"Worried Mother" Painting

Meet the Artist:
2026 Cambridge Arts Open Studios
Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th
12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Street Theory Collective
541 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
* Near Central Square Redline Subway Station

Lisa Libby is a portrait artist influenced by Post‑Impressionism and Expressionism. While portraiture remains her primary focus, she continually explores new subjects, techniques, and creative approaches. A naturally curious creator, she is always learning new ways to express and communicate emotion through her work.

She is also a self‑published author of the novel In the Red and the short story Galaxy Point. When she isn’t writing fiction, she fills her private journals with poetry. In 2025, she began designing and crafting holiday ornaments—an annual tradition she plans to continue.

Process

Lisa’s painting process begins with a fast, loosely painted outline. Once the composition is mapped onto the canvas, she blocks in the darkest shadows and the brightest highlights. Establishing light and shade is always her first priority; only then does she begin introducing shapes of color.

Her first layer is painted quickly and energetically, while later sessions slow down as she refines details. Most pieces are completed in three to five sessions, taking anywhere from one week to a month. She often lets her work rest on the easel, observing it over time and making subtle adjustments. When she feels the spark of inspiration fade, she knows the piece is finished.

Lisa frequently photographs her works‑in‑progress in different lighting and from various angles, both to study how the portrait shifts under changing conditions and to archive her creative process.

Her signature has evolved over time. Earlier works feature her cursive signature in the lower left corner. Beginning in 2023, she adopted a new style: her last name, printed in all capital letters, placed on either the right or left side of the canvas.

Lisa’s finishing technique is one of her most distinctive traits. In the final layer, she uses a dry brush with only a trace of paint to sweep over the lightest areas, creating a soft, crayon‑like effect that subtly brightens the highlights. Another hallmark of her work is her layered approach—building forms from large shapes to small, allowing glimpses of earlier brushstrokes to remain visible beneath the surface.