BIO

Libby Skamfer was born an artist.

In the early 70’s, she lived in Italy for five years as an apprentice in a private art studio learning to create one-of-a-kind artistic precious jewelry pieces and assisting in creating models for large bronze sculptures.  Upon returning to the states in 1975, she practiced the fine art of creating handwrought high-karat gold pieces as a master goldsmith.

After more than 20 years at the bench, she turned her attention to spacial design, some painting and pastels and also working with horses in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Recently, after experiencing a sudden and tremendous personal loss, life steered Libby toward a new form of expression, creating paintings using mixed mediums.

Painting with varied techniques allows Libby to express her heart and soul through the emotional language of color, shapes and textures.  Multiple layers married with paint (oil and/or acrylic), mediums and often paper applied onto a rigid board surface with various tools: brayers, bowl scapers, palette knives, putty knives, brushes and anything else that may be useful.  Textures are created to give interest and depth during which various layers, sometimes one and sometimes many, are scraped or rubbed off to reveal what lies beneath in a random fashion.

Patterns are unpredictable, and as the process continues, shapes, ideas and new life become visible.  Libby uses these patterns to further her overall design and her experience of what is.

Libby paints in her home studio in the woods in western North Carolina surrounded by an abundance of nature and a spirit that lives through her and in her.  She shares her space with her beautiful yellow Labrador, Rigel, who is now her constant companion.

Libby says, “if my art has made you think and feel to any degree then you have known a small part of me.  My art is an exploration of life, an expression of who I am”.

Libby signs all of her work including the initials T.A.O.S.  Together Always Our Spirits.  Her love, her life and what allows her to experience all that is is transformed into her work.  Choosing one of Libby’s paintings connects spirit; yours, hers and all those who have traveled before us.

Statement

I am a choreographer of space discovering and defining

                              my internal voice translated into visual form.

My paintings explore the dialogue between my emotions and materials revealing stories not known before but those that are unfolding within the confines of a visual experience.

My paintings evolve from my intuitive spiritual side and they flow naturally from my creative center.  The final painting is much more than I could have produced on artistic merit alone.

Life’s metaphors and stories are played out most obviously when a work is not feeling just right and I take risk letting go of what is and then reinventing what I had just spent hours or days creating.  It is only then that I am able to see a shape or idea more powerful than the orginal one.  I move toward greater understanding of my own voice knowing that only by taking that risk was I able to break through into a creation that feels more connected, satisfying and grounded.  The power in this creative process is transformative for me and ultimately for the viewer.