Here’s a Q&A with Libby:

Warum machst du Kunst?
I never really believed in the commercial idea of creatives and how they need to have an outlet for their creativity – until I stopped making art when I was a personal trainer for 2 years. It was then that I realized that the need to paint is in my very bones and I feel an almost subconscious frustration and negativity if I go for a long period without doing some painting.

Wie lange malen Sie schon?
I’ve been painting and drawing since I could hold a brush, as I come from a family of artists and was encouraged from an early age. We were always given paints, brushes, pencils and crayons for birthdays and Christmas – and books! Lots and lots and lots of books – which I think was, and still is, integral to my inspiration and the desire to create beautiful images myself.

Haben Sie eine formale künstlerische Ausbildung genossen?
Yes, I have a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Pretoria – although in terms of actual technical training, there was very little. It focused heavily on post-modern conceptual art. So I’ve never had any formal painting training – and I only started using watercolours in 2017.

Sind Sie ein professioneller Künstler oder ein Hobbykünstler?
Very much a working artist. I’ve recently closed commissions though to allow time to paint the things I’ve been putting off for 6 years in favor of paid commissions.

Was inspiriert dich?
Nature is my main source of inspiration always, particularly flowers, leaves, birds and butterflies. But beautiful books also never cease to inspire me. I don’t really need to seek inspiration – I feel that even if I die at the age of 200, I’ll still never have painted all the things I want to paint!

Welche Musik hörst du beim Malen?
I don’t listen to music at all, but I’ve listened to thousands and thousands of hours of audiobooks online! I never ever paint without listening to a murder mystery, a historical romance or a botanical exploration memoir – those are my some of my favourites!

Hattest du einen Mentor?
Not necessarily, but my brother is an amazing artist (he does wildlife in pencil) and businessman who always gives me wonderful advice and help. My mother is a superb oil portrait artist and also gives fantastic technical advice when I ask her for it.

Malst du jeden Tag?
I try to, but with three small children and an art business selling prints and products, I have to spend at least one or two days a week packaging and sending orders, visiting the printers, framers and couriers – not to mention mom duties!

Do you paint one piece at a time or work on several at the same time? Do you create a concept piece first?
I try to work on one at a time, but often end up working on more than one – especially when I did commissions and someone would need work done quickly.. or if I’m working on a big piece and need to take a breather from it! I definitely plan out intricate botanicals or pieces that include more than one element, like when I add in birds or butterflies. The maps I have painted take many, many hours of planning too.

Malen Sie lieber im Atelier oder im Freien?
I can only paint in my studio as I am a bit OCD and need everything laid out perfectly. I need to keep all my materials very neat and clean to ensure there are no marks or stains on my white paper where I don’t want them. I also need good light, clean water and a hot cup of coffee – those things are hard to regulate outdoors.

Wie viele Kernfarben verwenden Sie?

I use all the colours I can in every painting, but I can safely say that no botanical of mine will ever be complete without Unterwassergrün! So that’s my only real core colour.

Tuben, Pfannen oder Stäbe?
Tubes.

Woran erkennt man, dass das eigene Werk fertig ist?
There’s a quote I like – “an artwork is never truly finished, only abandoned.” Most often I call an artwork done because of time constraints – but after I’ve sent an artwork off, I often think I should’ve just darkened this spot or added more detail to that spot!