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Jessica Libor

~ Studio Journal

Jessica Libor

Tag Archives: advice for artists

Florence Memories

15 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by Jessica Libor in art, Inspiration, Journeys, lifestyle

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advice for artists, art, artist, beautiful, beautiful art, classical realism, contemporary art, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, Florence, Florence academy of art, how to be an artist, how to paint like the masters, inspiration, inspiration for artists, jessica libor, oil painting, pafa, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, PHiladelphia

“Everything about Florence seems to be colored with a mild violet, like diluted wine.” —Henry James, 1869 • I was fortunate enough to spend a summer in Florence a few years ago, studying painting with the @florenceacademyofart . It was the first time I experienced a step by step process of building a painting, and was amazed at the results that could be achieved—paintings that looked like old master works—by following the same steps they used carefully. I was instantly hooked in this ultimate fantasyland of classical painting. That summer seems golden and beautiful, in part because of the overwhelming art that filled the city. This photo is from Florence, Italy, at the Villa Medicea de Lillian… I couldn’t find the photographer, but it is representative of the beautiful structures and paintings that are around every corner in the beautiful city. What is a city that has influenced your art?

Into the coppery halls: the end of autumn

13 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by Jessica Libor in Inspiration, Journeys, lifestyle

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advice for artists, art, artist, beautiful art, classical realism, contemporary art, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, how to paint like the masters, inspiration, jessica libor, oil painting, pafa, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, social entrepreneurship

Into the coppery halls; of beech and intricate oak; to be close to the trees; as they whisper together; let fall their leaves!

—Whim Wood, by Katherine Towers ✨. The first frost has come and winter is almost upon us. Each season brings its own aesthetic I enjoy for its own reasons. The end of autumn feels very mysterious and elusive to me.

What’s your power color?

31 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by Jessica Libor in beauty, fashion, Inspiration, lifestyle

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advice for artists, art, artist, beautiful art, classical realism, color, color psychology, color theory, contemporary art, costumes, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, halloween, how to paint like the masters, inspiration, jessica libor, pafa, painter, painting

Color is powerful, especially to us creatives. Color can determine your mood, and has been proven to effect the way that we feel. I’ve always been drawn to purple and lavender colors. I love this current time of year because it’s socially acceptable to let your personality really shine with unusual costume choices. I was able to break out my lavender wig this week, and it was so much fun! It definitely let out a different part of my personality, something more playful and more creative. Just seeing myself embody this color made me feel differently! So what about you? What’s your power color? Here’s an interesting list of colors, and what some experts think they represent. Red: ambition energy, confidence, bold, passionate. Pink: sensitive, intuitive, loving, caring, respect. Purple: fantasy, creativity, distinguished, modesty, deep. Black: strength, power, professional, accurate. Orange: freedom, social, warmth, motivation, impulsive. Yellow: optimism, energetic, fun, logical, attentive. Gray: balance, neutral, timeless, practical, solid. Green: growth, nature, equilibrium, positivity, stable. Navy: responsible, integrity, trust, peace, order. Blue: ambition, perspective, aware, open. Let me know your power color and what you associate with it in the comments, I’m curious to hear!

Self Care Enhances Creativity

29 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by Jessica Libor in beauty, Inspiration, lifestyle, Wellness

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advice for artists, art, artist, beautiful art, beauty, classical realism, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, inspiration, jessica libor, oil painting, pafa, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, self care, stress, stress relief, time management, wellness

I don’t know about you guys, but I often feel like I am rushing around every day, trying to check off a list of things to do and never seem to have quite enough time. It gets to the end of the day, and I always wish that I had more time to get the needed things done. The to do list actually never ends. There’s always more that we could be accomplishing and that we could be striving for in life. I took some time out this week and allowed myself to just relax for an afternoon. I allowed myself the luxury of a bubble bath. I read a few articles that were interesting to me and generally enjoyed doing nothing for a few hours! I honestly can’t remember the last time that I did this. At the end of that time, I realized that I was in such a relaxed and creative state of mind. I felt more playful, more optimistic, and so excited to dive back into the paintings and the projects that I’m currently working on. The time away made those things feel interesting and dynamic again. Also, we must remember that we are not machines! We are organic human beings who need rest I need variety in our lives. We can’t be healthy if all we do is work and all we do is put stress on our self to constantly be accomplishing things. Life is about more than that. Also, what is the point of accomplishing all these things if you can’t even enjoy life? So, I highly recommend taking some time to just relax and guilt free do nothing for a few hours once in a while. You might be surprised how positively it affects you, when you are so much more excited to be present in your artwork, and in your life!

Playing to win or playing not to lose?

03 Friday May 2019

Posted by Jessica Libor in Inspiration, Journeys, lifestyle

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advice for artists, art, artist, beautiful art, classical realism, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, inspiration, jessica libor, oil painting, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts

Are you playing to win or playing not to lose?

I heard these words this week and it made me think. I don’t like to view the art world as competitive— in fact, I think the only person you compete with is really yourself in this life.

But, it’s interesting to think of how the mindset of “playing not to lose” looks like rather than “playing to win.”

In a small example, perhaps I’ll do a small painting rather than a large one, to minimize cost loss in case it’s not bought for a long time. In that way I’m not playing to win (or, to really actually use my vision in the size which would make it look best). Or maybe when applying for a grant I don’t spend too much time on it because if I DO spend too much time on it and I don’t get it, I would have lost that time. In that way I am playing not to lose (time) rather than playing to win (believing I have a shot and giving it my best).

I can tell when I’m playing to win because there’s a sense of leaning in and commitment. What do you guys think about this concept? Have you ever “played to win” or “played not to lose?” How does it feel for you?

Cherry Blossom Painting Time

29 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by Jessica Libor in art, fashion, In My Studio, Inspiration, lifestyle

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advice for artists, art, art expert, artist, beautiful, beautiful art, cherry blossoms, classical realism, contemporary art, contemporary female artists, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, Fairmount Park, female artist, female artists, fine art, forever 21, h&m, how to be an artist, how to paint, how to paint like the masters, inspiration, inspiration for artists, jessica libor, Lawrence Alma tadema, Lucy Paris, oil painting, oil paintings, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, philadelphia artists, social entrepreneurship, spring fashion, technical advice for artists, the roses of heliogabalus

Ohh April! My very favorite time of the year is when the cherry blossoms are out in full bloom, and the great long stretch of summer is out before us in glorious, warm possibility. I spent some time this week painting the cherry blossoms and happily reveling in their heavenly beauty… I was in the park almost every day! Check out my time lapse of the painting done and a few of my other pieces. Send me a message at jlibor@jessicalibor.com if you are interested in collecting any of these oil sketches.

White top and pink skirt: Forever 21. Lavender dress: true vintage. Blue dress: Urban Outfitters. Floral dress: true vintage. Striped top: Lucy Paris. Hats: Forever 21. Sunglasses: Green Street Consignment.

Which is your favorite look? What about favorite cherry blossom painting?

I can’t leave without posting the most epic floral painting ever. “The Roses is Heliogabalus” by Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema. Enjoy! Until next time,

Jessica Libor

Www.jessicalibor.com

Beginning my “Let’s Connect Philly” painting for the Barnes Foundation

23 Monday Apr 2018

Posted by Jessica Libor in Exhibitions, How To, In My Studio

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advice for artists, art, art expert, artist, beautiful, beautiful art, beautiful paintings of women, classical realism, contemporary art, contemporary female artists, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, how to be an artist, how to paint like the masters, inspiration, inspiration for artists, jessica libor, Let’s Connect Philly, mural arts, pafa, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, residency, the Barnes foundation

This month I am lucky enough to be living in a Philadelphia zip code, so am eligible to participate in the Barnes Foundation and Mural Arts competition and exhibition at the Barnes Foundation, called “Let’s Connect Philly.” It’s a really cool idea– artists are to pick one piece that inspires them (I picked Renoir) and do a small piece inspired by it! During the exhibition (in May–June) the public can go and vote on their favorite pieces, with the winning artists getting a residency and stipend at the Barnes! Needless to say I’m very excited to enter! Above is a time lapse for the first 7 hours of painting I’ve done on my piece. It’s not done yet, but when it is, I’ll post a side by side of the piece by Renoir that inspired me and my own.

Jessica Libor

Www.jessicalibor.com

Beginning a new painting: Magical Creatures

12 Thursday Apr 2018

Posted by Jessica Libor in art, In My Studio, Inspiration, Shop

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advice for artists, art, art expert, art school, artist, beautiful, beautiful art, beautiful paintings of women, classical realism, contemporary art, contemporary female artists, contemporary realism, creative, creativity, drawing, emerging artist, emerging artists, female artist, how to be an artist, how to paint like the masters, inspiration, inspiration for artists, jessica libor, MFA, pafa, painter, painting, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, social entrepreneurship

It’s always the first day that it goes the quickest. After that, it is all about refining the details. Here is a unicorn painting inspired by my visit to the Met Cloisters and seeing “The Hunt of the Unicorn”. Click the video to see the time lapse!

You could spend forever on a painting, but it’s all about the quality and focus of the time you spend on it. Blocking out all other distractions and focusing all your mind and skill on the painting is like a meditation practice. I am always surprised by how much more quickly and better quality work comes out of a painting session when I’m in this state! I read a book once that described this state as “flow.” Perhaps it deserves a post of its own!

This painting I’m currently working on, “Magical Creatures,” is not completed, so be on the lookout for another post about the finished painting.

In the meantime, my recent painting after Fragonard, ” The Chase,” is completed, with a limited edition print run available in my shop. The prints turned out beautifully…every little brushstroke is captured in detail, and each one is on acid free archival quality paper that is velvety and smooth. Hand signed by me! To grab yours, click here.

Career Self-Management for Artists

15 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by Jessica Libor in art, How To, In My Studio, lifestyle, Uncategorized

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advice for artists, art professional, art student, artist, creative, drawing, female artist, inspiration, management, organization, painter, studio, time management

studio 1

Above: my 2009 studio in South Carolina at The White Whale studios

Unless you are employed by a company like Disney, and clock in and out for your job titled “Artist,” the artist is a professional that is largely self-managed.  You make your own hours, your own schedule, and have the flexibility that goes along with it–something very alluring and that most people dream of.  However, along with this freedom comes a heavy responsibility, as any entrepreneur knows.  Yes, you may be doing what you love, but you also have to figure out all the aspects of the business.  As a visual artist, this includes not just creating the work, but finding ways to get it in front of other people.  The different avenues of your workday may include:

Creation: brainstorming, sketching, spending time listening to music or podcasts while doodling ideas and plans.  Making paintings, preparing canvases, the physical act of putting pen, pencil or paintbrush to the canvas.

Organization:  Dating, signing, packing, filing, keeping your artworks organized.

Records: getting photographs taken of finished artworks, filing photographic records in your computer, keeping records of recent sales and collector information, planning upcoming show dates and keeping a record of sales made at recent shows and also expenses such as art supplies, transportation, framing, etc.

Planning Ahead: submitting your artwork to exhibition opportunities, writing grant proposals, planning out your year’s (or at least next few month’s) exhibition and work activities.  This also includes creative goals such as “Complete a new body of work in 3 months” or “Have a solo show in 12 months”.  You may not know exactly how to get there, but by setting an intention that you will, you’d be surprised how you’re able to figure it out!  That’s because the brain is a problem-solving machine.  It tackles problems and creatively finds ways to get to a goal when you give it something to work for!  One idea is to write down a big goal for the year and put it somewhere you’ll see it often, like above your easel.  That way when you see it every day, your mind will go into creative problem-solving mode subconsciously without you having to think about it.

Networking:  I like to think of this as creative socialization.  After a solo day in the studio it’s good to get out and about to different events–art related, and not.  Sometimes the best connections come from meeting people in unrelated fields.  Going to a cultural event is never wasted.  Just always bring your business cards.  This also includes your online presence in social media sites.  When people comment on your work, respond!  It’s a conversation just like it would be in real life, and the more you are engaged with others and interested in them, the more people will engage with you and believe you have something to offer, not just trying to get something from them.

Marketing/Branding: Although many artists believe themselves to be “pure”, “noncommercial,” and eschew anything to do with the term marketing, even that decision goes into their branding style.  So I like to think of this not as marketing, but as authentically spreading your message.  What is the essence of your work?  Your lifestyle?  Your vision?  What inspires you?  Envision the colors, scenes, themes and styles of work that you’re all about.  Now when you make an art piece or post something to social media, make sure it’s consistent with your artistic vision.  What issues are central to your work?  Seek out organizations and other people who align themselves with those issues too.  There is strength in numbers and none of us exist in a vaccuum.  After all, art is meant to be seen.

Rest:  Just as important as working, rest is important to prevent burnout or even injury.  It’s crucial to step away from your painting or computer work every 2 hours at the very minimum.  Take a 15 minute coffee break, walk around the block, or even take a short nap–this prevents hand related injuries and also keeps your mind fresh.  When you come back, you’ll see the piece with new eyes and spot things you’d like to change you may not have seen before.

There are many more details to the life of an artist, but I think the best part is the creativity.  The generation of ideas and their execution is what makes an artist by definition an artist.  But we only get so much energy in a day, and the trick is to decipher what tasks, creative and otherwise, are important to do.  As Lera Aurbach advises in her book Excess of Being, “Edit your actions.  Edit your surroundings.  Edit your thoughts.  Cut, cut, cut.”  It’s then we’ll be able to accomplish what is important to us and not get distracted by the 100 things pulling at our attention each day.  It’s definitely possible if you focus.  The cool thing is that we as artists get to be creative not only in our art, but in our career paths as an artists as well.

The artist’s role in society

30 Thursday Jun 2016

Posted by Jessica Libor in art, beauty, Inspiration, Journeys, lifestyle, Uncategorized

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advice for artists, arch street press, art, artist, beautiful art, beautiful paintings of women, beauty, Bible, calling, classical realism, creative, culture, drawing, dress, female artist, inspiration for artists, jessica libor, lera auerbach, painting, pay, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, philosophy, profession, queen victoria, service, society, thoughts, winterhalter

queen-victoria-1842-1 by winterhalter

“Queen Victoria,” by Winterhalter, 1842.  Victoria’s job was to lead her people well.

Recently I’ve been thinking about professions, pay, and service.   Why do some professions pay more than others? For instance, why does a doctor get paid more hourly than a barista?  This has nothing to do with the worthwhile efforts of either of the people holding these jobs.  You could be the best barista on the planet, make the best cup of coffee in the world and serve it with pleasantness, with a design in the foam of your own making.  However, as long as you stay a barista, you will not be compensated for your time and expertise in the way that a doctor will.  Why?

Because people need doctors.  “But I need coffee!” you may exclaim.  You may feel that you need coffee, and you may be addicted to coffee, but you do not need coffee to survive.  However, if you had health issues that needed fixing, you would need a doctor.  A doctor meets a need that the world has.  Many times, a very urgent need.   There is also the skill level that is necessary to become a doctor, one that takes into account years and years of intensive, difficult study and exacting practice.  Enough practice that the doctor can then do what they do best, whether it is general practice or surgery, and feel confident enough that they will not mess up.  You can’t just wake up tomorrow and be one.  It requires decades of planning and dedication.  This service they provide to mankind makes them valuable.   No offense to Baristas here–I love coffee! 🙂

This got me thinking about art and the profession of an artist.  Why would someone become an artist?  At first glance, it seems that making art serves no direct purpose to mankind.  Does it make you healthier?  Safer?  Smarter, calmer or wiser?  Perhaps a little.  Is it simply to amuse?  To inspire?  To send a political message?  There are too many kinds of art to say that all art is for one purpose and one purpose alone.  As varied as there are people on the earth, so are the many kinds of artworks and motivations of the artists that make it.  But the highest paid artists are usually the ones with the strongest vision and best work–so in the same way that doctors are compensated for their service, artists are compensated for their vision.  The more compelling the vision, the greater the contribution to mankind.

Proverbs 29:18a of the Bible reads, “Without a vision, the people perish.”  Perhaps it is we as artists who take our profession too lightly.  It’s a lot of fun to paint, to sculpt, to create things out of your head.  This enjoyable aspect of creativity has given some artists guilt over making a profession out of something they enjoy so much.  But have we as artists ever truly stretched ourselves to find out what the capabilities of our creativity are?  Most of us are capable of far more than we imagined.  It is the job of artists, and creatives, to make this vision in the culture we live in today.  Because it’s vision, hope, imagination that make life worth living.  If you look at it that way, an artist’s job is one of the most important jobs in society of all.

Do you feel called to be an artist?  If you feel that it is a calling, then what if you thought of it also as a responsibility to the world?  That you, not doing your best, would be taking away something great that mankind would otherwise have without you.  Are you truly doing your best?  As Lera Auerbach states in her book Excess of Being: “The gap between good and great is much larger than between good and bad.”  What if you created not for the fame, accolades, fortune or respect, but out of a duty to give your best to the world?  To not think of it as an indulgent thing, but in a service-minded way.  Your art serves a purpose, a unique purpose only you can fulfill.  It is up to you to discover what exactly that is, fulfill it, and give it to the world.

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and start the conversation!

By Jessica Libor, June 2016

 

 

 

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