Putting the "A" in "STEAM"

 I'm excited to announce that for my next exhibit, I'll be putting the "A" in "STEAM" at Toledo's science center, the Imagination Station!

You may remember I participated in the Momentum Festival presented by The Arts Commission in downtown Toledo in September. There, I was approached by the creative manager for the Imagination Station about exhibiting my cyanotype prints (a.k.a. sun prints) to tie in with the educational activities they will be offering for the upcoming solar eclipse taking place on April 8th, 2024. 

 

These three images, inspired by the eclipse, will be among the two dozen other cyanotype prints I'll be installing on Monday to exhibit at the Imagination Station through the beginning of Apil. Be sure to let me know if you get a chance to check it out. 

My Alphabet Superset: The A to Z of Encaustic Monoprinting

As promised in my last post I want to give you the details on my next project.

Between now and the beginning of April, I will be following along with the Alphabet Superset project by artist Campbell Walker a.k.a Struthless. If you have yet to hear of this guy check him out. His YouTube channel is full of content about the mental game around productivity and creativity. I find him incredibly smart, entertaining, and inspiring. Also, he just happens to be an artist, YouTuber, author, podcaster, and a new dad. (Seriously, how does he do it?)

The Alphabet Superset is a structured creative challenge for any creator in any medium designed to "set your creativity on fire!" as Struthless says. The Aim of the project outwardly is to create a cohesive body of work. Inwardly the aim is to push past mental limits that stop one from reaching their potential. 

The challenge is to make something every week for 26 weeks (with 4 break weeks), around 26 topics of your choice, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet. While the topic changes weekly, everything else stays the same. Your medium, style, output size, and theme are fixed. Your topics, A to Z, are free.

“The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees one’s self.”

— Igor Stravinsky

Technically the project was announced and started a few weeks ago. However, due to time constraints, I was not able to start at that time. So for the next few weeks, I'll be playing catch-up. Then I will try to stay on pace with the project while attempting to find balance with all of my other business goals and parenting duties.

For my Alphabet Superset starting next week, I will explore the A to Z of encaustic monoprinting with mixed media. I'll work small (8 x 10) and aim to share at least one print for each letter of the alphabet on my Instagram account. (So if you want to follow along you have to jump over there to check it out!)

The goal of this project is the exploration through PLAY! I'll be experimenting and playing with mixed media through encaustic monoprinting. I'm interested in exploring what is possible (and the limitations) of this medium. 

So each week as I explore different topics and media there will be...

FAILURE!

😱

Yeah, like most artists, (hell, most people) I find that is a big scary word. But something we tend to forget as we get older is that failure comes hand-in-hand with learning. 

FAIL = First Attempt In Learning

So as I work through my ABCs of mixed media in monoprinting not everything I create will be gallery-worthy. Or as the kids these days say "Instaworthy". But my goal is to share the work, what I learn, and perhaps a bit of the process anyway. So don't judge my FAILs too harshly, another pretty post is just a scroll away. 😜

In a blink of an eye, 10 years

Holey Moley, it's been a minute!

Or 10 years to be exact! 😳

Yup, I've started my return to my work as an artist after a very long hiatus. 

As you may or may not know, I had stepped away from my career as an artist to spend my time being a stay-at-home mom. While I was at home focusing on my family I continued to practice my creative skills by exploring painting, printmaking, and taking art classes in my spare time. I have recently returned to my art career with interest in mixed media art, encaustic painting and monoprinting, and cyanotypes.

In fact, one of my first steps back to work was to participate in a local art exhibition. Last month I was one of over 100 local visual, literary, and performing artists to participate in the Momentum Festival presented by The Arts Commission in downtown Toledo.

For my exhibition at the Momentum Festival, I prepared and framed 26 pieces. Go big or go home, am I right? 😅

Half of my exhibition was encaustic monotypes, and the other half were cyanotypes. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Enchanted Winter Wreath 8x10 Cyanotype by Janelle Lorenzen

The Refuge 8x10 Encaustic Monotype by Janelle Lorenzen

So what's next?

Obviously, I'm working to revive my blog. I decided to keep the history of my blog from my work as a portrait and fine art photographer. It's part of my journey and got me to where I am. However, you will see that my interests and work have shifted and evolved. 

I'll be working on getting a website together and a shop open to sell my work online. 

I'm also starting on an exciting new body of work exploring encaustic mono-printing. Check back for my next post with details on that.

Artomatic 419!

This Saturday is the last day of Artomatic 419!

Artomatic 419! is one of the region's largest multimedia arts event. This year, Artomatic 419! will feature more than 500 visual, literary, and performing artists in a 50,000 square foot former warehouse space. Featuring two floors of stunning visual arts, a former CYO church filled with sculpture and installations, three stages of entertainment, and much, much more, Artomatic 419! is one of Toledo's most highly anticipated arts events of the year. The 2013 installment of Artomatic 419! will take place at 911 N. Summit Street in the former Metropolitan Distributing Building on April 13th, 20th & 27th from 11am to 11pm each Saturday. More than 500 visual, performing, and literary artists will participate, with more than 10,000 guests attending over the three weekends. Artomatic 419! is curated and presented by The Arts Commission.

This event will be the fourth Artomatic that I have participated in. In the past I have always shown fine art photography. However, this year I am showing a new exhibit of seven encaustic paintings. Encaustic is a new medium for me. I've been only just begun really learning about it in the last year. It's a exciting medium that is diverse and offers endless possibilities. The seven paintings that I am exhibiting this year are a collection of explorations of the medium.  Please join me in the "Orange Room" on Saturday to view my new work and learn more about encaustic painting.

Inked by Janelle Lorenzen - (12" x 12" Encaustic, India Ink, and Oil on Board)

Yellow Boardwalk - Toledo Digital Billboards Art Project

You may remember my blog post back in October of 2012 about my fine art photograph, Yellow Boardwalk, being selected by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) to be displayed in the Toledo Digital Billboards Art Project as part of the Art in Public Places series. 



Yellow Boardwalk, by Janelle Lorenzen, on display at Monroe and Secor as part of the Toledo Digital Billboards Art Project

It's been awhile, but I wanted to post a photo of my image on display on the actual billboard. This was taken at the corner of Monroe and Secor in Toledo, OH. It was one of the two billboards that the image was displayed on during October of 2012.

Color Kaleidoscope Exhibition

PRIZM Creative Community is sponsoring an new exhibition called Color Kaleidoscope at Sam B’s Restaurant in Bowling Green. Included in the exhibition are nine of my fine art photographs, some of which were recently featured in my Color reVision exhibition.

A Moment Aglow by Janelle Lorenzen

This evening from 8-10 p.m. will be the opening reception for the exhibition at the Sam B’s Restaurant. There will be FREE drinks, appetizers, and acoustic guitar entertainment in the back bar area of Sam B’s. This exhibit will be on display through the end of May with over 100 new works of art in all medias including Fiber Art Quilts, Glass, Wood, Ceramics, Jewelry, Photography, and Fine Art.

Cedar Falls by Janelle Lorenzen

New artists being featured at this location will be Janelle Lorenzen, Lila DeWitte, Wendy Jenkins, Sue Leimkuehler, Dave Grabarczyk, Norma Meier, and Trudy Heinz Fails.

Other artists featured are: Jeremy Anderson, Kate Argow, Elaine Fuchs, C. Corky Dunsmore, Joshua Lee Haus, Darlene Krohn, Mary Anne Nicholson, Emanuel Enriquez, David Kolasky, Adam Soboleski, and Les Robertson.



Covered Bridge by Janelle Lorenzen

PRIZM Creative Community is a 501 c. 3 nonprofit organization currently receiving partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council and Toledo Community Foundation. For more information on upcoming PRIZM educational workshops in the visual and literary arts visit our website at www.myprizm.com or email prizm@bex.net

Salon des Refusés

One of my fine art photographs is included in the 2013 Salon des Refusés Exhibition sponsored by Prizm Creative Community. The digital color photograph was taken in the Lincoln Park Conservatory in Chicago, IL.

 

Fine Art Photograph by Janelle Lorenzen

 

The Salon des Refusés (French for “exhibition of rejects”), a long standing and well loved Toledo tradition for many years, is an exhibit for art not accepted by the Toledo Area Artists Exhibition held each year in the Toledo Museum of Art. Since its inception the Salon des Refusés has earned a reputation for quality exhibitions among area art critics. The exhibit will be held for six weeks from Feb 1st - March 15th, at The Art’s Commission’s Parkwood Gallery located at 1838 Parkwood Avenue in Toledo. Evening hours to view the exhibition will also be held on Friday evening the 22nd of Feb. from 6-9 p.m. at The Parkwood Gallery, 1838 Parkwood Ave. in Toledo. Otherwise viewing hours for the exhibit will be held Feb. 1st –March 15th during The Arts Commission’s regular business, Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.



 Salon des Refusés Postcard by PRIZM Creative Community

PRIZM Creative Community is a 501 c. 3 nonprofit organization currently receiving partial funding from the Ohio Arts Council and Toledo Community Foundation. For more information on upcoming PRIZM educational workshops in the visual and literary arts visit our website at www.myprizm.com or email prizm@bex.net


Color reVision in Perrysburg Messenger Journal

Exciting news! The Perrysburg Messenger Journal wrote an article on my Color reVision fine art photography exhibit. See the copy below.

(Click on the image to view larger)

PRIZM Opens New Art Exhibit 'Color reVision' Perrysburg Messenger Journal 12/05/2012

Color reVision Photography Exhibit by artist Janelle Lorenzen

Things got so crazy busy during the holidays that I forgot to post about the fine art photography exhibit I hung in December.

Frog Town by Janelle Lorenzen

My artists' group, PRIZM Creative Community, is sponsoring the exhibit at Starbucks at Levis Commons, in Perrysburg, Ohio. The exhibit will be available for viewing during regular business through January 28th, 2013.
 
Here is an excerpt of the press release sent out by PRIZM.

The current display entitled Color reVision features the work of PRIZM artist Janelle Lorenzen and will be on view through January 28th, 2013. The display includes Janelle’s fine art photography of landscapes and cityscapes of the Toledo, Ohio area and other inspiring locations in the region. The display includes images of the Toledo skyline, Wildwood Metropark, Maumee Bay State Park, the Toledo Botanical Gardens, the High-Level Bridge, and the Docks, among others.

Bridge Over Still Water by Janelle Lorenzen

To view examples of my fine art photography, including images in the Color reVision exhibit visit the Janelle Lorenzen Fine Art Photography website.

Yellow Boardwalk by Janelle Lorenzen

Yellow Boardwalk - Fine Art Photography by Janelle Lorenzen

Exciting news! Yellow Boardwalk, one of my Fine Art photographs, was selected by The Arts Commission of Greater Toledo (ACGT) to be displayed in the Toledo Digital Arts Billboard Project as part of the Art in Public Places series!



Yellow Boardwalk by Janelle Lorenzen

ACGT's description of the project:

"Toledo is home to a growing number of digital billboards. These giant computer screens are mounted high above the streets and allow advertisers to blast their message out to thousands of potential customers or patrons on a daily basis. The content that runs on these giant screens typically loops on a regular schedule showing each ad for approximately 8 seconds.

What would happen if some of the slides in the rotation on these billboards were not intended to promote, advertise or advocate for a particular cause or product? What if some of the slides were designed simply to enhance our City’s aesthetic and cultural identity?

The Arts Commission and Toledo Detroit Outdoor Media are working together to explore this idea in a project called the Toledo Digital Billboard Art Project. The project will utilize two local digital billboards, which are owned by Toledo Detroit Outdoor Media, to exhibit a series of artworks with the sole intent of beautifying the City of Toledo for 8 seconds at a time. This project is designed to add to our city’s growing reputation as a center of creativity and culture, and to remind viewers that (despite what is communicated in the media) Toledo is a vibrant and enjoyable place to live and work."

The images select for the project will be displayed starting the week of October 8th.  The billboards are located on Monroe at Secor, and Secor at Central in Toledo, OH.

Yellow Boardwalk is digital color photograph taken at Wildwood Metro Park in Toledo, OH.  The dramatic colors in this image are due to the faux infrared post processing of the image in my digital darkroom. You may remember that this image was also chosen to hang in the Toledo Museum of Art in 2009 for the 91st Toledo Area Artist's Exhibit. For the billboard project the image was cropped to fit the dimensions of the billboards. The full uncropped image is below.

Yellow Boardwalk by Janelle Lorenzen

Black Friday (and Saturday) Fine Art Photography Sale!

Click here to view my fine art prints for sale.

Email me the size and name of the print you want and I will send you an invoice for the sale price. You must send your email before midnight on Saturday!

Send orders to: Janelle@LorenzenStudios.com

Busy Bee!

A lot has been going on creatively for me. I've been a busy busy bee!




I have decided to reopen my portrait business after a long hiatus. In addition, I have updated my photography website, LorenzenStudios.com and the Lorenzen Studios Photography Blog. I have updated the look and added new work to the galleries in hopes of attracting new portrait clients.







I've also been working away on setting up my art studio in our spare bedroom. It's so wonderful to have my own space dedicated to my creative ventures. Once I have it all done I'll post photos of my new work space.




I have finished my very first encaustic painting! I'm very happy how it has turned out and it was a huge learning experience for me.







Also, I've been playing a lot in my art journal. Below is just one of my sketches from my current art journal.




I'll have more work to share soon!




Cheers!


~ Janelle ~

Update!

I know it has been a long time since I have posted here. I have had a lot of changes in my life since the last time I posted, so an update is long past due.

Last November I lost my day job. Since I became joyfully jobless I have had a lot of things going on in my personal life and as a result my portrait business was put on the back burner. After the holiday rush was over wedding planning started to take up a lot of my free time. With that came more life changes such as moving into our first home. Then, right in the midst of wedding planning, I experienced a great loss. My father passed away on March 23 2011, six weeks before our wedding. His unexpected death came to a great shock to our family and it was all we could do to get through the last weeks of wedding planning.
On May 7 2011, Aaron and I were married at Nazareth Hall in Grand Rapids, OH. The wedding was beautiful and we were lucky to have some good weather as the ceremony was outside.

Check out the beautiful photography by JP Photography.

(Photo by JP Photography)

Click here to check out the awesome wedding video trailer by Fairytale Productions.

Right after the wedding was over, Aaron and I headed to the Bahamas for our honeymoon. We lived like king and queen for a week while we relaxed at the beautiful Sandals resort at Emerald Bay. (Photos to come soon!)

Since getting back from the honeymoon I have been settling into married life. While still mourning my loss, I am slowly healing.

As for photography, I am officially open for business. I am accepting new clients and hoping to build up my portrait clientele. I have updated my website, LorenzenStudios.com. You will notice new portrait examples in the galleries. However, I have kept my low pricing in hopes to gain some business in this struggling economy.

In addition to working on my portrait photography I have been exploring encaustic painting and mixed media art. If you are interested in seeing this new art work check out my art blog, A Life In Progress.

Now that the site is updated and I'm open for business you can expect to see a lot more posts here. Check back often for new work!

~ Janelle ~

Getting Back Into The Groove

I know. It's been a while since I have posted here. Life has been crazy. And most of my time in the last few months has been directed toward dealing with all of the changes life has handed me. Which hasn't left any time for journaling, making art, or even thinking. Mostly it's felt a lot like survival.



I lost my father just over two moths ago. It was a sudden and unexpected death. And it happened six weeks before my wedding. Even now I have a hard time accepting that he is gone. There are moments when I forget. I expect him to be there, as he always has been, in his home-office working away on his computer. And then there are moments when the reality of my loss is raw and all-consuming. But I know that grief is a process and it takes time. For now I'm just trying to have faith in my ability to move forward and to make my way through the process.



Recently I've started to try to get organized around the house. I've been spending time on yard work and putting away all the lovely wedding gifts we have received. I started back on Weight Watchers and am looking forward to getting in better shape this summer.



Yesterday I got back in the studio for the first time since my dad passed. I guess I had been avoiding it as a way to avoid having to deal with my loss. But I've been so unhappy and empty without doing art that I know that I need to get back to work. I was a bit rusty and lost in starting again. I was faced with all the unfinished projects that were meant to be included in the Artomatic 419! last month. Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish the projects or participate in the exhibit due to the loss of my father. So I've started puttering around in the studio again. Trying to get back in the groove. I'm still feeling a bit out of sorts, but have enjoyed getting back in there and getting my hands dirty again. I hope to have some finished projects to share soon.

For the Cure

Tonight marks the opening of J&J Studio and Gallery's juried art exhibition, The Feminine Form, benefiting Susan G Komen for the Cure. The inspiration for the show was the feminine form and the interpretation was left up to the artists. All mediums were accepted.

The opening starts at 5:00 p.m and goes until 10:30 p.m tonight. The gallery is at 909 Jefferson St. in downtown Toledo. There will be a $30 ticket price at the door for all patrons. At least 50% of the ticket price will be donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure. In addition to the juried show there will be a basket raffle with baskets donated from local businesses, and drinks and appetizers will be served throughout the night. There will also be free chair massages with survivors having head of the line privileges. All of the money raised from the basket raffle and the 50/50 raffle will be donated to Susan G Komen.

I had the honor to be one of the guest judges for this exhibit and was impressed with the quality of the art entered into the show. Please stop by tonight for this wonderful fundraiser and help stamp out breast cancer.

Artist Trading Card Soiree

I recently had the opportunity to participate in my first Artist Trading Card event at the Space 237 gallery. It was fun experience. I met a lot of other artists and had the opportunity to see cards made from a number of techniques.

For those of you who don't know, an Artist Trading Card (ATC) is a small, collectible piece of art, 2.5" x 3.5". They are not to be sold but to be exchanged between artists. An ATC can be any medium and should include the artist's name, contact info, and title on the back of the card.

The theme of the soiree I attended was "Outer Space". Here are the images I came up with using photoshopped photos of lights and textures for my first edition of ATCs.










If you are an artist in the Toledo area and interested in participating in the next Space 237 ATC event please click here for more info. Hope to see you there!
~ Janelle ~