Author: Laura Lynne

Hand cut paper artist, illustrator, mom, wife, health nut
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The Aurora Art Scene

hand painted puzzle with owls on a branch and a rainbow behind

It saddens me to think people are going to associate the art that was displayed during the 2018 Fox River Arts Ramble at the Aurora Public Library with other artists in Aurora or the art scene here in general.  The art at Aurora Public Library is in no way representative of the art scene or artists in Aurora.  One of the reasons why I like living in Aurora is because it is diverse.  The art community reflects that diversity.  If you want a truer representation of the art scene here, come visit the Art Bar at Two Brother’s Roundhouse every First Friday, go to Gallery 1904, the grassroots Alley Art Fest the last weekend in August, the Aurora Public Art Commission gallery, etc…

I am not going to pretend I’ve never created provocative art that has been censored in a public place (in college regarding FGM).  However, it saddens me to think one of the hijab-wearing girls who walk to school past our house saw the poem on display at the Aurora Public Library and felt scared.  While there may be a place for provocative art, and certainly a place and time for thoughtul discourse, that place is NOT in the lobby of a public library or on the public Facebook page.

Here I am next to Fisk Creations doing live art during a First Friday event hosted by If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery.

inclusive diverse artist community aurora illinois art scene public art display
Live Art in Aurora, Illinois @Fiskcreations and @LauraLynneArt (upper left)

Check out the many artists in Aurora on Instagram.  I’m not going to list them all, but @the_artbar is a great place to start.

“Thoughts lead to words lead to actions” is what I learned from Kim Schwartz in my yoga teacher training.  Let’s be kind.

 

 

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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.

Scarlet Begonias Grateful Dead Song Illustration
Dark Star, Digitally Altered Paper Collage, 2017

 

Thank you so much for visiting!

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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
Purple Dragonfly, Digitally Altered Collage Print, 2015

To purchase prints, please visit my shop.

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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.

Laura Lynne Art's Version of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

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:

Yoga and Love help to make room for great creativity. T-shirt design and philosophy
Laura Lynne Art Hierarchy of Needs Based on Maslow’s Psychology

Here is the papercut work in progress:

Papercut work in progress
Hierarchy of Needs 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

 

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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…)

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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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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:

Alley Art Fest Poster Design 2017 based on Paramount Theater Light by Laura Lynne Art

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

 

 

 

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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.

oil on canvas portrait painting by chicago aurora artist Laura Lynne
Grandma, Oil on Canvas, 2001

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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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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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:  dsc_0494It 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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