Randy's Art Studio

fine art by Randy Leibowitz Dean

Home
Abstract Naturalism
People
Commissions / Portraits
about Randy
Contact Us
Links
Events and Representation

 

Randy Leibowitz Dean, Fine Art and Portrait Artist

   

 ARTIST BIO

 

Award winning artist Randy Leibowitz Dean, studied fine art at the Community College in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia College of Art in Pennsylvania and Broward County Community College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  In addition, she gives credit to many inspirational and talented private teachers.

 

As a teenager Randy excelled in figure drawing and drew portraits in malls and festivals.  She sold her work in local shows in the Pennsylvania area.  In the 1970's Randy's work included original hand painted fabric made into pillows and other decorative items.  After settling in South Florida she continued studying the figure and began developing her oil painting technique.   

A one-woman show in Fort Lauderdale in 1993 began her Florida exposure.   

 

Being recruited to help a house painter give depth to his basic wall design gave way to years of perfecting finishing techniques, color mixing, mural and trompe l'oeil work.  Randy worked though decorators and designers and was commissioned to create works on walls at a Nursing Home / Rehab business in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at which time she developed the ‘Art on Walls Project’- Dedicated to involving people living in institutions in the creative process, emphasizing art and communication as a healing and nurturing endeavor.  In one section of the nursing home a 100 foot detailed mural took almost one year to complete.  At the same nursing home murals on the Alzheimer’s floor were painted to give the illusion of shelving with items familiar to the residents. 

 

As a board member of Broward Art Guild in Fort Lauderdale, Randy was able to continue her fine art, compete in art competitions and learn from a fine group of talented artists.  She met with a group once a week for life drawing study.

 

In 2003 her figurative painting was juried into the Paradise City Arts Festival.  Following that Randy traveled extensively in outdoor art shows in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida.  Her main challenge during this time was to spend time in the studio in order to have fresh work for the next shows. 

 

Since 2007, The Fat Cat Ltd gallery in the Greensboro area of North Carolina has represented Randy exclusively in the Winston-Salem/Greensboro area.  It is there that she was given the opportunity to show and sell all aspects or her art including Portraits from life and her new work, Abstract Naturalism. 

 

 

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

 

I paint on wood with oils and acrylic.  I first sketch with paint on wood primed with a base coat paint and gesso.  There are times I use a clear base coat so I can let the grain of the wood peek through the painting.  I sand between each coat to get a smooth hard surface.  When I feel comfortable with the sketch I introduce some basic colors working out the values then I explore!  With each work I find my way with color and line, balancing what I know with the excitement of finding something new; a new combination of color or a new way of looking at the many facets of a scene and the person I am painting.

 

Observing and drawing is the basis for all of my work.  In that way I can capture the gesture and expression of a person.  Sketch books and tablets are filled with drawings for the next paintings.  After years of drawing from life there are times I hold a glimpse of a person in memory until I can get to the pencil and paper.  I love the immediacy of drawing from life, especially when people are not aware; in a park, at an art show or right in my own home.  Of course there are many times I ask someone to pose.  I am always surprised how willing people are to sit still for me.   

 

I call my latest work 'Abstract Naturalism'  Seeing the abstract patterns in drawing and painting the figure has led me to see all of nature in a more abstract way.  I have chosen to explore the possibilities using a combination of wood canvas and fluid paint.   I work with acrylic, oils, watercolor, color pencil, gesso, sand paper, varnish, wood stain and wood carving knives.  Also a variety of brushes, rag, paper and plastic.   Taking my cue from my surroundings, intuition and experience with different media allows me to push my creativity.   

 

My continuing evolution in the art I produce brings me increased enlightenment and peace.  The whole process never ceases to amaze me!