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.

Calendar Worthy

Exciting news! My photograph "Bridge Over Still Water" has been selected to be used as "January" for Sparta Calendars' 2011 Four Seasons calendar.




This is the first time I have been contacted by a company to buy the rights to print one of my photographs for a publication! It's a honor to know that one of my photographs is considered "calendar worthy".


Cheers!
~ Janelle ~

Catching Up

Since I'm catching up on blogging I thought I'd share a few things that have happened since I've been MIA.

In July I had my photography in four different exhibitions. I was part of a group photography show at the new J&J Gallery in downtown Toledo. I had three photos in the Salon des Refuses exhibit at the Parkwood Gallery. I also had some work included in the grand opening of Zydorf Glass & Arts. And finally, I had a piece included in the Art's Gone Wild exhibit at the Toledo Museum of Art.

Also, my "Covered Bridge" photograph was one of the featured in this segment of Coffee with the Fords. You can see it in the background above Cynthia Ford. This is a great video promoting PRIZM, the Toledo Area Artist exhibit, and the Salon des Refuses exhibit.




Well, that's about it for now.

Cheers!
~ Janelle ~

Engaged!

Holy smokes, it's been a while! A lot has been going on so I've sort of set blogging aside for a while. But there have been a lot changes for me that I'd like to share.

First, and most importantly: WE'RE ENGAGED! Yup, Aaron popped the question during our trip to San Francisco last month. It was my first time to San Francisco and the trip was awesome! So much to see and do. Here is a quick snap of the ring I took on our trip.

Since we've been back things have been really busy. I've moved out of my apartment in Rossford into our new house in Holland, OH. Lately we've been working on getting settled in, unpacking, redecorating, and starting the wedding planning. I haven't even had much time to go through the photos from the trip! Once I have a chance I'll share them here.

As things move forward I'll keep you posted on the wedding plans, the new house, and new art adventures!

Janelle ~