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 

The Sketchbook Project, Part III by artist Nancy Laliberte

Continuing on with the Sketchbook Project...

To bring you up to speed:  in November 2013, I signed up to be a part of the Sketchbook Project, which is a traveling library of artists' sketchbooks. My book will be traveling in the central US this summer with stops in Chicago, Madison, and Minneapolis. I will keep you posted on dates via this blog and the studio Facebook page. You can read about the previous two posts here and here.

 I pre-painted this page with gouache and added the washi tape right away when my sketchbook arrived. I often do that for a fun challenge to make a go of whatever is on the page when I get to it in the book. It's a great exercise in creative intuition, and not over-thinking about what you are doing. Just go with the flow. When I came to this page in the book, fish was the first thing that came to mind. I grabbed my Pentel pocket brush pen and white gel pen and dove in! ; )  

We have a pet goldfish named Maroon, and it is my 10 y-o son's job to feed it. He's quite good about doing so, but every so often you will hear someone ask, "Did you feed fishy today?"

This page was painted while I was vacationing in Florida earlier this year. Do you see the coastal, beach walk, flowers blooming instead of snowflakes falling influence? The left page was pre-painted with metallic copper paint. Other materials used were gel pens, permanent black pen, and acrylic paint.

From beaches to blizzards! Responding to my environment:  11 inches of snow fell on this day. It was beautiful watching the white stuff fall, but then came the reality of shoveling and snow blowing. Evidently, all that snow made my brain weary as I didn't get a final image of the completed page. Metallic silver paint, snowflake stamps and information on the weather was added after this photo was taken.

A bright and colorful page after the snowstorm. I love practicing painting ideas in my sketchbooks. There is no "preciousness" to it, just pure fun. To balance out the page (and to practice lettering), I added a favorite quote. Some washi tape and a bit of collaged paper was also used on this page.
   

This page features collaged paper with an acrylic painted purple coneflower (echinacea). Birds and butterflies love these flowers as much as I do, so I have them planted in various gardens in my yard. 

Ignoring the cold winter and thinking of summer poppies, that is the way I roll. This page was painted with acrylic paint. Since the paint was a bit thick in some areas, I applied a matte medium over it as an extra precaution to make sure the pages wouldn't stick--which can sometimes happen with acrylic paint. I included a modified page edge and butterfly from my ephemera collection.

The last page:  bright, cheery colors, the butterfly and a bit of inspiration...

The back cover:  Collaged paper, gold metallic paint (sparkle and shine, my friend) and trimmed with washi tape for durability.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this project as much as I enjoyed doing it. I did not give myself any rules or theme, except to fill it up and have fun doing so, and send it back by the required date. I hope you are inspired to grab a notebook, sketchbook, or even a pad of scratch paper, some fun pens, watercolors, crayons, whatever, and play around with images, doodles, words, anything. Just start by making a mark, a swirl, or even a stick figure, and then go from there. Most of all, have fun and enjoy the journey...  

Nancy
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The Sketchbook Project, Part II by artist Nancy Laliberte

As mentioned in my last post, a couple of months ago I signed up to be a part of the Sketchbook Project, a traveling library of artists' sketchbooks. Today's post is a continuation of the pages I created for my book, "Viewing...from the Heart."

While on vacation earlier this month, I created a couple of colorful spreads using acrylic paint, a permanent ink pen, metallic gel pens (because every day should have a little sparkle in it), and a rubber stamp (which I had put on the page before leaving on my trip). I did accidentally dip my brush in the coffee cup one time, but never in my pie! 

This page started out with a tissue paper background (tissue paper that was inside the box of a recent winter boot purchase), with hand-painted papers and hand-made papers collaged on top of parts of that with matte medium. Some of the hand-made papers had metallic gold (there's that sparkle again!) in them, and as I looked at the page and pondered what to do next, the words to a hymm sung at my church popped into my head. I grabbed my markers and pens and started writing away.

Here is another page spread that started out with hand-made and scrap papers glued down with matte medium, then painted over with Tombow markers and acrylic paints, and then text and a few drawings added with a white gel pen. I've noticed I often use pink and green in my art journaling. And now that I think about, my wardrobe contains a lot of pinks and greens, too...

The center spread--after pages of color, I kept it simple with black and white and a pop of color using Zentangle inspiration and gel pens. 

After all of that ink work on the center spread, there was quite a bit of bleed-through on this page that I wasn't sure what to do about. I dug through my pile of papers and ephemera and found this fiber-y, ochre-colored piece of paper that inspired me to paint a bird's nest on it. The paper covered up most of the marker, and it's color and texture worked well with the theme of the page.

There are still a few pages left from this fun project that I will show in my next post... 

Curious to give this a try, but don't know where to start?

Don't be shy, come join the sketchbook movement! I will be teaching a mini-workshop, "Creative Journaling for Busy People" on Saturday, February 1, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. Cost is $50 + $8 material fee. Just bring a 9 x 12 sketchbook preferably with 90 lb. paper or more, all of your other materials are included making it super easy for you to show up and have fun! Register with the CVA at 815-842-4545. More information is on their website and mine. See you there! 

The Sketchbook Project with artist Nancy Laliberte

A couple of months ago I signed up to be a part of The Sketchbook Project. For those not familiar with it, it is a traveling exhibition of handmade books. Anyone from around the world can participate--you don't even have to be an artist. This summer my book will be hitting the road on the midwest mobile library tour which will include stops in Chicago, IL; Madison, WI; and Minneapolis, MN. I will keep you posted on the dates as it gets closer to the tour. I can't wait to see the incredible books participants have created! 

It has been a fun project as I LOVE creative journaling. In this post I am featuring several pages from my book which is now at the Brooklyn Art Library. (They just emailed me today. Thank you USPS.) More pages will be featured over the next couple of posts including some step-by-step processes of a couple of pages. Some pages were created as spreads and some stand alone. All are a direct, intuitive, and creative response to what was going on in my life--inside and out--at that moment in time. 

Viewing...from the Heart

© Nancy Laliberte

We'll start in "reader's spreads" at the beginning, but this was not the first set of pages I created. I left the inside cover and first page blank until I had something I wanted to say that would set the tone for the rest of the book. In the end, the inside cover page was set up for practicality purposes--handling of the book, and securing the cover art. 

These two pages were done on different days, before starting my regular studio painting practice. Typically, I dig through my mixed media materials and pull out ephemera and paint colors that "speak" to me at that moment. One thing leads to another and a page is completed. 
  

This spread incorporates many layers and materials. The first which included using leftover paint from another project, then stenciling, adding bits of hand-painted collage paper, more paint, ink, and ephemera. Sometimes the text may be a phrase or song stuck in my head, other times the text comes later as the imagery falls into place. All intuitively driven. 

When I first started working in my sketchbook, I randomly opened pages and added whatever paint was left on my palette or painted on a color that I don't typically use--a good way to experiment with color in a fun, carefree way. This page is an example of that. I had also just treated myself to a new checkerboard stencil and used that as a starting point, and then added the chevron washi tape for no other reason than, "hey, a roll of washi tape I haven't used yet..." A few days later I came back to this page and began drawing with my favorite pentel pocket brush pen, added some paint, a stamp, a bit of text, and my daily journaling fix is satisfied. 
  

Loving the pocket brush pen! It makes beautiful calligraphic marks depending on now fast and how much pressure you apply. I was watching a Green Bay Packer game (they won!) during this page, hence the green and gold color inspiration. Other materials used were watercolors and inktense pencils. All fun stuff! More pages to come in my next post...

Curious to give this a try, but don't know where to start?

Don't be shy, come join the sketchbook movement! I will be teaching a mini-workshop, "Creative Journaling for Busy People" at the Center for Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. Two dates are being offered (same workshop, feel free to repeat). The first is this Thursday, January 23, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and the second one is Saturday, February 1, from 12 noon to 4:00 pm. Cost is $50 + $8 material fee. Just bring a 9 x 12 sketchbook preferably with 90 lb. paper or more, all of your other materials are included making it super easy for you to show up and have fun! Register with the CVA at 815-842-4545. More information is on their website and mine. See you there!

Fun Friday: Sketchbook Journaling on the Go...

"Ferocactus Pringlei"at The Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
© Nancy Laliberte
pen and watercolor

Last week I was on vacation in the Palm Desert, CA area. It was sunny EVERY DAY. Bliss compared to the gray days and snow we have been having the last few weeks (feels like months). Whenever I travel I always bring a sketchbook. Sometimes I use it a little and sometimes a lot depending on the type of trip. This time I used it every day and then some. I really encourage you to keep some kind of journal when you travel. It can be sketches and notes, or ephemera (tickets, receipts, brochure bits of places you visit) or anything that appeals to you. When you take the time to sketch or write while you are in the midst of traveling, you gain so much more sensory-wise. When I look at these images, I remember the sunshine, the air, smells, and the activity around me. 

"Key's View"at Joshua Tree National Park, CA
© Nancy Laliberte
pen and watercolor

Sketching at Key's View at Joshua Tree National Park. An amazing place, I am definitely going back at some point to do more painting and sketching here. While to some, it may seem like miles of browns, but looking more closely, the colors are so much more than that.

"Hummingbird and Aloe"at The Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
© Nancy Laliberte
pen and watercolor

Painting in-flight to help pass the time. All of my supplies went into the black and white
paisley bag and then I put that in my small carry-on bag. My water brushes, spray bottle and glue stick went into my quart-size TSA baggie.  

The goodies: sketch bag (Thirty-one Bag, 9" x 12"), a few water-soluble colored pencils, eraser, pencil, Uhu glue stick, Tombow brush markers, viewfinder, spray bottle, compact watercolor set, paper towel piece,  Handbook Art Journal, water brushes, black Identi-pen, date stamper, 1/2" flat watercolor brush, Tombow brush marker in black, Pitt pen in sepia, Pentel brush pen, an extra black pen, Signo white, gold and silver pens. I have a small cross-body bag I use when out and about, and would just bring the essentials with me: journal, water brushes, watercolor set, paper towel, viewfinder, pen, phone, and a snack. 

Art & Soul Creative Journaling Class March 5th
Next Tuesday is the March session of the Art & Soul Creative Journaling class I teach from 5:45 pm - 7:45 pm at the Wausau Hobby Lobby store. We will be working on travel journaling techniques--watercolors, collage, writing, drawing and more - perfect timing for your next trip. All supplies are included except your journal. I will be bringing some vacation items, but feel free to bring some of your own objects (sea shells, souvenirs) and ephemera (tickets, brochures, pictures). Sign up is on my website. And, yes, there will be chocolate. While you are there be sure to check out the other workshops and classes I have going this year.

A Big Shout-Out
A big shout-out to my fellow artist blogger friend, Mary Maxam. Mary had a painting give-away for her blog followers and guess who won? Yes, moi! I am so thrilled!!! Thank you, Mary! Mary's work is amazing so be sure to check out her blog and website.

Studio Fan Page
I have a studio fan page on Face book where I post behind the scenes art happenings in and out of my studio. If you haven't already Liked it, then you should and feel free to share with your friends. Thanks! I appreciate your awesome support!

Have a great weekend! 
I have a workshop I am teaching tomorrow at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, and am so excited! 
take care, 
Nancy

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!

Sketchbook Saturday: What's for Dinner?

"What's for Dinner? 

Oriental Chicken Salad"

© Nancy Laliberte

sketchbook journal page

canson sketchbook, Pilot V Ball pen and Yarka pan watercolors

Sometimes you just have to eat something other than Chex mix, Christmas cookies and chocolate. Just saying.  

I'm enjoying a wonderful, early Christmas weekend with my family including my oldest son who is home from college, and my parents. I hope you are having a great weekend, too.

Sketchbook Saturday: Experimenting

"African Violet"

© Nancy Laliberte

sketchbook journal page

canson sketchbook, pentel brush pen and watercolor

I have an African Violet plant in my dining room that is in dire need of transplanting or something because it has a "twin" attached to it. I keep a coffee mug under the "twin" for stabilization. What amazes me is how, despite being in a teeny pot, both plants continue to flower and flourish on a regular basis. Maroon, the goldfish, may be the one to thank for that. ;-)

This page involved experimenting with a Pentel brush pen. It can make thin, thick or calligraphic lines depending on the angle and pressure. Sketchbooks are great for experimenting and practice. You don't have to show anyone if you don't want to; the main thing is to just dive in and do it. 

Sketchbook Saturday

"In The Garden"

© Nancy Laliberte

sketchbook journal page

Canson sketchbook, micron pen and watercolors

A mini tour of a few plants and findings in my front garden. Our azalea bushes are looking beautiful this year. Pine needles and acid fertilizer seems to be the trick. And, yesterday I noticed that my iris bulbs are finally going to bloom; I'm so excited! Enjoy your weekend, and get out and sketch! 

Family Entertainment-Sketchbook Journal Page

"Living in a Fish Bowl"

© Nancy Laliberte

sketchbook journal page

watercolor and micron pen

A day in the life of our pet fish, Maroon. My son Nicholas won Maroon and another fish named Goldie last year in kindergarten in an end of the science unit about fish raffle at school. (Goldie is no longer with us and is buried in our backyard under some sea shells.) I must admit Maroon is entertaining to watch. Sometimes he swims around that bowl so fast you'd think he was training to take on Michael Phelps. One morning we thought he was dead, but he was just sleeping. Soon he was swimming laps as usual. Life in a fish bowl. 

Journaling and Jurying

"A Mother's Day Bouquet" 

Flowers from my Family

© Nancy Laliberte

watercolor and micron pen

Journaling...

I'm not sure when it happened. One day, a couple of years ago, I came across Danny Gregory's website and discovered his book, Every Day Matters. After reading it, I was hooked. I then purchased his book, Creative License: Giving Yourself Permission to be the Artist You Truly Are.  It's part drawing lessons, part pep talk and a whole lot of inspiration. So get yourself a sketchbook and a pen, any kind will do, and just start drawing, doodling and painting. There are no rules, just pages waiting for you to record your life, your every day matters.

Jurying...

Last week I had the opportunity and honor of judging, and then presenting the awards on Friday evening at the opening reception of the Wisconsin Valley Art Association's 34th Annual Memorial Exhibit. Artist Patrick Plunkett received the Best of Show with his sculpture, Christ on the Cross. Pat's work is extraordinary--very moving and thought provoking. If you are in the Wausau area, be sure to stop in at the Center for the Visual Arts to check out this show in the Loft Gallery, and the Lost and Found show in the main gallery featuring the mixed media paintings of my friend Ginnie Cappaert.