Friends, I am excited to share with you this news…I’ll be on the radio tomorrow, Saturday the 10th of October, 106.3 at 3:00pm, right after Rush Limbaugh. Tune in! Or follow this link to listen in…
http://radiotime.com/StationDetails.aspx?ScheduleByDate=1&StationId=29192&date=10/10/2009#tab1http://radiotime.com/StationDetails.aspx?ScheduleByDate=1&StationId=29192&date=10/10/2009#tab1
I’d like to thank John Oliver for graciously asking me to be a part of his program.
This week I have begun work on two new paintings. The first I began in Italy, and am just now getting around to finishing. It is a view of the breathtaking Arno River in Florence, Italy, at sunset. It really does look like a fairy tale come to life, I’m not exaggerating anything with my paints. Almost finished…
The River Arno, oil on canvas, 16" by 18", copyright Jessica Libor 2009
And here is a peek at the beginning stages of the next painting. I love dresses, love the way that satin shines and bends around a figure, and that is what this piece is all about. This has four and a half hours of work on it thus far.
Satin (unfinished), oil on canvas, 24" by 36", copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Southampton, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
“To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.”
-Jane Austen
Finished! The Jane Austen painting “Southampton” is at last complete…almost. I do still have to varnish it, which believe it or not makes a huge difference in the presentation. However, the painting part is pretty much finished. Hope you enjoy taking a peek…the pictures are not the best, but proffessional photos are coming.
Southampton, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
The piece is called “Southampton”, the country estate that Jane Austen lived at after the death of her father, and where she gathered much inspiration for some of her best works.
For those unfamiliar with Jane Austen, she is the author of some of the best-known classics in literature, such as Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Pride and Prejudice.
Southampton, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Southampton, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Southampton, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Southampton, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Southampton, detail, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Southampton, still on the easel. Copyright Jessica Libor 2009
To learn more about the life and works of Jane Austen, click here.
I find these paintings just breathtaking…spending time looking at them, soaking them in, noticing the colors and brushstrokes, then taking that beauty you see in them and looking at the world every day with eyes a little brighter because of having seen them.
Enjoy, friends.
"Spring Flowers" by Alma-Tadema
"Theodora Au Colisee" by Limperatrice
"Irene" by Bouguereau
Cowper
Dan McCaw
"On the Beach" by Donna Schuster
"Knight" by Jeffery Jones
"Nun" by Jeffrey Jones
"Psyche" by Kendall William Sargeant
"Pallas Athene" by Klimt
Leslie Hale
"Sleeping Beauty" by Maxfield Parrish
Miles Mathis
Moonrise
Mucha
Odilon Redon
"A Beduin Arab", John Singer Sargeant
"Pink Dress" by Susan Lyon
More to come…check back tomorrow!
Have a blessed Sunday.
I always try to make it to First Fridays downtown–but this time was extra special. Caroline George Lott, a friend and fellow artist, has been working on a huge project of studios for working artists downtown, converting a century old house into an eclectic, unique treasure box full of talent. Last night seemed to be a smashing success for them. Some pictures from the evening…
white lights up the walkway
Chis Koelle's prints--love the unique way he displays them
Annie Koelle's charcoal art
Art and Light Gallery down the street
Bess Whittington's three dimensional pieces--little jewels
More of Bess Whittington's work
You can visit Chris and Annie’s website at http://blog.koelleart.com/ and Caroline’s website at http://www.carolinegeorgelott.com/ I am certain you will enjoy looking through their work.
Next post, I am finished with Jane Austen! Pictures soon to come. The only thing left to do is to varnish it. I am very happy with it, and can’t wait to share it with you-my largest piece yet. Check back soon, and have a great weekend!
My apologies to those who read my blog regularly; I have been sadly silent this past week. The reason was a whirlwind of a visit to Pennsylvania, my home state, to attend a wedding in the family and check out a school I have been interested in for some time.
There were thunderstorms when the plane lifted off–so the clouds were fascinating when seen from above, at a bird’s eye view. Watching the changing landscape of the clouds kept me entertained the first part of the voyage–they looked almost solid, like you could wander among the billowing towers and find castles nestled in those filmy vistas just beyond where you could see.
Another highlight of the trip was visiting the school–Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the oldest art school in the United States, where Mary Cassatt and Maxfield Parrish, among others, went to school. It amazes me that more people do not know about it–a small jewel of a school in the midst of Philadelphia. The architecture, teachers and art on the walls was quality–the stuff that stands the test of time. Definitely a top choice for grad work in the future.
Entrance to the Museum part of PAFA
Copies of famous sculptures; students have full access
Inside the museum of the PAFA
Outside City Hall, right next door to PAFA--Philadelphia
I also visited the Comcast building briefly–one thing that strikes you when you walk through the glass doors is the web of structure that extends high above you–and on each steel beam, the sculpture of a person is walking. It makes you a little dizzy.
Inside the Comcast building
The other thing about Pennsylvania is that they have the most beautiful autumns in the world. While in other states summer is still holding on, in PA the weather was crisp and delicious. And the sunsets soft and spectacular.
New handmade cards…see the details here:
Violet Peacock
Violet Peacock
Pastel Shimmer Sprite Wings
Castle in the Clouds
Marie Antionette
Marie Antoinette
That link again is www.jessicalibor.etsy.com
Thanks for visiting! Have a fabulous day today.
I got this forwarded in an email, and thought they were so delightful that I couldn’t hep but share it. Even though not specifically art-related, some of these do bring vivid word pictured to mind do they not? May these happy thoughts inspire you :
Hello friends, check out the blurb about my exhibition at the Eden Boheme on thier blog here:http://edenboheme.blogspot.com/2009/08/artist-jessica-libor-at-eden-boheme.html
At the Eden Boheme! Thanks, girls!
Experimenting with the new card line I’m just starting to get really into…here is the newest addition, Stardust Feather greeting card:
Stardust Feather greeting card
Stardust Feather greeting card
Stardust Feather greeting card
This card will be on sale at my Etsy store here: www.jessicalibor.etsy.com.
I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend despite the rain (I happen to love rainy days, especially when you have the windows open indoors, and can hear the raindrops, with a cup of tea in hand). Make sure to make it out to the Greenville Arts Festival this weekend! It’s sure to be an interesting and wonderful event if you’re willing to break out the umbrellas.
Now comes the fun part of the painting–once most of the canvas is blocked in, you can start adding detail, correcting color, pulling out the highlights, darkening the shadows, just making it richer and deeper overall. At this stage, I can look at the painting and smile in anticipation of what it will look like at completion. One of the goals of this painting in particular is to make the viewer feel pulled into the scene–so that you wish you were on that sun-dappled grass in England, reading in the shade with a heavenly view behind you. More on the life of Jane Austen and what inspired me to do this painting to come…but for now, here is more documentation of the process, day 7:
Jane Austen (detail), oil on canvas, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Jane Austen (unfinished), oil on canvas, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
Jane Austen (detail), oil on canvas, copyright Jessica Libor 2009
