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)

Salon des Refuses Exhibit

Great news! This Friday is the opening reception for an exhibit that includes my first finished encaustic painting!

12" x 12" Encaustic Painting, Gnarled Tree by Janelle Lorenzen

The Salon des Refuses Show, a well loved Toledo tradition, is an exhibit for art denied by the Toledo Area Artists Exhibition, an annual show exhibited at the Toledo Museum of Art.

This year, I will have an encaustic painting on display at the Salon des Refuses Show at the Parkwood Gallery. Please come out and see my first painting in a medium that is all new to me! There will be food and drinks, and prizes given by the judges to exhibiting artists at the opening reception this Friday.





The Opening Reception is Friday, Aug. 26th 6-10 pm. The exhibit will be on display from August 29th thru September 23rd. Gallery hours: Monday thru Friday 8:30-4:30 pm. The Parkwood Gallery is located at 1838 Parkwood Ave. Toledo, Ohio.

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 ~