Libby Fife – Fine Art
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| O-029 Precarious acrylic $235 |
Bio:
Libby Fife earned her B.A. degree in Psychology from Cal State University, Hayward
and worked for 17 years in the banking industry. A layoff in 2007 prompted her
to reevaluate her path and to have another look at being creative. Traditional
quilting worked well for a while and then frustration set in when she had
difficulty finding just the right color of fabrics. This led to painting on the
fabrics to get the desired results. That process led to painting on canvas and
just about the steepest learning curve anyone has ever experienced! An ongoing effort to learn about design and
composition, art history and the language of creativity, and sales and
marketing has led Libby to her current level of work. She has sold her
work both in and out of the county where
she lives and has exhibited her painting in local shows. Additionally, Libby
has taught classes in sketching and color use to beginning/intermediate
painters.
Artist Statement:
Simple renditions of complex things: this is how I think of
what I love to do as an artist. Much of what I paint reflects my current
interests of those things that I see every day. Along with color, I use
geometric and organically derived shapes and lines to represent my ideas,
interests and feelings. The resulting images are all based somehow on my
observations or thoughts. Whether it’s spending time at museum, driving around
my area, or going on a walk, the constant input provides the basis for my
creative output. Reading
and writing helps me to clarify my thoughts. Sketching helps me to come up with
representative images. The resulting pieces, I hope, can be enjoyed on many
levels: as colorful paintings utilizing lines and geometry; as pieces that
somehow resonate with the viewer’s own ideas; or as something that represents
what I think and what I get to share with the viewer. Whatever the outcome, the
work satisfies me and at the end of the day it is what makes me happiest.
Style is always difficult to pin down. Knowing a little bit
about art history and individual artists can be helpful. At this point, I am
firmly in the camp of modern abstract art made during the first half of the
twentieth century. I owe a huge debt to many artists long gone: Henri Matisse,
Stuart Davis, Fernand Leger and Wassily Kandinsky are all favorites. Many current day artists have also helped me
along by showing what is still possible, most notably Shirley Jaffe and Etel
Adnan. It isn’t hard to draw inspiration
from people who have paved the way for me. Advice from a few professional
artists, the practice of self-reflection, and actively working in the studio
nearly every day all help to support the ongoing process of making art.
