Posted on Monday, March 21st, 2011
Coaxed by circumstance and coincidence France has become the subject of these new works.
Always willing to move and grow I welcomed the change of scenery just like a cool breeze on a summer’s day.
As I painted this lavender field of Provence I was reminded of a wonderful trip of my youth spent meandering through Europe as a newlywed buying chocolate in Switzerland, a fresh warm baguette in France, and enjoying the pairing in the countryside much like this.
And who can think of Italy or France without thinking of wine and grapes. This 300 year old terra cotta roof tile was the perfect rustic backdrop for a cluster of grapes.
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Posted on Friday, January 21st, 2011
Some of you may remember these fresco detachments on silk from my 2008 body of work.
Well, “Ophelia and Genevieve” have come home! Let me tell you their story.
When I first started showing my work at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale Arizona, I was a relatively young and inexperienced in the world of “selling myself.” Thankfully I was in the perfect environment to learn and grow along with 100 other artists at varying stages of their careers.
“Ophelia” fresco detachment on silk
I learned the most from Charles Duncan, a jeweler that became a dear friend. He quietly watched me from across my studio as I fumbled and struggled along. He sternly offered me advice as I closed my first sale with a tentative… “Are you sure? And when things went awry, for either of us, he was quick to point out that every situation was yet another opportunity to shine, serve and perform unprecedented acts of kindness to our collectors.
Charles felt that it was in our best interest to allow the art buying experience to be a completely pleasant one. From beginning to end. But to Charles there was no end until his passing in 2010.
“Genevieve” fresco detachment on silk
“Coming Home” is a tribute of gratitude to my friend Charles.
In his memory and through his mentorship it was my pleasure to accomodate a dear collector that found herself in dire straits by purchasing “Ophelia and Genevieve” back from her collection.I hope you enjoy them here, or in person at my next exhibit. (tba)
Until then, I am happy to have “the girls” home, and I am especially pleased for the opportunity to not only assist a collector, but to offer them for purchase once again so that they can be enjoyed by yet another household. Perhaps yours?
For more info on these special frescoes please contact me at liana@lianasofia.com
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Posted on Saturday, October 30th, 2010
In this world of email, voicemail, gmail, facebook, and twitter, taking some time for oneself is not as easy as it used to be. Unlike many of my esteemed collectors, I am not a lawyer, a doctor or a high powered executive, but I still have over 900 emails in my inbox, 300 of which are marked “unread.” How is that even possible, and why has life gotten so complex? And did an entire summer go by where nothing happened that was blog worthy? Hm, well lets see.
This summer, five Belgian horses moved in across the street. As I observed these beautiful animals from our front window, I became particularly interested in their behaviour, noticing that not very much would sway them from their main mission, munching on the grasses. Can life be this simple? 
Summer and fall views, Muskoka, Canada
On my last post I shared my interest in learning to weave and after one funny little course, I dove right in, purchased a floor loom, and tackled a number of projects. After the first dozen or so not so inspiring placemats, I found a pattern I liked and created this shawl made of linen, cotton and silk.
From the moment I started this journey I knew it would devour time… and I was right. Winding the warp, dressing the loom, threading the heddles, all became terms I would become very familiar with. It soon became apparent that I would have to make a difficult decision regarding my regular obligations. I opted for a summer of simple living, inspired by the horses, the herons and the wild turkey, to continue this exploration.
I thought I should prepare an apology to my collectors for this, but after re-evaluation, why apologize? Throughout history artists have taken time to reflect, re-energize, stoke the fire of creativity. I have done this in the past with other mediums, sculpture, stained glass, photography…there is so much to explore, here is a small sampling of some stained glass works from the archives.
(above) Limited Edition Stained Glass Pendants (2003) ~ (below) Ristorante Ritorno bottle commission (2007)
Always welcoming the inspiration that inevitably spills into my other work, it will be interesting to see how this fiber art may influence my work in the future. I know stained glass did in it’s own way. I guess only time will tell! This second piece, a table runner, uses the same pattern as the first but it is made of bamboo and shetland wool.
I am very grateful for my life as an artist, an occupation I don’t take lightly. The world can always use more beauty to offset the chaos, and I hope to continue to do my part. But I am also grateful that I am not a production artist that relies on “what works” to make a living. Rather, I rely quite heavily on personal life experiences to inspire my own version of “what works.” Whether it involves time in Italy, lime and pigment, glass and solder, horses, or a whole bunch of colored thread, there is so much joy in creating emotion and connection through art. But for me this needs heart, and sometimes heart needs time for further growth. It is with this in mind that I will live this year simply, observing nature, and creating.
Thank you to my collectors, my husband and my family and friends who have supported me in these past years allowing me the luxury of being able to take this time. Needless to say, I will be taking this year off from exhibiting at the Celebration of Fine Art in Scottsdale and although I will miss it immensely, I look forward to a future that remains fresh and exciting for myself, as well as for my collectors. Thank you all in advance for your support!
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