I just finished the second page of my Red Balloon Series, a story about a young girl and red balloon. I have been trying to come up with as many scenarios to create prints from. I know that in the future they will go on a bike ride together, go to school and maybe watch the sunset. For now, here are the two of them running through a field together. Looks like fun doesn’t it?
Any suggestions for fun adventures for this young girl and her red balloon friend?
I have been working for quite a while with a wonderful woman and friend to get all of the houses she has ever lived in drawn and framed for her. We started with her current abode and have moved onto new states and new homes. Some are apartments, others are part of a duplex. All have a unique character to them and they felt like home while she was there.
The two newest editions to this custom collection are homes in Sausalito, California.
I have been having a great deal of fun with this project! I love custom work because you are never bored. A client always comes up with something you would never think of on your own. The next drawing involves somewhat of a collage. She spent time living in two apartment buildings in New York and we decided to draw them together on one piece of paper. Look for that in the coming weeks.
I have been working from home for a while now (even my day job is telecommuting from home), so my house has become many things. It is where I spend most of my life these days. In an effort to be more appreciative of the beauty that surrounds me, I have decided to photograph my house, home, office, environment with an aesthetic eye. It is almost forced awareness or something to that effect.
I feel that many of us, myself included, take several things for granted on a daily basis. Photography always opens my eyes to otherwise unnoticed compositions, light, positive and negative space.
This project is in newborn stage, so I don’t really have all the answers yet. It has been boiling in the back of my mind for a while, so I think I’m at the point of just “doing.” I feel once I have a small collection of photographs they will lend more information. Until then, here is my first photograph.
Please click on the image to see a larger version.
I don’t think there is a better way to start this project than with my daily companion, Neko. She likes to sun bathe and reminds me to take breaks when I forget (which is most of the time). Today is not so sunny, so she has just planted herself in the middle of the living room floor hoping the sun will find her soon. I hope so too.
I will be filing the photographs I take under the category This Domesticated Life if you want to follow along.
I have started experimenting a bit with my screenprinting. I am trying to design purses around a screen print. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought what could be better than a heart? I also had the screen already made and laying around, so it was great when I all of a sudden decided yesterday that I wanted to screen print on the next purse I made.
The best thing about experimentation is that it always leads down a path you have never been. I gathered a great many new ideas in my head yesterday evening as I sewed my lopsided purse and pouch. Check them out and let me know what you think.
My purses are available for purchase at my etsy store.
So, I have just started a new print series that I am really excited about. I forgot how much I love printmaking. In an attempt to fully embrace the whole artist that I am, I have decided to just do whatever I feel like in the studio each day. If I feel like photographing, I’ll take a walk and do that. If I feel like printmaking, than I will start carving and if I want to make a purse, well then I will start sewing. You get the picture.
These last few weeks have been filled with finally starting and completing some print series work that I have had on the back burner for a while.
One in particular project is called “The Red Balloon.” I just finished printing the first of I don’t know how many different prints for this series. As you may have guessed, the print involved a red balloon. It also involves a young girl and will eventually involve a young boy (a few prints down the road). Anyway, I wanted to show the first print of this series.
As always, my prints are available for purchase at my etsy store.
A couple of months back I spent about two weeks in the Great White North. Most of my time was spent indoors staring out large windows. I was lucky the scenery was easy on the eyes. I did snowshoe a few times and get to venture down a trail that seemed to only have about 2 other visitors. When I arrived back home I had several vivid visual memories.
I’m excited to share my 5 print Winter in Alaska series. Most of my prints from the last 3 years or so have started with a photograph. This is the first time in a long time that a print has been influenced by a memory. It’s a huge departure from my installation and project based work and I am loving it! I told someone the other day that I’m trying to fully embrace all 8 Lauren’s that live inside me.
I’d like to introduce you to one of my Lauren’s. The printmaker.
There are 9 originals of each of the 5 prints (except the sun at the top of the page – there are only 8). I will be selling both the originals and an unlimited edition of giclee prints at my shop. CLICK HERE to visit The Print Studio.
For the past 5 years or so I have been making work that has people’s faces printed onto it. I dig it and it seems as though a great deal of other people do too. I was surprised at my last go at the art making thing, as the result was quite different aesthetically, although the same in terms of concept.
Project: Significant Strangers
***This piece, entitled Lost and Found, was inspired by all of the random clothing I find as I walk around the neighborhoods in Berkeley. I always wonder who used to wear the clothes and who might wear them next. Always feeding to my ever-thoughts about the strangers I will never meet.***
Perhaps my style is changing…
I don’t know yet how I feel about hanging this piece next to the other work I’ve completed for the Significant Stranger Project. Will it work with Mr. Rogers or what about Mary? Would they compliment each other? Something I need to consider. Most of my work doesn’t become complete until it is installed with the rest of its brothers and sisters in a large space. There seems to be a conversation that happens when all the work is in one space together. I’m busy trying to finish up this project to make sure that happens in the near future. I’d like to see what the work has to say to itself.
