Laura Lynne

Posted on February 4, 2019February 4, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Bloom Where You’re Planted Quote Art and Public Mural

Utility Box Mural with flowers and Bloom Where You Are Planted Quote

I chose the “Bloom Where You Are Planted” design for the utility box mural in downtown Aurora as a message of love and hope for the community. There are so many people working to make Aurora a better place to live, and it seems to be working. The downtown has changed dramatically since we’ve moved here in 2008. The musicals at the Paramount are incredible, the new murals have really brightened and livened up the city. Public areas are being remodeled and some excellent restaurants and coffee shops have moved into downtown. Beautiful butterfly gardens dress up the streets. Aurora Downtown, city workers and volunteers help to host fun free events, like First Fridays, Alley Art Fest, and others. I hope my mural has added to the positivity going on in downtown Aurora and that we see even more growth and roots here.

Bloom Where You're Planted Quote Wall Art in Navy Blue and Pink — Bloom Where You’re Planted, Color Altered Archival Print Reproduction
**Buy a print here.**

Over ten years ago I moved to Aurora, IL from Milwaukee, WI. I had lived in Wisconsin for 30 years before moving to Aurora, owned a home, had a good job, and felt very connected to my community. Aurora is growing on me, however, there are many things I miss terribly from my previous home state – the nature, lakes, parks left mainly in their natural state, and living closer to my family and friends. So, I made the art to remind myself to be present and thankful for what I have – to work on making our home a nice place to live, planting a literal garden, and to work on making friends and connections here.

If you are interested in a mural indoors or out, please contact me to arrange your free consultation today.

About the Artist/Author: Laura Lynne is a mixed media hand cut paper artist and muralist living and working 40 miles west of Chicago in Aurora, IL. She uses her photographs, metallic paper, and painted papers to create boldly colored, whimsical artworks. To see more of Laura Lynne’s original art, pet portraits, illustrations and jewelry, please visit www.lauralynneart.com.

Posted on April 19, 2018January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Grateful Dead Lyrics Inspired Art

Grateful Dead lyrics can be so beautiful, mysterious and with lovely nature references. The piece below was inspired by the song, Ripple, written by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia. Here are some of the lyrics:

“If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?…

Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again…”

grateful dead song lyric inspired art poster design of ripple, harp with no strings, trippy hippie artwork by artist Laura Lynne — Ripple #2, 2018, Digitally Altered Mixed Media Papercut Collage

Often, I’ll digitally alter my art to create a few different color versions for prints. The original hand cut paper collage was light green and white, but I really like how the red and light blue one turned out. (Sometimes I like the digitally colored versions better than the original!)

Grateful Dead Fan Art based on ripple song lyrics with ripple, musical bars, harp with no strings — Ripple #2, 2018, Digitally Altered Mixed Media Papercut Collage

Prints are available in my shop. All prints are archival, printed with ink on 100% cotton fine art paper. They are open edition because they are giclee prints AND it would suck if my favorite musicians only released 200 copies of their songs. I would never do that to you. 🙂

Also, check out my Scarlet Begonias lyric inspired piece and Dark Star inspired art here.

Thank you so much for visiting!

About the Artist/Author: Laura Lynne is a mixed media hand cut paper artist living and working 40 miles west of Chicago in Aurora, IL. She uses her photographs, metallic paper, and painted papers to create boldly colored, whimsical artworks. To see more of Laura Lynne’s original art, pet portraits, illustrations and jewelry, please visit www.lauralynneart.com.

Posted on February 13, 2018January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Dragonfly Art and Change

Illustration of black and white papercut collage dragonfly flying over lily pads and lotus flowers

On one of my trips to Wisconsin I laid on a hammock and looked up at many dragonflies zipping around at a fast pace to catch insects. I see them on ponds and watched them gliding over the water and resting on lily pads while canoeing in northern Wisconsin.

The dragonfly is a symbol of changing direction in your life. This piece was commissioned by someone who’s mother was going through a major life change. Here is the finished commission piece I completed in 2015.

dragonfly papercut collage with green lily pads and pink lotus flowers over blue water — Dragonfly, Mixed Media, 2015

Clients responded to this piece so much that I went on to edit it and change the colors and composition digitally to create two more pieces:

Black and White Dragonfly, Digitally Altered Collage Print, 2015

dragonfly art by mixed media collage artist laura lynne with hot pink mint green and purple colors

Purple Dragonfly, Digitally Altered Collage Print, 2015

To purchase prints, please visit my shop.

Posted on October 20, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Creativity Hierarchy of Needs

Yoga and Love help to make room for great creativity. T-shirt design and philosophy

Giving this working artist bit a try, I have a lot of time to think all day now that my baby is in full day kindergarten… I’m also reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It has led me to thinking about how to sustain creativity and health. What do we need to do to refuel our creative tank, be healthy and a productive art maker?

I think about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and what he wrote about being your best self. He studied famous people in history, like Abraham Lincoln, to find out what they did to become fully actualized human beings. Maslow found that we need first to have our physiological needs met, then safety, love/belonging, esteem and only then can we have self-actualization and reach our highest potential.

Yoga, also, is a system for self-actualization. It helps your mind, body and spirit be the healthiest it can be. It helps your body to sit or stand comfortably for long periods of time while writing, painting, drawing or playing music. If I were to create a heirarchy for creativity, it would look something like the one below.

I feel so very lucky to have my basic needs, or bottom tier, met (thanks to my dear husband, his employer, and living within our means) and wish everyone in the world had theirs met too. How amazing would our world be if everyone was walking around with a full belly, a peaceful mind, and had the capacity to work on their creative projects?

For the sake of design and t-shirt design, I simplified my little hierarchy to this:

Here is the papercut work in progress:

To find out more about Maslow and see his hierarchy, click here.

extra large yoga tote bag or grocery bag with art love yoga pyramid — Yoga Tote Bag

Please message me to check pricing and availability of tote bags and t-shirts at hello@lauralynneart.com

Posted on September 19, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

16 Free-ish Ways to Support the Artist in your life

If you want to support an artist, me, for example, but don’t need or can’t afford any art, then consider this list of FREE to low-cost ways to support the artists in your life:

Follow on social media
- Instagram
  - Follow
  - Comment on the posts
  - Tag and hashtag (For example, @LauraLynneArt and #LauraLynneArt)
- Facebook
  - Like the page
  - Follow the page
  - Like the posts
  - Comment on the posts
  - Post to the page
  - Share the posts
  - Tag photos of your art

Comment on blogs.
Favorite Etsy Listings
Favorite Etsy shops
Please share, share, share everywhere (with tags, links and credits please)
- Share on Pinterest
Write a PR article and send it to your paper.
Feature art on your blog with the artist’s permission, of course.
Write a blog about art. (Let’s trade! Please contact me.)
Tell your favorite interior designer about your favorite art.
Tell your favorite gallery about your favorite art.
Sign up for my email list to receive a newsletter.
Write a grant.
Pin business cards on a community boards.
Exhibit and/or sell art at your high-traffic restaurant or business.
Attend an art fair (free to minimal entry fee). View my schedule.

Do you know any other free ways to support the artist in your life? I’d love to read your comments.

(Of course, there are ways to support your artist without taking up more wall space… Want a beautiful painted calendar page printable each month? Sign up for a Laura Lynne Art membership here: www.patreon.com/lauralynneart. Depending on your level of membership, you will get exclusive members only content, discounts on art, yearly art packages, etc…)

Posted on August 22, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

8-21-17 Total Solar Eclipse Art

On Monday, August 21st 2017, our family had a little solar eclipse party. But, first I spent a little time creating the eclipse art below by using the computer to merge two of my original collages.

Blue and Orange Total Solar Eclipse Paper Collage Art Print by Laura Lynne Art — Dark Star, Digitally Altered Paper Collage, 2017

We had read online about some fun, silly things to do during the eclipse, bought some paper viewing glasses and got our mason jars of water ready to get infused with eclipse light. My husband turned on a Dark Star compilation by Grateful Dead and drank Moon Man beer. We watched the eclipse and talked about our goals for the year. I’m so grateful to have this fun family and for all we have created! Happy Eclipse Day, USA!

Here is another version of the eclipse sans butterflies:

Total Solar Eclipse of the Sun paper collage art by Laura Lynne with planets stars and galaxies and moons — Dark Star III, Digitally Altered Paper Collage, 2017

Did anyone else see this through their eclipse glasses? No? Hmmm… 😉

To purchase prints, please go to my shop.

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Posted on August 6, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Alley Art Festival 2017 Poster Design

Alley Art Festival Poster Design by Laura Lynne Art based on Paramount Theater's Art Deco Building in Aurora Illinois

This was one of the most challenging commissions yet. Honestly, I got a bit of artist’s block at first, mainly due to thinking of all of the amazing Alley Art Fest posters of the past. I had a very tough act to follow doing a poster after artists like Chris Hodge (@chodgeart), Joanna Goss (@jowayseeker), Jaime Torraco (@kittensofindustry), and Don Picton (@friendprices)! The poster by Kittens of Industry last year, I felt, perfectly illustrated the bohemian charm of Aurora’s grassroots art fair.

So, I started looking for inspiration by researching past and present poster design, like the elaborate borders and symmetrical designs of Justin Helton (@statusserigraph). The Art Nouveau poster designs of Edward Penfield and Alphonse Mucha have long been some of my favorites. Then, as I was looking on Instagram one night, I happened to see Greta Bell’s (@gretabellart) beautiful interpretation of the Paramount Theatre’s ceiling light. I’ve often marveled at theater design and have taken photos of the decorative lights and murals. When I saw Greta’s painting, I knew I wanted to use the same subject for inspiration in my poster design (without copying it, of course). See Greta Bell’s beautiful Paramount Theatre light painting and other artwork here: https://www.facebook.com/Greta-Bell-114605011801/

It’s been so great to meet and learn from the artists in my community. I’m so grateful to have met so many talented people! Thank you so much, Marissa Amoni, for asking me to do the poster for this year’s event!

Here is my 2017 Alley Art Festival Poster Design:

Have Laura Lynne Art design your next gig poster. Message me here for pricing and package information.

Posted on May 17, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Murals, Portraits, and Illustrations

oil on canvas portrait painting by chicago aurora artist Laura Lynne

You know that I can do collage, but did you know that I can also paint? My degree is a BFA with a concentration in painting and drawing. Here are some examples of new and old paintings:

family tree mural — Family Tree Mural in Progress, 2015

Above is a large scale mural I did for my sister. It went from floor to ceiling on their high, Victorian era home walls, and wrapped around half the room.

Below is a commission for a cute holiday festival poster I did for a Waldorf school using gouache paint. Gouache paint is lovely because it can be thinned to a watercolor consistency or used without much water, like acrylics.

painting of Santa gnome bringing snow to village before winter Christmas Holiday — Let it Snow, Gouache on Wood, 2015

This is an oil portrait painting I did using a photograph that I took of my grandma. She meant a lot to me and shared her love of plants and gardening.

Below is an owl illustration commission, painted on a puzzle. This was done for a pastor’s church sermon. Everyone got a piece of the puzzle to assemble as a group.

hand painted puzzle with owls on a branch and a rainbow behind — Always Room for One More, Gouache on Puzzle, 2017

If you are interested in commissioning a painting, mural or a portrait, please contact me.

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Posted on April 24, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Finding Bighorn Sheep

In 2015 I was asked to create a bighorn sheep collage for a baby boy’s nursery room by my cousin who grew up in Colorado. We took many trips to Colorado in the summers to visit and I never saw a bighorn sheep. My family was huge on spending time outside and visiting National and State Parks growing up. Even on those trips, I never saw a bighorn.

bighorn sheep climbing mountain with wildflowers — Bighorn Sheep Illustration with Wildflowers, Paper Collage, 2016, SOLD

Finally, in May of 2016, I went on a trip to South Dakota with two friends. We saw so much wildlife at Custer State Park, but no sheep. Every time we ventured out from the hotel, we saw a sign that read “Bighorn Sheep Crossing,” but no herds were to be seen.

aries-ram-art-collage-with-magpie-wildflower-collage — Ram and Magpie, 2016, Paper Collage, 11×14″, $650

On the last day of the trip, we went to the Badlands on our way home. Our plan was to go hiking through the hills. We drove around a bit and that’s when we stopped to see an overlook. There on the steep cliffs were the sheep, soaking up the sun! It was so exciting to see some in nature after studying them for the collage art. It was spring so they didn’t have the horns yet, however. Next time I want to visit in the fall to see the beautiful horns!

Watching the sheep.

Sign near Hill City, South Dakota.

Visit my shop to purchase prints of the sheep and see other woodland and mountain animal art.

I also have a digitally altered color set of prints too.

Ram and magpie in the mountains with wildflowers — Ram and Magpie with Wildflowers

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Posted on March 2, 2017January 11, 2019 by Laura Lynne — Leave a comment

Preschoolers Collaborate on Art for Auction

Blue flower collage collaboration with preschoolers with monarch butterfly

Objects that we create seem to have some of our own inner magic infused. I wish you could see this flower still life in person because you can feel how magical it is with 15 flowers made by the cutest preschoolers in Aurora, Illinois (and 2 by their teachers). Here is one of them: It was so much fun talking to the kids about art and the shapes they saw in the flowers. They cut out shapes and used some of the shapes I provided too. Then, used gloss medium with paintbrushes to create their flowers with minimal direction.

When I first took the flowers to my studio after working with the kids in their classroom, I was a little nervous about how I was going to make the collage look like a cohesive design. All the flowers looked so different, and some were so abstract it was hard to make out a flower shape, which I loved about them, but also felt challenged. Something else that I love about the flowers is that they are unpredictable, beautifully textured and layered.

blue flower collages made by 4 and 5 year olds — Individual Flowers Made by Preschool Class

I didn’t want to add too much to the kids’ flowers for a few reasons. 1.) I wanted them to recognize their flower art and be proud of it. 2.) I feel like changing someone’s art may make them feel as if their art/they aren’t good enough. In the end, I did add to a few of them for design and composition purposes to make a more cohesive piece that may draw more money for the auction. They are all so beautiful!

Here is the finished piece:

monarch butterfly and still life blue flower collage with painted vase — Still Life Flower Collage Collaboration, Mixed Media, 2017

If you are interested in a flower collage workshop for kids or adults, please contact me. See more of my work here.

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Author: Laura Lynne

Bloom Where You’re Planted Quote Art and Public Mural

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Grateful Dead Lyrics Inspired Art

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Dragonfly Art and Change

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Creativity Hierarchy of Needs

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8-21-17 Total Solar Eclipse Art

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Alley Art Festival 2017 Poster Design

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Murals, Portraits, and Illustrations

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Finding Bighorn Sheep

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Preschoolers Collaborate on Art for Auction

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