Monday, May 30, 2016

May 2016 Wrap Up Post

Stop Making Sense
15" x 18"
collage on wc paper


When We Were Kids
15" x 18"
collage on wc paper


Road Work
11" x 14"
collage on wc paper


I Spy (Sailing With Ellsworth)
15" x 18"
collage on wc paper
Hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day weekend. It's a good time to post a review of this month's work. Here goes:

1. Stop Making Sense: It's been my experience that the older I get the less that I know! How could that be right? Reflecting on this phenomenon as I made the first piece above helped me to come up with some imagery. What happens when things around you cease to make much sense? Things can feel pretty upside down. These ideas helped me to shape this work.

2. When We Were Kids: Recently I have been mining some childhood memories in order to get inspired. I grew up in San Leandro (East Bay) and there are a lot of things that I can remember about the town and about being a kid.  In particular, I drew on my memories of San Leandro Creek, of the Portuguese statue near City Hall, and of the playground at my grammar school. Everything has changed of course, but for this piece it is still the 1970's!

3. Road Work: Ever get stuck in traffic? Me too and as I sit and wait, my mind tends to wander. This third piece is inspired by doing just that-waiting in traffic on our busy highway 49 here in Calaveras County. Wouldn't think there would be a back up but think again! As I sat I thought about wheels, and traffic cones as well as hazard netting and caution signs. I never know what will turn up in these collages:)

4. I Spy (Sailing With Ellsworth): This last piece was a happy accident. The colors and shapes themselves suggested the story of sailing to me. I added the homage to the late Ellsworth Kelly, one of my favorite minimalist painters. His simple but powerful paintings inspired some of the shapes in this piece.

What's New?:

Recently I caught up with the 21st century (or it caught up with me!) and I am now on Instagram. If that is something you are in to, then just use the link on my blog (right hand side) or simply search under my name, Libby Fife, to find me. I have been posting some of the same photos that I post to Facebook but am also trying to show more photos of work in progress and of finished pieces. I hope that if you are interested you will look me up! If Instagram is your thing, let me know and I will follow you!

I am looking forward to June and hope it will be a productive month for everyone. Thank you for reading these posts and supporting my art making efforts. It's appreciated.
Libby

Portfolio and Sales: www.libbyfife.com
Email: libbyfife@ymail.com

5 comments:

  1. Hi Libby,

    You should post your Insta link for easy access.

    I like Ellsworth Kelly. I especially love all his self portraits.

    Anne

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    Replies
    1. Anne,

      How nice to hear from you! Thank you.

      I haven't quite figured out how to link to Instagram. If you can just follow the link on the blog, I would love to see what you are doing.

      Ellsworth Kelly is one of my favorites. Powerful work with a few simple shapes and colors. Good stuff:)

      Thank you again. I hope you are doing well.

      Libby

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    2. Libby,

      I finally see your Instagram link. I eye kept skipping it since I was scanning for a green link. You can also include it in your post like you did Ellsworth Kelly.

      I love to see an artist morph and you are doing it beautifully.

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  2. Dear Libby just catching up with your posts. I had missed I Spy- wonderful feeling you captured here with sailing. I can see waves and of course boats. Using the blues made it seem like one being in the water. The circles made me think of the ports on large ships. Amazing piece Libby. Love all your work but my favorite this month is a toss up between Stop Making Sense or I Spy. Will be looking forward to June's work. Hope you had a great holiday weekend. Hugs!

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    Replies
    1. Debbie,

      Happy to hear from you! Hope all is going well.

      I think it was definitely the blue colors which got me started on the water/sailing theme. And you are correct about those portholes! Circles are just a wonderful shape to work with-they can represent so many things.

      Glad that you like those two pieces. They are some of my favorites as well:)

      Thank you again for your observations. I appreciate them.
      Libby

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Thank you for taking the time to comment. I appreciate it! I reply back in an email if you are signed in and I can see your address. Otherwise I will post the reply here under your comment. I tend to cut and paste my emails too so that others can experience the back and forth which I think is integral to blogging.
Libby