Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Show

This weekend, October 19th and 20th is the Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival. I will be in space C9 .  The show is open from 10am - 5pm on Saturday and 12pm - 5pm on Sunday.

Below is a new painting called Coastal Breeze.  It is 8x10, mixed media on panel. I have a number of new paintings that will be on display. Please stop by for a visit.

Have a great weekend,
Laura

Coast Breeze 8x10 mixed media on panel

Port Warwick Art and Sculpture Festival October 12th and 13th, 2013

Aperture 8x8 mixed media on panel

This weekend, October 12th and 13th is the Port Warwick Art and Sculpture Festival. I will be in space A6. The show is open from 10am - 6pm on Saturday and 10am - 5pm on Sunday.
Above is a new painting called Aperture. It is mixed media on cradled panel and is 8 inches square. I have a number of new paintings that will be on display. Please stop by for a visit.

Aerial View

Aerial View is mixed media on handmade paper.  The painting was then mounted to a cradled panel so it is ready to hang without a frame. I often start several paintings at one time and finish them when “they speak to me”.  Even though I looked at this start a number of times, it just didn't speak to me.  Along came a new product that I wanted to try – Golden High Flow Acrylic.  I pulled this painting out and began finishing it.  The painting was started with some texture mediums and ink.  It was about 80% finished and the remaining 20% was finished using these new paints.  I was extremely pleased with the glazing properties of the transparent colors.  I particularly love the lower right hand corner where I was able to glaze purple over the yellows and neutrals.

Aerial View mixed media 

Foundational Integer

Caribbean Duet

Foundational Integer  is an 10x8 mixed media on board.  It evolved by starting with a layer of texture using ink.  The next layer was a few pieces of newspaper collage, and then numbers were stenciled in the upper right.  From there, I applied many thin layers of acrylic paint, watercolor crayons and Pearl-Ex powders.  The painting was then varnished with a thick glossy layer and framed in a wide matte black frame.

4th Annual Buckroe Beach Arts in the Park Festival

I will be participating in the 4th Annual Buckroe Beach Arts in the Park Festival in Hampton, VA. on Saturday, September 14th from 10 am until 6 pm.  Here is a link to more information http://www.peninsulaconnects.org/artsintheparkfestival.html 
Please stop in for a visit.

Burnished Groove

Still Waters

It’s finished! The 48x60 commissioned painting that I have been working on, that is.  Working on this painting has been an incredible experience.  I loved every minute of it, even the part where it is 60 inches tall and so am I.  This meant that I spent quite a bit of my painting time sitting on the floor or kneeling  After starting with a couple of layers of heavy texture using gesso, paper  and modeling paste, I began many, many layers of paint and mediums in various shades of blue, green and yellow.There is also a little espresso and bronze.

Still Waters 60hx48w mixed media on canvas

The goal was a peaceful, abstracted landscape to include specific colors requested by my client.  I am very pleased with the finished work and she is pleased with the photograph.  The painting will be delivered soon.

And so it begins - progress on 48x60 canvas

And so it begins… The work on the large painting I mentioned earlier.  This painting is quite large (48x60) and is the largest project I have taken on so far.  As my friend and fellow artist, Adele Castillo (http://adelecastillo.com/) predicted on my Face Book page https://www.facebook.com/LauraGibbsStudio, I am enjoying working on this large canvas.

The large blank canvas was a little daunting at first.  I started with two layers of heavy texture and a number of layers of paint so far.  My goal is an abstracted landscape with soothing, peaceful colors.  

This is a commission piece and the client is out of town.  So that I felt comfortable with the colors we were discussing, she went to a paint store and chose some paint chips to send me.  I think this worked out very well as I was able to see exactly what she had in mind.  The painting is to be primarily a range of blues, greens and grayed versions of these.  The highlights will be soft yellows and whites.

Art Show this weekend

Seawall Art Show Portsmouth, VA  August 24 and 25, 2013

I will be participating in the 43rd annual Seawall Art Show this weekend in downtown Portsmouth, VA.  The show hours are Saturday 10 am until 6 pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.  Here is the link for more show information http://www.seawallartshow.org/.

Aquanotic

Aquanotic - 8x10 mixed media on board

This painting was just finished this week and hasn't been framed yet.  It is one that was started some time ago.  As part of my process, I often start several pieces as once.  Some speak to me sooner than others, so there is always something to work on.  When I start paintings, most are completely spontaneous experiments.  The initial stages are messy with wet ink and paint.  They are left to dry overnight and once all the texture materials are removed, I am able to get a feel for where to go next.

Over the years, I have spent a lot of time enjoying the waters that surround us in this part of the country (and usually on our vacations as well).  As such, the water has become a strong influence in my art, both in the colors and the flowing nature of the media.

Uncharted Territory

This picture shows a canvas waiting to be started.  The canvas is 48 inches wide and 60 inches tall.  Am I nervous?  Yes.  Am I intimidated? Yes, that too.  But, I am also excited about the prospect of pushing into uncharted territory.  This will be the largest painting I have ever tackled.  I did finish one that is 30x60 and I must admit that I had the same feelings then.

There has been some preparation needed before I can begin.  I have visited the hardware store to purchase some larger rollers than those that I have used in the past.  Since I make a number of stamps that I use for texture, I made one that is 8.5x11 in. to try to work within the scale of the canvas.  Additionally, I have been scavenging things that may be used as texture tools.  As I progress on this painting, I will post pictures of some of the tools that I am using.

I feel certain that this is a painting that will take some time, planning and evaluation along the way. I hope you will check back and enjoy the journey with me.

Phosphorescence

Stockley Gardens Arts Festival

This weekend, I will be participating in the Stockley Gardens Fall Arts Festival this weekend in Norfolk, VA.  I am in space B40.  Section B is the middle section.  Show hours are listed below:

Saturday, May 18, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19, 2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The show is located in the Ghent area of Norfolk.  Click here http://www.hope-house.org/arts/spring-stockley-gardens-arts-festival/dates-facts.php
for more information. 

Please stop by for a visit.

Have a great weekend,
Laura

Sunset Passage

Sunset Passage 

The painting above is mixed media on paper and is framed under glass.  It is 37hx27w and the sales price is $660.00. I used ink, acrylic paint, some texture medium and some ink based pencils.  The pencils were fun to use as they can be used dry, wet or grated into either wet paint or water for some interesting effects. There are many layers and paint was applied, lifted, and textured.

I participated in the East Beach Art Show this past weekend. We had wonderful weather and crowds. I was very fortunate to receive the Third Place award.  Click here to see a picture of the award on my Facebook page. The juror spent time with every artist and came back around after the announcements were made to make some personal comments.

One of these best aspects of participating in outdoor shows is the feedback that you get from both attendees and other artists.  It is such a compliment to me when people are drawn in to get a closer look at my art.  All of the positive comments were very inspirational and offer much motivation to get in my studio and paint, paint, paint.  

Finding Your Edge

“If you're not living on the edge you're taking up too much space.”― Stephen Hunt

Some of you may know that I practice yoga regularly.  In yoga, we often speak about finding our edge.  We mean to find “that place where you are challenged, but successful”.  In making art, I find it necessary to find my edge.  It is essential to my creative process to experiment and  push myself out of my comfort zone.  Sometimes this is in little ways.  For example using a color that I don't often work with or trying a texture tool that I haven't used before.  Experimentation may involve something bigger such as working on a large surface, a slick surface or trying a design I have never used before.

Radishes -  mixed media on panel 6x6

In my painting, Radishes I am painting on a surface that I have not used before.  This is a wood panel that is cradled, meaning that it does not need to be framed and is ready to hang as is.  I often paint with watercolor on a surface that has been coated in acrylic gesso.  A friend saw one of my paintings and showed me this new surface that she was using for her oil paintings.  I had been looking for a very smooth surface to use with my abstracts.  I really loved painting these radishes and will be painting at least 3 more of these 6x6 cradled panels.  I know that in my last post I indicated that I would post some photos of this painting in process, but I just get so into the painting that I forget to stop and take pictures. They are gessoed and ready for a subject.  This painting is $75.00; contact me at lauragibbs@lauragibbs-studio.com to purchase.

Have a great day!

Robin's Nest

Robin's Nest 8x8 mixed media on board

Robin's Nest is a recently completed mixed media painting that I was fortunate enough to sell almost immediately. I am enjoying painting in this style again and posted another painting, Aubergine that is in my post of January 30, 2013. It is so much fun that I have started a series of small paintings (6x6) of fruits and vegetables that will be on cradled board so that they are ready to hang without a frame. The first one is of radishes.  I am planning to post a few pictures of the paintings while they are in progress so that you can get a feel for the steps that lead to a finished work.

I have worked in this style before; if you click here you will be directed to the page in my website devoted to them.  Thinking about “style” brings up a bigger question, what is it?  Answering this question is a lot more complicated than it would appear.  After research and discussion with fellow artists, I discovered the following: (taken from my website - click here to see it)

What is Abstract Art?

That is often debated and difficult to nail down.  After researching this topic, I have found a definition that I am comfortable with.  “Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction of imagery in art. This departure from accurate representation can be only slight, or it can be partial, or it can be complete. Abstraction exists along a continuum. Even art that aims for verisimilitude of the highest degree can be said to be abstract, at least theoretically, since perfect representation is likely to be exceedingly elusive. Artwork which takes liberties, altering for instance color and form in ways that are conspicuous, can be said to be partially abstract. Total abstraction bears no trace of any reference to anything recognizable” More information may be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstract_art

Based on all of this, often confusing information; I decided to go with abstract.  Maybe it should be Realism with a Twist or Realism My Way.  One of these terms may work their way into my vocabulary one day.

Thank you for taking time to read my blog.

Have a great day!

Geared Vibrato

This year I am participating in Tidewater Arts Outreach's Instruments of Art fundraiser.  http://twartsoutreach.org/ssfl/instruments/index.html Local artists are provided an instrument that they will turn into a work of art.  These instruments will be sold at their Celebration Gala and Auction on Friday, March 22, 2013 from 7:30 - 10 pm.  The Gala will be held at Selden Arcade, 200 E. Main Street Norfolk, VA.

I chose an electric guitar and named the finished work Geared Vibrato.

Below are several photos that show the progression from start to completion.

1.  beginning

2. 

3.

4.

5.

6. Finished

7.  Close-up

Aubergine

Aubergine - mixed media 8x10

Winter with eggplants

I have been focusing on abstract for a while now and decided that I missed some of my less abstracted work.  The painting above is currently on exhibit at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy for their annual art show. Information about the show may be found here http://www.nsacademy.org.

On the right is the reference photo that I used.  I took this photo in my living room window since the light was so good that day.  My little dog, Winter has to check everything out.  Luckily, eggplant is one of the few vegetables he doesn't like!

Welcome 2013

Welcome 2013.  I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season and New Year.  Ours has been full of family activities and so much fun. 

Christmas this year, including dinner on Christmas Day, was one of the most relaxed we have had. Dinner preparations went smoothly, everyone brought dishes to share and all eleven of us were seating in one room. 

We really enjoyed our Christmas tree this year, we went with a fresh cut tree and found a space in a window near our front door.  This is the first time it was placed there and it was my favorite.  We could see it and smell the fresh fir every time we moved through the house  Since our son is an adult now, I decorate and take the tree down by myself.  The men help with the heavy lifting and things my five foot frame makes difficult for me to reach.  Both the decorating and the taking down were enjoyable, it gave me a chance to sift through memories of the various ornaments (many dated) that we have accumulated over our 30 years of marriage.

Now is the season for looking forward and setting goals.  Surely this can be done at any time and not just on New Year's Day, but this is prime time for compiling lists of things that we hope to accomplish in the coming year. I won't go into all the details, but as you can probably guess, art is high on the list. Hopefully, there will be many paintings and shows to post about.

May your New Year be filled with peace, love, joy and good health. Cheers!