Doing it Afraid: How one Woman Came to Life through Painting EP: 85
We don\u2019t always know whom we are meant to be when we are young, but if we are observant, there are clues everywhere. For Libby Scheele, they were obvious in her fascination with color and texture and a variety of materials that could be used in artistic endeavors. When she didn\u2019t have \u2018real\u2019 art supplies, she expressed her creativity by arranging rocks and sticks.\xa0 \xa0 Today, her work is much more sophisticated, as are her tools\u2026 even though they are the basics of an artist: high quality pigmented paints, good paper, sharp pencils, brushes, and permission to take the time required to allow the vision in her mind to emerge.\xa0 \xa0 Libby studied art at university, but then was married and had three small children at home; there wasn\u2019t time or space for art. But then she was introduced to the concept of an \u2018artist\u2019s date\u2019 by a friend who further encouraged her to carve out some space in her home that was just for her. She did; it was in the furnace room! Not ideal, but it worked\u2026 and today she has a more spacious studio room in the home she shares with husband, Paul.\xa0 \xa0 In today\u2019s episode, Laura and Libby have an animated and sometimes emotional conversation about how their inner artists called to them, spoke to them, and finally drew them out into the act of creation, even though in the beginning you sometimes have to \u2018do it afraid.\u2019 It was also one of the things that drew them to each other at their first meeting. Libby describes it as a \u201cspark when you\u2019re in space with another artist.\u201d\xa0 \xa0 Libby shares the story of wanting to create art so badly that she called an artist and asked for a job as her assistant even though she had no experience, no portfolio\u2026 just an undeniable desire to learn and a willingness to do whatever it took to move forward.\xa0 \xa0 You\u2019ll want to listen in as she shares stories of pivotal moments in her growth and awakening as an artist, of the investments she continues to make in working with artists further along the path who are doing work she admires and longs to do herself, and of how important it\u2019s been to find her own creative style, rhythm, and arena.\xa0 \xa0 While Libby would feel compelled to sketch and paint regardless, she is currently driven by an altruistic impulse to create a body of work for her collectors that will, in turn, help to pay off the medical bills of a family member.\xa0 \xa0 If you\u2019re interested in learning more about Libby and the things she and Laura discussed today, check out these links:\xa0 \xa0 LibbyScheele@Me.com The Artist\u2019s Way\xa0 Jeffrey Hurinenko\xa0\u2013 Old Master Techniques Joe Paquet\xa0\u2013 Plein Air Landscape Painter \xa0 Libby\u2019s Bio \xa0 By age 5, it was obvious that Libby was fascinated with color and the world around her.\xa0 Her parents would often find her sitting outside, patiently watching the sunset, exclaiming that \u201cindigo was the next color.\u201d\xa0 \xa0 A retired art teacher, Neola Johnson, became her first mentor at age 8. Neola would ask her questions such as \u201cwhat is beauty?\u201d and \u201cwhat is art?\u201d These questions became the start of a passionate search for answers, which of course always led to more questions. \xa0 \xa0 Libby attended the University of Minnesota, majoring in Art Education. She spent many years sharing her love of art with children in schools and summer camps. In 1995, she began a career as a mural painter having been trained by muralist Tricia Farrell. It was a joy to bring her client\u2019s artistic dreams and wishes to life. \xa0 In 2007, she continued her fine art studies at the Hurinenko & Paquet Studio, learning Old Master portrait painting and plein air painting.\xa0 \xa0 \xa0 Libby is a member of the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and the Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative.\xa0\xa0