~ About the Artist ~

Hello, and Bienvenidos! (Welcome!) My name is L.J. Libiran and I'm the artist behind Little Jade Lizard Studio! Before I turned nineteen, I became a licensed Cosmetologist (Beautician). I fell in love with, and married a wonderful man. He is my best friend, as well as the father of our two terrific sons. We have shared the happiness and trials of family life for the last 33 years.

In my late twenties, I went to college and earned an Associates degree in Technical Drafting. I worked in the Computer-Aided Drafting(CAD)sector for a few years. Over time, I found that sitting in front of a computer all day long was slowly driving me insane. I opened a Children's Day Care in our home so I could spend more time with my sons and still help out financially. The yearning to do something that would fulfill my need for creating artistic works drove me to find the time to teach myself how to airbrush on cloth. I started a small business airbrushing banners for customers at our local video store.

When my husband and I were in our late forties, we decided to move from Michigan to New Mexico to build our dream-house; an underground, energy-efficient home. Our home is a steel-and-concrete shell that is covered with tons of dirt. We contracted the concrete work and had a little help learning how to frame up the outside walls and some interior walls. Then, piece-by-piece, my husband and I built our home while living in a fifth-wheel trailer parked on our land. I must admit, it has been one tough adventure, lasting almost six years.


Before we left Michigan, I published my first fantasy-action book for young adults:"Dragon Skurfers". Two years later, while waiting for permits and building our home, I published the sequel: "Dragon Skurfers II: The Wyvern". The books are available for purchase in your choice of paperback or e-book formats at the Little Jade Lizard Studio Store!


We have moved into the house and it is nearly finished. I found the need to protect the laminate floors that we had installed. We have a large dog; a one-hundred-pound Rhodesian Ridgeback/Yellow Lab mix who can be pretty rough on floors. So, over the past two years I have researched, designed and crafted floorcloths. I have placed them throughout the house, experimenting on grades of canvas, varnishes, paints, and hemming techniques. We enjoy the floorcloths because they protect all the hard work we have put into our home. In fact, we loved the splashes of color, elegance and style so much, that I expanded the line to include table runners, placemats and wall-décor!




~ Floorcloth Inspirations ~

I wanted to create something unique, yet inspiring for myself and my clients. I use a texturing comb to create the base of a lot of my designs. No matter how hard I try to keep it all uniform, or replicate the same texture it does not happen. I was berating myself for not being a good artist; for being inconsistent in my work. I started to question what I was doing and stressing about every line I placed on the canvas. So, to lower my stress level, I listened to inspirational CD's while I worked and was struck with the biggest "Aha!" of my life...

The textures I create are symbolic of my moods, my life. Not one of my textured designs ever turned out straight. In fact, I felt that a perfectly straight-lined texture lacked character. In life, I have never taken a straight line to any goal that I set out to accomplish. It has always been fraught with back-steps, side-steps and sometimes complete halts from fear. I contend that there is no one in the world that has not been met with challenges and the pain of growth. As I contemplated this, I recognized how these textures model the paths we all take in life. Sometimes they are smooth loops in the right direction, other times halting bumps. But when you step back and look at the whole canvas, they turn into a beautiful sonnet of where we have been and where we are going.

I dedicate my artwork to the joys and sorrows we all experience. If we step back, breathe in a pause, we can see how our lives intertwine with others to create the most exquisite tapestries. Now when I look at my canvas, I see the ups and downs of life and the beauty we can all create if we take the time to heal what is inside, and to see all of the great gifts we already have.