the most of daytime studio time. (Actually, I already knew that, but let's just say that the awareness has been acutely heightened.) The day goes by pretty fast and then it's Mom-mode time. ; )

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum's 2013 Birds in Art show kicks off this evening. It runs until November 10th. If you can get to Wausau to see it, I highly recommend you do. It is top-notch every year.

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A Plein-Air Summer with artist Nancy Laliberte

"Morning Glow"

© Nancy Laliberte

9" x 12" oil on canvas panel

$270

available

A plein air summer it has been, continues to be, and I have been loving every minute of it! In June, I was a part of the Woodson Art Museum's "Paint the Town:  A Plein-Air Paint Out" event held the opening weekend of their current exhibit, "Celebrating Summer:  Plein-Air Painters of America." A few members of PAPA (Plein-Air Painters of America) were a part of the event, as well. It was incredibly fun, and an honor to paint in the company of such wonderful artists. The "Celebrating Summer" show continues to run until Sunday, August 25th, at the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, WI. It is an incredible show, and definitely a must-see. 

"The Sun Seekers"

© Nancy Laliberte

8" x 8" oil on linen panel

SOLD

on view at the Woodson Art Museum

"Along the River"

© Nancy Laliberte

10" x 8" oil on panel

available

available at the Woodson Art Museum

(Photo by Dan Young, Wausau Daily Herald)

Plein-air painting made easier with an E-Z-Up tent! Thank you, Woodson Art Museum! 

Our Paint the Town morning started out with overcast skies and rain, but the tents provided by the Woodson made painting in the elements much more comfortable. Once the rain stopped, people started stopping by to see artists in action. Personally, I enjoy meeting and talking art with people. You never know if it will be the spark to get someone started in art or pursue a passion they have always longed to try. We continued painting through the afternoon, and then again on Sunday in the Woodson's outdoor sculpture garden. The Wausau Daily Herald also covered the event with an article in the newspaper, online photos, and video. (Thank you, Keith and Dan.)

My  "tentmates" Gil Dellinger, PAPA President, and Dan Ashbeck of Wisconsin Rapids, WI.

Artist Gil Dellinger taking a break and explaining plein-air painting with pastels to my son Nicholas. As a Mom and artist, this made my day. Thank you, Gil!

with PAPA President, amazing artist, and all-around great guy, Gil Dellinger. 

Some extra links:

Woodson Art Museum

Woodson Wanderings (museum blogpost by curator of education, Catie Anderson)

Plein-Air Painters of America (PAPA)

Wausau Daily Herald video of event

Celebrating Summer with a Plein Air Paint Out

This weekend the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau is opening a plein air exhibition titled "Celebrating Summer" featuring paintings by members of the group, Plein Air Painters of America. in addition to the opening reception on Friday evening, the weekend will also include a plein air paint out event downtown on Saturday and at the Woodson on Sunday. I am excited to have been invited by the Woodson to be a part of this event along with several other Wisconsin artists and some of the exhibiting artists from the show. If you are in the area, come and See for yourself what plein air painting is all about. There will also be an opportunity to view the artwork from the paint out on Saturday evening in a tent on the Museum grounds. Everything the Woodson does is first-class, and they have been working very hard behind the scenes putting this event together. 

Here is a link to the Woodson for more information about the show and other museum activities. 

Poppy Glow and more...

 "Poppy Glow"

© Nancy Laliberte

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

sold

 side view

In my previous post I talked about being open to new opportunities. Recently I was asked to judge the 2011 Colorama art show for the Wisconsin Visual Artist's Guild. They are a very talented group of artists who show their work at the Reaching New Heights gallery inside Marshfield Clinic in Weston, WI, among other venues. Last Friday evening they had the awards ceremony, and a fundraiser for Marshfield Clinic's cancer research foundation. 


Every time I judge a show, I come away with an even deeper appreciation of what it takes to create, not only quality  and meaningful art, but art in general. Every piece is a part of you. And that is pretty amazing. 

Pictured here is Sharon Dowis receiving the Best of Show award for her piece, "My Kids." Sharon also won an Honorable Mention award for her photography. 

Here, Cindy Markowski receives a second place award for her painting, "Coloration: Nuthatches." Cindy has also had her work in the Woodson Art Museum's international Birds in Art show.


Thank you to the Wisconsin Visual Artist's Guild for the opportunity to be a part of your event! And a big THANK YOU to artist Sharon Feathers who provided these photos of the evening, and also received First Place for her piece, "Lost Hopes and Dreams."  


Click here to check out the Guild's blog and a complete listing of winners from the show.

Busy Fun

"Gather ’Round"

© Nancy Laliberte

5" x 4" watercolor on paper

Been having all kinds of busy fun this past week! Isn't that what life is all about? :-) Busy fun included a watercolor workshop, an Excel class, the conclusion of Where We Live, disassembling the show, delivering paintings to Riverfront Art Center in Stevens Point, WI for their holiday show, delivering paintings to the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau for their holiday gift gallery and selling some more art--thank you collector friend! This painting is from the watercolor workshop I took at the Woodson Art Museum. I am vamping up my sketchbook journaling and travel journaling so a morning spent on watercolor techniques was very inspiring.

Speaking of Where We Live, I just want to thank my family at home--Nicholas, for your energy, enthusiasm and love of art; Erika, for all of your help with Nicholas and other "stuff;" and Mike, for your support, stability, and love; my family afar (you know who you are); my friends; the CVA staff; collectors who were touched enough by my work to give it a home--their home; and to my fellow artists and partners-in-crime, Val Berkely and Chris Mosse--you're both awesomely creative and I was honored to be in your company. Thanks everyone!

I love you all!

Pinch Me...Robert Bateman Painting Demo

This weekend the Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, WI, kicked off the opening of their 35th annual Birds in Art show. To celebrate the anniversary of this prestigious exhibit, the Woodson invited several artists to demonstrate their techniques. I was one of the lucky ones to watch Canadian artist, Robert Bateman demonstrate his magic with acrylic paints. Using a pine tree on the grounds as his reference, Mr. Bateman went on to add a banded owl. He loves painting people and animals, with predatory animals being his favorite. "Probably a guy thing," he says.

Backlighting is one of his favorites, as is a limited palette.

Looks like the paparazzi found me again. ;-)

Thank you Robert Bateman for the delightfully inspiring day!

Artful Influence

"Field of Gold"

© 2010 Nancy Laliberte

5" x 7" acrylic on archival paper

Sold

Ok, I'll admit it. Besides painting and drawing, I love art history, art books of any kind, frequenting art galleries and museums, reading art blogs, etc. I love being under the influence of art!

Living in Wausau, Wisconsin, I am very fortunate to have access to a terrific museum in town called the Woodson Art Museum. Their annual Birds in Art show juries in artists from all over the WORLD. It is spectacular. And, every year through generous donations they are able to purchase pieces from the show to add to their permanent collection. That said, one of my favorite artists (and there are many) who has been often included in the show is a painter from the Netherlands named Ewoud de Groot. In my opinion, everything about his work is outstanding, but I especially like his brushwork. In this piece I wanted to experiment with a kind of mosaic type of brushwork in the field to give it depth and show the layers of color a field has when you take the time to really look at it. I had a lot of fun with and will definitely try it again.

"Influential" links to enjoy: Woodson Art Museum, Edwoud de Groot, New Visions Gallery