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Jessica Libor

~ Studio Journal

Jessica Libor

Tag Archives: young artist

“Lovers” archival print

17 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by Jessica Libor in In My Studio, Shop

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Tags

art, artist, beautiful art, drawing, eyelevel art, female artist, jessica libor, Lauren Fair Photography, leonardo da vinci, original art, young artist

"Lovers," mixed media, original is 20"x24", Jessica Libor 2014

“Lovers,” mixed media, original is 20″x24″, Jessica Libor 2014

http://www.jessicalibor.com/shop/lovers

http://www.jessicalibor.com/shop/lovers

This is one of my favorite drawings that I’ve ever done.  I took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s incredible drawings, with their ink and chalk mediums layered on top of each other.

Leonardo DaVinci

Leonardo DaVinci

It’s also very special to me because my sister (an incredible artist in her own right…check out her photography) and her husband posed for me.  I named it “Lovers” because when they were dating, that’s what I would call them.  Thanks, sis! 🙂

Me and sis yesterday.  Can you guess who's who?

Me and sis yesterday. Can you guess who’s who?

Me and sis today

Me and sis today

This piece is sold, but you may purchase a very high quality limited edition print for $75.00.  It will be delivered to your door carefully packaged, and will be signed, numbered, and dated in ink by the artist (that’s me!).

Click on the link below at the SHOP in order to place your order!

http://www.jessicalibor.com/shop/lovers

And don’t forget to subscribe to the blog so you never miss a post.  Stay creative!

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.”

IMG_4297

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.

IMG_4335

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

 

Ballet Drawings

26 Tuesday Mar 2013

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

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

anatomy drawing, artist, ballet, emerging artists, neo pre-raphaelite, pennsylvania ballet, realist artists, sketches, women artists, young artist

Sleeping Beauty with Garland, ink on paper, Jessica Libor 2013

Sleeping Beauty with Garland, ink on paper, Jessica Libor 2013

 

Today in graduate drawing class, we were told to listen to three different music scores and make a drawing about each for fifteen minutes as they played out.  We began by listening to Adagio for Strings, and I immediately thought of the movements of ballet dancers.  Music definitely affects how and what I create.  But since seeing a ballet this winter, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the enchantment and drama of the stage.

To see the availability of purchasing a sketch or signed print, visit the shop.

Aurora's Kiss, ink on paper, Jessica Libor 2013

Aurora’s Kiss, ink on paper, Jessica Libor 2013

West Side Dancers, ink on paper, Jessica Libor 2013

West Side Dancers, ink on paper, Jessica Libor 2013

 

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