Three Years

"Big Sky"
acrylic on panel
6x9
$250

"Conference"
acrylic on panel
5x7
sold



"Above the Bale"
acrylic on panel
5x7
$185


"Scally"
graphite on archival paper
11x14
Soulful Studios Custom Pet Portrait


The "Artists at Work" open studio tour was a success. Many new people found their way to my studio and my work found new homes. Brady the Studio Dog improved his greeting skills and by the end strangers no longer upset him...much. I was much less stressed this time as we weren't putting the door handle on as patrons were walking up the path to see my art. No, we were ready well before opening and I have to admit I was pleased with the display. My oils and acrylics look very consistent and cohesive and the reception to my work was quite positive. More and more I feel that I am going in the right direction. No longer do I wonder if I'm just spinning my wheels. Rarely do I feel I should be doing something else more practical. Every single time that doubt flashes through my mind, an admirer of my work tells me what my art means to them and I know I'm home.

This is a far cry from where I was exactly three years ago. I close my eyes and I can still see the group of doctors standing over me telling me I had Lymphoma. My chest still aches when I cough or laugh but the memory hurts more deeply than the surface pain. Just now do I think I should cut my hair shorter because it is "too long". The wounds are all still so fresh. It seems like yesterday. However, if I take a deep breath and allow myself to relax and enjoy my new world, I can see I've indeed traveled far. In October of 2006 I learned how little control I had over my life. The universe was letting me know it had its own plans. Reading through my old posts of that time I realize how I covered over what i was really feeling and kept the brave face. Maybe there was no time for fear and pain. Maybe that is just how it goes.

Now I'm sitting here cancer free and I know how lucky I am. It doesn't always go that way. For some time I felt a pressure to make my life count for something. Once again I sought control. Finally it hit me a few weeks ago that I had not yet surrendered to the path of just living. Your life counts just as you are no matter what you do. You can make it a more pleasant experience by giving thanks and going with the flow and living in a healthy manner. However, no matter what you do there are no guarantees.

Sure, I believe what I write but the human in me still fights it sometimes. I recognize those times by my stress level or fits of anger. During those times I try to reset myself and SEE what is really around me.

What is around me in 2009? A beautiful house on two acres surround by farmers fields and beautiful sunsets is where I call home. Children that think I'm pretty and smart (at least for now) greet me when I awake. A charming little dog keeps me company as I create in the most beautiful studio a girl could imagine. My art is in demand and painting fast enough is my biggest worry. My family is healthy for the most part and we all enjoy a good ribbing. Most of all, a man, my husband, lets me know every single day that I am the most loved woman there ever was, even the ugly parts of me.

Yeah, I think by just living a lot has happened. In three years I've gone through chemo and radiation, tackled the lingering health problems that come with such treatment, got engaged, sold my home, planned a wedding, got married, built a studio, rebuilt my art business and won an art exhibition. Wow.

It's been a hell of a journey. It often felt like an uphill battle. It was harder for me than I'd like to admit. It was worth it.

What will I write three years from today?

Artists at Work - Tour of 18 Salem County Studios and Galleries

Above are just a few of the things I'm working on in the studio.

October 10th and 11th from 10-6 each day, Soulful Studios as well as 17 other galleries and studios will be open to the public. This focus of this tour is artists in their working environment demonstrating their process. I will be working on my recent dog portrait in graphite as well as a large oil painting. New works I've recently completed will be on display and for sale as well as select prints and cards. As always, light refreshments will be served and plenty of good conversation will be offered.

This is a great way to spend a weekend and there is no charge for admission. There are plenty of places to explore. For example, you won't have to go but one mile from this studio to see the beautiful water colors by Alex Alampi. He has released a new stunning print and will be demonstrating his technique as well.

To everyone that congratulated me on my recent award, I say THANK YOU! I feel the support from you all and I appreciate it very much. I apologize for the lag in posts. It's getting harder and harder to keep up with talking about art when there is so much art to make. That's a good thing.

Though I've been putting less information out on the internet it seems the word about my art is still traveling fast. In the past two weeks I've received numerous calls about commissions and requests for paintings that were already sold. It seems the busier you are the more people want work from you. Then as luck would have it a friend and patron was kind enough to mention my work in her blog that is created for Horse and Rider Magazine. Sandy is an expert on weight loss and healthy living by way of experience and she is very inspirational. She included a painting she purchased from me years ago on her September 15th post. (Thank you Sandy!) This is just a few examples of what has been happening.

So, please come and visit this weekend and check out my new work, have some munchies and chat with me. I look forward to seeing you all. Until next time...

Gallery 50 Success

September 4, 2009

Gallery 50

"Family" by Lori Levin

Awards: Best of Show and People's Choice

Judges: Glenn Rudderow and Judy Price

Mexico Madness

It's madness I tell you! I have a "thing" about using animals in photos like this, as I doubt that toucan really liked hanging out on the beach all day with strangers having his photo taken. However, I think the margaritas went to my head and I not only posed for this photo with my dear husband but also bought the picture! On top of that I was talked into having my picture taken with a donkey named "Poncho" too. Between everyone being so polite and cheerful and the tequila, I think I could have been talked into buying a heating system in Mexico.

In any case, Joel and I finally had our honeymoon and we enjoyed every minute. We won't discuss the food poisoning on the way home but the actual trip was fabulous. Joel mentioned over and over how beautiful our world is and how much we take for granted. The crystal clear water and the beautiful sites make you realize that these things are so precious. Someday I may go back and I'd like to make some small paintings when I'm there. This trip was purely for romance.

Speaking of painting, I am going to Gallery 50 tonight to see what award I won. They used my work for their announcement card, both paintings I entered already sold and now I am getting some sort of prize as well. Talk about getting the most bang for my buck out of that entry! I was excited to learn that Alex Alampi will be winning an award for the beautiful marsh landscape that he entered too. The artists of Harrisonville Lake Road are doing great.

I will post the results of the exhibition soon and the start of my next two commission pieces. Both are graphite dog portraits that I'm very excited to start. Come back to Soulful Studios to find out what happened.

Unsettled in Supawna

"Godspeed"

acrylic on panel

6x12

Sold

The "Nature & the Landscape" juried exhibition at Gallery 50 is coming up and I just completed this piece to be one of my entries. This is a scene from Supawna Meadows in Pennsville where I used to live. I've been under pressure to get thing done for commissions and shows and I had a feeling of being unsettled. I think the painting shows this. The painting of the geese in my previous blog will be used for the reception cards for the show. I'm very honored.

I see a growth in my work that I can only attribute to the beautiful light in my studio and the support from my husband. He has great suggestions and knows how to talk me down from the ledge when I've had it with a painting. Nobody has ever been able to do that consistently for me. I'm thankful.

I now have two new graphite dog portraits to work on as well as four oil commissions. Soulful Studios is very much busy with pet portraits and fine art paintings. There seems to be only time for making art now and not much time for talking about it.

My art was used for the reception card! How exciting is that?! Will I be seeing you there?

"Family 1"

acrylic on panel

6x9

Email to purchase.

"Family 2"

Acrylic on panel

6x12

Sold

"Family 3"

acrylic on panel

6x12

Email to purchase.

This Friday, August 14th from 6-9 PM, First Impressions Art Studio and Gallery will be hosting another artists' reception. I will have 5 new pieces there on display and it should be a good time. Please come out and see these pieces in person as I don't think the web does them justice.

I loved working on these geese paintings. While I did them I researched geese and their behaviors and habits. Who needs television when there is such drama in the animal kingdom! I know a lot about dogs and horses but now I think I can tell a duck from a goose! Just kidding, I was never that bad. However, I learn a lot from my work and it keeps it all very exciting.

I have so much more to say but right now I must get to my next dog portrait and a couple of custom commissions. Somewhere in there I must squeeze in time for my entry into the next Gallery 50 juried exhibition. I am running out of time so I musn't daudle! Come back soon and check out my progress.

Working the Dog Too Hard

As you can see, the new employee of Soulful Studios, is very stressed at his job. I fear that the animal welfare people may just come and take him away from me for working the dog too hard. He just seems to collapse from exhaustion and puts his belly up in the air in a display of surrender. Perhaps it is the subject of my paintings that deplete his energy.

This is Brady. He is a 2 year old Shorkie (mix of Shih-Tzu and Yorkie) that SOS Dog Rescue saved from certain death. His owners brought him to the vet's office after he was hit by a car because he was not leashed. He was quite neglected and his owners were not about to pay the $4500 to repair his torn bladder or his fractured little pelvis. They would have left him to die. Barbara from SOS quickly put him into the program and made sure he got top care. Then he went to a lovely foster home awaiting his forever family.

During one of my painting breaks I was researching dog breeds that would not irritate my asthma (thank you again cancer). I was not looking to adopt yet but when I saw his face and read about his wonderful nature I knew he was supposed to be with me. We adopted him a week ago Sunday and were instantly in love with this sweet pup.

Brady is inquisitive and extremely active. He needs a few pounds and a chance for his beautiful silver hair to grow in but that doesn't make him any less handsome. He is very smart but also a little devilish because he tries to see how much he can get away with by using his cute little face as a weapon.

I am so thankful to SOS for saving this dog. He is a perfect companion and just what I needed. His adoption fee was small and didn't even cover his vet bill. I am currently working up an idea for a fundraiser to help this rescue pay for his surgeries so that they can continue to help other little doggies. You can help too by either donating directly to their site (go to the bottom of the page and donate through PayPal...it's tax deductable) or purchasing things on the web through iGive. I feel very strongly about rescuing little lives that were brought into this world by human desires only to be brushed aside when that desire diminishes.

Next post you will see the studies of the geese (they are on the easel in the above photo) and get an update on the next show at First Impressions Gallery on August 14th. Also, I'm going out to photograph another pet portrait so please come back and don't miss a thing.