Libby Caldwell - Angel

16" x 20", Oil on Panel, $550

The mood I wanted for this piece was simple, classic, and calm. I chose 2 colors: raw umber and french ultramarine, and kept the paint thin and quite brushy. No re-working of any areas as it was painted on a slightly absorbent ground, giving me the fresco effect I was looking for.

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Libby Caldwell - Less is More

Oil painting over acrylic.

Last week I attended a Sedona Arts Center workshop at the National Academy of Design in New York: 'Power Painting in New York City - Lessons from The Old Masters for Our Time.' The instructor was Morton Kaish, N.A.
For one of the exercises we worked from reproductions of Old Masters' paintings. The one I worked from was 'Juan de Pareja' by Velasquez. In the first image you can see I had just painted the eye; the background was created using acrylic paint. The outline of the head has been indicated in charcoal. Then in the middle image you can see that one eye has been fully developed and the nose and mouth have been painted. I used oil paint for this. Then in the third painting the background has been developed but not finished - using acrylic. The tie around his neck has been indicated. Some of the charcoal lines have been erased. What I am left with is a painting with areas that are highly finished, against areas that are quite abstract and unfinished. As the instructor said 'Less is more'.

Libby Caldwell - Waiting Patiently

Oil on Canvas, 16 x 16

A child sitting at a table, sunlight reflected up from the white tablecloth creating a soft glow under her chin, waiting for her meal to be served...perfect subject matter for not only a journal sketch, but taken one step further it works well as an oil painting.

Libby Caldwell - Doll with Beaded Collar

Ink on Paper, 6.5 x 8.5, $110

This is a journal sketch. I used both brush and dip pen for this. The doll is handmade, and has an intricately beaded collar and dried pods and woody tufts in her hair. Her face if made of fabric, and her eyes, nose and mouth are all hand stitched. I like sketching and painting in ink because I can indicate these detailed areas very quickly. This is a technique I often use when I am journaling, and it's also one that I teach in my workshop: 'The Reflective Journey'.
My next workshop will be on April 25th & 26th 2009 at The Sedona Arts Center.

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Libby Caldwell - Morning Tea

Oil on panel, 11 x 14, $275

This painting is inspired by a journal entry from February 2009, when I was on a road trip with one of my daughters. I had made the morning tea, and because we were traveling, we used glass jar mugs.

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