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Jessica Libor

~ Studio Journal

Jessica Libor

Tag Archives: romantic art

You’re invited to my upcoming virtual exhibition, WILDLOVE

04 Thursday Feb 2021

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

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Tags

contemporary realism, creativity, female artist, jessica libor, painting, Philadelphia artist, pre-raphaelite art, romantic art, the inspired painter podcast, virtual exhibition, wildlove

I’m very excited to share that I will have a solo exhibition in April called WILDLOVE!

This will be an all new collection of artworks I’m currently making.  It will be different in many ways than anything I’ve made before.  I will be giving you glimpses into my process as I create the pieces, but the actual work will be a secret only to be unveiled during the virtual exhibition!

I invite you to register for the special virtual event and read more about it by clicking the button below! Those who register will get a hand-signed postcard of a show image signed by the artist and mailed to your address.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR WILDLOVE SOLO SHOW

This week, I began a magical piece involving spiky pink cactii flowers, the palest violet shades, and a lady and her wildcat for WILDLOVE.  I also finished my #21visions challenge, which was to create 21 small ink pieces during the month of January. 

Fragonard’s Garden, ink and watercolor on paper, 9 “x 12”, by Jessica Libor 2021

These new ink pieces are now photographed and you can browse and purchase them by clicking the button below!

BROWSE WORKS ON PAPER

I also recorded a new episode on The Inspired Painter podcast, about how the accumulation of our efforts creates success. Have a listen by clicking here!

Have a wonderful weekend, and sending you light, love and creativity.

Visual Artist

www.jessicalibor.com

New painting, “Suspended”

15 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by Jessica Libor in In My Studio, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

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contemporary female artists, contemporary realism, emerging artist, female artists, female painters, jessica libor, MFA program, PAFA MFA, painter, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, Philadelphia artist, realist art, romantic art

Jessica Libor 2014

Suspended, oil and silver leaf on board, 16″x20″, Jessica Libor 2014

Above is a piece I’ve been working on over break, and just finished the day before school started up again.  It’s called “Suspended” and is oil on panel, with the sky and petals on the ground genuine silver leaf, and accents like the fruit and belt on the female gilded in 23 karat gold.  It’s 16″x20″ in size.

Technically, the piece is influenced by thinking about the Rococo painters, particularly Fragonard, but also the hyper realistic approach to nature that the Pre-Rahaelite painters utilized.  Conceptually, I was thinking about the beauty but also the underlying tension that can exist between romantic partners.

On to the next piece!  Below, a little preview of a large work I’m working on.

Jessica Libor 2014

“Attainment”, a 4 ft by 6 ft painting in progress by Jessica Libor, 2014

Tender Missive: an installation by Jessica Libor at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

29 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Jessica Libor in Exhibitions, In My Studio, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

artist, beautiful art, chalk drawing, contemporary art, contemporary artist philadelphia, drawing, drawing rembrandt, durer, gilding, gold leaf, Graduate Student MFA, Installation Art, jessica libor, large drawing, letters, love, love letters, Master of Fine Arts, MFA, pafa, pastel drawing, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, Philadelphia artist, rembrandt, romantic art, young artist

Detail 1 Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Detail 1 Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

This month I was able to exhibit an installation called Tender Missive in installation room 849 at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Tender Missive was an interactive installation that involved over 450 diverse love letters from men throughout the century such as Edgar Allen Poe, John Keats, Richard Steele, Lord Nelson, Byron, Pierre Curie, Alexander Pope, King Solomon, Mozart, Ludwig Beethoven, King Henry the VIII, Benito Mussilini and even Adolph Hitler. The letters were written to the women that these famous (and infamous) men were romantically involved with, whether it was their wives, fiancees, or lovers. The letters are all historically accurate, but all presented in the same manner. Each has been printed in a different handwritten font on parchment paper and dipped in coffee to age the letter appropriately. The letters therefore all have a distinctive look, with no two being exactly alike. What is striking is the sweet vulnerability underneath the letters, even written by men who have committed horrific acts against humanity, in some cases even executing the women they wrote these love letters to. There is a realization that the feelings of love and affection are not only reserved for good people. There is also the question of the women involved with these men—was their romance worth the cost?

Detail 2 Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Detail 2 Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

When the viewer walks into the installation room, the letters are seen covering the walls from floor to ceiling, layered on top of each other like dragon scales. On the far wall, a warm sepia toned pastel drawing of a forest covers the wall, drawn on white paper, and accented with gold leaf. The drawing has an antiquated feel, as if etched by Rembrandt or Durer. The gold serves to add a precious element to the drawing, and brings out the warmth in the letters on the walls. Also, depending on the lighting, the gold either shimmers to life or recedes into the drawing. The drawing serves as the symbolic presence of the feminine as a contrast to the masculine presence of the letters, and also brings to mind the setting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream or other romantic forest setting where lovers might meet.

Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Back view of Tender Missive

Back view of Tender Missive

Front view of Tender Missive

Front view of Tender Missive

Writing pedestal, feather and ink bottle for viewers to use

Writing pedestal, feather and ink bottle for viewers to use

Detail of Tender Missive

Detail of Tender Missive

Pastel/chalk drawing with gold leaf as part of Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Pastel/chalk drawing with gold leaf as part of Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Detail of Tender Missive drawing by Jessica Libor

Detail of Tender Missive drawing by Jessica Libor

Detail of drawing for Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Detail of drawing for Tender Missive by Jessica Libor

Detail of Tender Missive drawing by Jessica Libor

Detail of Tender Missive drawing by Jessica Libor

Detail of Tender Missive drawing by Jessica Libor

Detail of Tender Missive drawing by Jessica Libor

In the center of the room, an altar-like pedestal is set, with a pile of parchment paper and a glass ink bottle with a falcon feather resting inside. This is an invitation for visitors to pen their own love letter. The original instructions were for the visitors to write the love letter, tear it up, and place it underneath the drawing, where the residue of the chalk had darkened the floor. I had torn up a letter and placed it there to show visitors what I meant. However, of all the people who participated in the writing of the letters, none of the visitors tore up their letters. At the end of the installation, the pile of letters was whole and not torn. As one of my professors explained about the behavior, “No one wants to tear up love.”

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Love letters from viewers to a memory or person

Love letters from viewers to a memory or person

As the viewer exits the installation, there are five letters placed on the bare far wall for them to closely examine. These were letters I found particularly thought provoking: from left to right, John Keats, Adolph Hitler, Benito Musselini, King Henry the VIII, and Lord Nelson.

The installation was lit by several warm spotlights that focused on the drawing and the letters, so as to create strong shadows beneath each letter. The effect was meant to be warm, theatrical and almost candlelit.

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It took me a week of preparation before the installation room opened, but once it was opened there was a positive response. I once again found the interactive part of the installation very rewarding and fascinating. I love that people were moved enough to participate, and hopefully it provoked questions about our ideas of love and romance—its worth, its reality, its cost, and the importance of what the character of the person is you’re involved with, not just the romance of the relationship.

Tender Missive was open at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts from November 23-27th, and is now closed.

Jessica Libor in her installation Tender Missive

Jessica Libor in her installation Tender Missive

 

The Rending

24 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by Jessica Libor in Exhibitions, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

art film, artistic, beautiful art, film, fine artist, Graduate Open Studios, graduate program, Installation Art, jessica libor, MFA, pennsylvania academy of the fine arts, philadelphia art, pre-raphaelite, romantic art, sculpture art, student, video

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This past weekend I exhibited my first installation piece, The Rending. It is a combination of video and interactive sculpture elements. I would like to thank Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the staff there for allowing me the chance to exhibit, and for the ample help and support in setting up the installation. The Rending was exhibited October 19, 20 and 21, 2014, in conjunction with Graduate Open Studios.

The centerpiece of The Rending is the video, which I could not have produced without the filming and technical help of my friend Michael Grasso. Thank you for your patience and assistance! Also, there would be no star without Julianne Kelley, who did an amazing job getting into character.

The Rending starts before you enter the installation, with the request to remove your shoes. Once the viewer removes their shoes, they pull aside a pink silk curtain to reveal a semi-darkened room, with the video projected onto the far wall.

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IMG_4231IMG_4194As the viewer steps inside, they are stepping over 14,000 rose petals that are covering the ground. The scent of fresh roses permeates the room. The viewer may watch the video standing or choose to sit on the cushions placed in the center of the room, covered with a pink and gold tapestry cloth. If the viewer looks up, they are confronted with their own image surrounded by rose petals, reflected in a rectangular, gold-framed mirror. The mirror hangs at approximately nine feet above the ground by four gold chains. The audio of the film, with a soft, siren-like voices, also lulls the viewer and allows them to step into a dream like state.

The Rending has a reflective mood that is meant to be experienced by one or two people at a time. The video plays on loop, which allows for the viewer to watch it a few times if they choose.

This was my first time exhibiting an installation, and it was a very positive experience! I thought Graduate Open Studios would be the perfect time to test the idea on strangers who had no prior contact to my work. I stayed close to the exhibit during the times The Rending was open, working on a painting, but paying attention to how people responded and how I felt working in this medium. In a way it is more instant-gratification, like theatre. You immediately get a response from viewers, and engage them more directly by encouraging participation with your art. My favorite part was seeing people’s faces as they emerged from the installation. A lot of people seemed happy and uplifted, and a few told me they were really touched. Everyone had a unique response. I also enjoyed hearing people inside the room as they responded to seeing the thousands of petals, and to different parts of the film.

Julianne Kelley, star of The Rending, enters the installation

Julianne Kelley, star of The Rending, enters the installation

Mary McCann in the installation

Mary McCann in the installation

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I want to thank everyone who came out to see The Rending, and for my fellow students and professors who made this such a great experience for me by participating in and supporting this venture. I hope to do more in the near future, as an extension of my paintings and drawings.

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