Hubert Robert-The Obelisk

While touring and lingering through the gallery rooms at the Chicago Art Institute’s Museum, I entered a room and was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the paintings I saw there.  They were four huge paintings, taller than a man, that invited you in with their sense of space and dimension.  As you stood in front of each painting, it felt as if you could step right inside.  The painter was Hubert Robert, a French painter who was commissioned four architectural fantasies for a rich patron.  The paintings do not depict any real place on earth, but rather imagined ruins that existed only in the mind of the artist.  Robert apparently studied in Italy for much of his training, and the Roman influence in the architecture he chose to paint shows clearly.  One can learn by looking at these works how a proper understanding of perspective can greatly enhance a piece–and also to not limit one’s abilities.  Really, the more correct and precise the drawing is, the better the painting has the potential to be.

Hubert Robert-The Landing Place

Hubert Robert-The Fountains

Also,  a lovely sketch also done by Hubert Robert that I found fascinating:

Hubert Robert-The Empress Josephine Kneeling With Jacques Louis David

As for my own work, I have been working on a few things since my return.  One is further progress with a commission piece, Cherokee Autumn.  Below, the second step:

Cherokee Autumn (unfinished), oil on canvas, 24" by 36", copyright Jessica Libor 2010

I’m excited to share with you a group show I am a part of this month, called “Crossing Borders”.  It is a collaboration of several artists to celebrate the spirit, vivacity and culture of Mexico.  The show runs all this month of January at Art and Light Gallery (www.artandlightgallery.com) in Greenville, SC.  Please visit the gallery’s website for hours.  My piece is a 8″ by 10″ pen and ink piece accented with a red bloom in the subject’s long hair.  The piece is titled “Señorita.”

Señorita, mixed media, 8" by 10", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Stop by and see!

This past week I spent in Chicago–and fell in love with the city and all it has to offer.  The museum linked with the Chicago Art Institute is really beautiful, housing many famous works by well-known artists such as Monet, Mancini, Degas, and many more.  A few of my favorite pieces from my visit to the museum there:

Manet-The Philosopher

I like the centralized focus of this piece, the muted colors, the strong firm brushstrokes that tell you about the subject without going into too much unnecessary detail.

Degas-brilliant in color and life

Above, I love the oranges and warm yellows contrasted with the greens.

I believe this was Carravagio. Love the details in the wings and the arched posture of the angel.

Detail of a painting to draw attention to the subtle lavender, green and gold of the water.

Painting of Middle Eastern architecture

Monet

Monet

Monet

Monet

Monet

Impressionism

Circus Performers

As for the city itself, I had the opportunity to explore some of it in the limited time I was there.  The skyline is very distinctive and beautiful–especially at dusk when the sky is still lit, but the warm orange lights start to come on like stars in the dark buildings.

Chicago skyline from the pier

Park in Chicago

By the river that leads in to Chicago

Chicago streetlights on the river

Downtown Chicago

By a sculpture in the park--the light inside changed brilliant colors every few minutes.

In a church courtyard downtown Chicago

A canopy of starry lights for Christmas

Church courtyard

By a wrought iron gate

Pennsylvania Snowfall on Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve to everyone!  I hope your preparations for this holiday season are wrapping up…and you are busy enjoying the stillness and peace of this Christmas.

As for me, I’m enjoying the beauty of a fresh snowfall in Pennsylvania–this first white Christmas in years.  Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas morning tomorrow!

Below, Ethereal displayed until the February benefit show in my dining room…

Ethereal, oil on canvas , 36" by 48", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

No excuses here–just dreaming of Paris.  I hope you’ll come along with me.

Find more images at Creature Comforts Blog.

During the process of my recent paintings, I have been updating my blog through means of my own photographs; now, I am happy to share with you more professionally photographed versions of my pieces.  Many thanks to photographer Joe Hindman.  Below you’ll see the finished, beautifully photographed paintings I have been working on this month.

Most exciting, I finished up Paper Lanterns at last!

Paper Lanterns, oil on canvas, 30" by 40", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Paper Lanterns (detail), oil on canvas, 30" by 40", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

This was an enjoyable piece to work on–I loved exploring all the different effects that the light made on the figures, and researching how painters really made a light source glow from within.  Two paintings that inspired me throughout the process were Sargent’s Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, a gorgeous twilight painting of two little girls in a garden, and The Lantern-Bearers by Maxfield Parrish.

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, by John Singer Sargent

The Lantern-Bearers, by Maxfield Parrish

Also, a beautifully photographed Southampton, a creative portrayal of Jane Austen at her countryside home in Southampton, England:

Southampton, oil on canvas, 36" by 60", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Southampton (detail), oil on canvas, 36" by 60", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Also photographed was Red Satin, and more detail shots of that:

Red Satin, oil on canvas, 24" by 36", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Red Satin (detail), oil on canvas, 24" by 36", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

And last but not least, a painting meant to capture the spiritual, perfect beauty of a fresh snowfall in winter, with the light of dusk beginning to cast long blue shadows over the snow.  Titled Ethereal, this piece was also recently finished and photographed:

Ethereal, oil on canvas, 36" by 48", copyright Jessica Libor 2009

I was delighted by the definitions I found for the word Ethereal…

I love photography, though my art form is painting…still, I can’t help but be simply enchanted by these images I’ve recently come across. Magical, ethereal, lovely, shimmering with beauty.  I love the lighting, romance and fragment of a moment captured.  All images but one are from Anthropologie November.

Check out this photographer’s work, galaxeandrews.

All this month, I have been working feverishly on many different paintings in many stages.  Below, you’ll see some of what I have been working on, particularly this past week.  First, finishing up Red Satin by detailing the hair…

Red Satin, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Also, beginning a commission painting called Cherokee Autumn, in its first stages…

Cherokee Autumn, first step

And last but not least, beginning a painting I am VERY excited about.  I’m stepping out of my comfort zone a little bit on this one–trying a more modern subject, still portrayed in a traditional way.  It’s a snapshot of a moment…I was walking along the main faire in Edinboro, Scotland, with hundreds of actors and mimes and performers handing me invitations to thier shows.  This girl, dressed as a mime, had placed herself in the perfect position for a good composition–white clothing, red, red lips, bright red fan, and fascinating background covered in posters.  I’m very excited to see where this one goes.

Mime, step 1, copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Mime, step 2, copyright Jessica Libor 2009

Paper Lanterns, copyright Jessica Libor 2009, unfinished.

Paper Lanterns (detail), copyright Jessica Libor 2009, unfinished

Paper Lanterns as a painting has come a long way since I last posted an update on it–and while it is not quite finished, I wanted to share the progress.  Stay posted for more updates!

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, 
Enwrought with golden and silver light, 
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths 
Of night and light and the half light, 
I would spread the cloths under your feet: 
But I, being poor, have only my dreams; 
I have spread my dreams under your feet; 
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Aedh Wishes for the Clothes of Heaven 
by William Butler Yeats