If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, then you know that I have a few absolute favorite artists. These are the artists whose work I absolutely adore and return to again and again. Today’s artist, Maribel Angel is high on my list of favorites. From the first time I saw her work, during my gallery career in Florida, it was delight at first sight.
Bird Park, acrylic on panel, 34x24
The irresistible charm of Maribel’s work is pretty obvious, but even more so when she begins explaining the inspiration behind each one. For these latest paintings, she found unknowing muses in the form of all the birds congregating on her lakeside property in North Florida due to such a mild winter ( even for Florida! ).
Fruit and Bandits, acrylic on panel, 12x12
From the artist: “..all those feathered creatures that flew south for the winter used our yard as their tourist destination for several months. Not to mention all the local birds who had no reason to fly further south – so we had double the population than usual and I could hear them chattering and chirping non stop from dawn till dusk while i was working in my studio. It wasn’t like song birds keeping a tune and creating a beautiful orchestra of sound – it was just full on chatter! Similar to the sound you would hear of camp kids shouting and playing at the pool. I enjoyed their company and while I was painting I would imagine the stories they were sharing with each other. ”
Gentle Whisper, acrylic on panel, 34x24
The way she renders animals in such stylized simplicity is so appealing. Her horses stand lean and graceful, birds are bright and cheerfully scattered. She enriches each with beautifully layered color and texture– as stunning as they are online, her work is even more wonderful in person!
Crossing Over, acrylic on panel, 12x12
New Nest, acrylic on panel, 12x12
To see more of Maribel Angel’s work, please visit her website and the Gallery Orange website. If you’re lucky enough to be in New Orleans, you can stop in at Gallery Orange to see her work in person or in Florida, check out Maribel’s work at Southlight Gallery.
Featured image is Shangrila, acrylic on panel, 48×12. All images are via Gallery Orange, Maribel’s representing gallery in New Orleans. For more on Gallery Orange, check out the recent Artsy Spot feature on the gallery here.
