cartography of the imagination

In progress...

2011-12-08T08:04:00.001-08:00

Some older work that's new to the internet

2011-01-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

These are the last pieces of my 50 maps in November series. I just got them back from Roots and Tendrils in Belfast, ME, and am posting them as I type at . Enjoy!

Back to working on things after a long break

2010-12-29T06:01:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to say that after a long (but perhaps well-deserved?) break from art, I finally feel like I'm back on track. I have this week off from teaching, and after some wonderfully relaxing days with family and snow, I'm excited to spend the remainder of this week focusing on art.
Here's what I've been up to:
-working on FINALLY finishing my embroidery map of Manhattan...and then perhaps moving on to other cities, if it works out
-making my pieces bigger. In November for my 50 map challenge, I worked small, because it was more convenient and made my goal more feasible. But I have some lovely large watercolor paper waiting for me!
-using wood blocks more and experimenting with acrylic paint
-working up a plan for the submission of maps to magazines who might want them as illustration to be a companion to travel articles (any help or suggestions here?)

I hope everyone had a great holiday, was safe through the blizzard, and is planning a wonderful new year!
Cheers!

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

2010-11-26T05:12:00.000-08:00

As a thank you to all you readers, I'm offering 30% off everything in my shop, starting now and ending Monday at 11:59 pm -- just enter in coupon code "mapsareawesome" at check out!
Happy shopping!

Framed Pieces for Roots and Tendrils show

2010-11-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Here are 3 of 14 pieces that I'm framing for my upcoming show at Roots & Tendrils in lovely Belfast, Maine -- also home to my favorite health food co-op! These pieces are part of my final six of 50 pieces for the month of November -- very exciting! I chose a bamboo frame with recycled paper for the mat -- and bought them from my local art shop. It feels good to see them framed and on a wall.

These new pieces are making me happy

2010-11-18T15:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got some good art-related news, which sent some creativity and mega-energy flowing through my veins (I'll share the art-related news as things come together in the next couple of days) -- I had so much fun creating these pieces, letting the garland-like streets twist like holiday packaging ribbon, forming constellations as the stars started to appear in the sky. These pieces are a bit bigger than what I've been working with - 6 inches by 8 inches. I think this weekend will be a very productive one, if my energy keeps up like this!
Both works are available in my shop.

Interview in Things We Make, Exhibition on papernstitch, and my name.

2010-11-17T05:21:00.001-08:00

Traveling and Building, available here

Amy from Things We Make was kind enough to interview me on her blog! You can check it out here : Things We Make

I'm also featured in Brittni's lovely exhibition at papernstitch!. You can see my shop here

Also, for about five years I've been using the artist name of Lauren Simone. I chose a different last name for many reasons then, but now I'm trying to be more serious with my art, and thought I should use my real name.

Hi, my name is Lauren Montanaro Norster. Nice to meet you.

Selected works from this week

2010-11-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

When entering into this month with a challenge before me, I had no idea how the frequency of creating would alter my work. With the completion of each piece, I am surprised by the stark difference between my work now and my work a year ago. I've temporarily moved away from encaustics (although I use them for layering purposes, creating an almost atmospheric effect) and delved into a more geometric form of mapping. Something about it has completly captivated me. While I feel like my older work was a bit more pleasing to look at, these seem a bit more mature and developed, in a fun way. I'm also experimenting with acrylics -- photos of those to come!

Maps #8-#12

2010-11-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

Drawing #4 out of 50,

2010-11-03T13:29:00.000-07:00

I went back and forth with this one, but I feel like it is done.

The Challenge Has Begun!

2010-11-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Dincharya - Available here

The piece above maps a bit of my morning routine -- but, now that it's November, my morning routine will gain one more process: ART! Today I created two additional pieces, out of 50 that I hope to complete this month.

Wanted Union and Disected City, available here

I'm pretty excited about this month...I already feel like my arts become more playful, knowing that I'm making more pieces has taken a bit of pressure off of having each map be "perfect".
Many more posts to come, as I hope to document this month's journey here daily.

The River, The Basin, The Channel

2010-10-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

I love when maps happen when I think they won't. That's what happened here, a lovely surprise. Available here.

Conch and Ear

2010-10-29T05:48:00.001-07:00

This piece goes back to my anatomical drawing roots, which is strangely what started me drawing maps.
I've decided to make this original drawing available here.

A Map of Things I Need in My Kitchen

2010-10-28T05:35:00.001-07:00

Available Here

Her Boundaries, Charting the Coastline

2010-10-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Two new pieces -- find them here

2010-10-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

New listings today!

growing city

and

yellowstone

I'm gearing up for NaNoWriMo - where writers write a novel of about 120 pages in the month of November -- but I'm challenging myself to paint 120 pictures in November! I think they're mostly going to be in this style, based off old maps, rediscovering them in a more abstract way. We'll see what happens...

Custom Cartography is Back!

2010-10-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

Columbus Day weekend was really productive. I started to feel this creative surge, a fluttering in my hands wanting to create, draw, explore. I've been re-inspired by this great book of antique maps, and reinventing them in a more abstract way.

I'm also thinking of doing NANO, aka NAtional NOvel Writing Month, but in art form. I think NaNo works out to be 3 typed pages of text for writers a day, so translating that to three drawings a day for the month of Novemeber is my goal! I sort of want to get started now, to get into the habit of things. It should be intersting!

On account of recent creativity and time, I've brought back Custom Cartography! I'd love to create something for you -- if you'd like something smaller and of a bit less cost, contact me -- I'd love to work something out!

Below are some custom maps I have done in the past...enjoy!

2010-10-11T05:22:00.000-07:00

Things listed and soon to be at my shop
Inspiration, visiting galleries, the autumn, days off, and maps have been a gift this month, propelling me to a state of wonderful creativity, something tangible in my core.
that sounds silly but it's true.

the tide rolls in

2010-10-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Old and New

2010-09-26T10:47:00.000-07:00

Available on my etsy

My Frist Giveaway!

2010-03-20T15:05:00.000-07:00

So, in an effort to promote the little (read: BIG!) sale I have going on in my shop, I thought having a giveaway would be a great place to give a piece of art to someone, while also spreading the word.

Here's the deal:
1. Tell the world about my sale (see information below) via facebook, twitter, a blog post (feel free to use any of my photos), etc. You can get creative with it.

2. Comment on this post, telling me where you mentioned my shop

3. I will use a random number generator and send the original of the piece above, "Bringing Back the Spices" to the lucky number!

Details of my sale:

Basically, I'm moving to a farm in 2 weeks, so everything must go from my shop. I hope to start fresh with my art up there, and don't have a lot of room in the car, so a lot of my artwork will go into a gallery on the day before I move. So,

Here's the deal: If you purchase a map from my shop from now until March 31st, I will refund your account as follows:
Small Encaustic Paintings: $25 off
New York and Vancouver Encaustic Maps: $50 off
Prints: $5 off
Original Watercolors: $10 off
Custom Maps: $50 off

Good Luck, Thank you, and have fun!

Jamie's Custom Map of Asissi

2010-03-08T03:40:00.000-08:00

I loved working on this map of Asissi...the streets in such an old town are so different from any of the other cities I've drawn, even old Spanish cities like Granada...it makes me want to find other small villages in Italy and draw them...perhaps the villages of my great grandparents...hm...

HUGE SALE

2010-03-02T16:18:00.001-08:00

So, my husband and I are going to be the lucky apprentices at Shalom Orchards here in Maine (but 3 hours north of Portland. A 3 hour drive in the same state still boggles my small Rhode Island mind). It's going to be wonderful. I'm going to work at one of 11 organic wineries in the US, learn how to make wine and mead, work on the orchard, learn about sheep and spinning and hand dying, grow veggies for a CSA, and learn construction with the potential to build our own timber frame cottage. I'm so excited.

AND...

Here's the deal: If you purchase a map from my shop from now until March 31st, I will refund your account as follows:
Small Encaustic Paintings: $25 off
New York and Vancouver Encaustic Maps: $50 off
Prints: $5 off
Original Watercolors: $10 off
Custom Maps: $50 off

This huge opportunity = huge fun for you.
Cheers!
Lauren

Kreative Blog Award

2010-02-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

Anne at A Beautiful Party has tagged me with a Kreative Blog Award. The rules are: Reveal 7 things about yourself and pass it on to 7 other creative bloggers.
So...

1. I didn't start drawing until I was 19. Before that I thought that I was horrible at art. I did draw maps in the car when I was little, though.

2. I am terrified of vomiting and have managed to stay vomit free for half of my life.

3. I drink way too much tea. Probably on average 10 cups a day.

4. I am 100% Italian, and can get a bit prideful about it.

5. My husband and I are planning on working and living on a farm this summer!

6. I don't like eating food that gets stuck in my teeth. Corn on the cob is the worst.

7. I love singing but have a hard time being in tune when other people are around.

I follow a lot of blogs and a few follow me, but of the few who follow me I don't know seven who would answer these questions.
So, if you want to, go for it! I'd love to read your seven things!

That was fun. And I pass this award to:

Maps from this week

2010-02-22T16:37:00.001-08:00

I've been on a roll with these maps. The process never fails to captivate me. I warm up my burner under my encaustic tray and think, stare outside, or look through map books. When the temperature of the wax is just right, I start applying layers of color, adhering them to the wood with a heat gun and eventually to each other until imaginary maps start to form my happenstance. One of my favorite things about this process is the serendipity. When it is just right, I let it cool, and then carve into it. My favorite carving tool is the end of a metal compass I used to draw directional compasses. I follow the paint in a meditative way, carving deep and soft, in lines and swirls and dots. When I feel I am done, I clean up the wax shavings and look forward to the next piece, to start the process all over again.

Some new things

2010-02-13T05:15:00.000-08:00

Enchanted Forest at Constellation Gallery in Portland

2010-02-04T03:13:00.001-08:00

Today I'm dropping of this piece, "Enchanted Forest," plus a couple other encaustic maps to Constellation gallery in Portland, Maine. They're located on Congress Street across from MECA.

It's my first show in an actual gallery in Portland, so I'm pretty excited.

This week in my preschool class we're studying artists...although we always do art, it's nice to study a bit of art history with them...it reminds me of working at the art museum in MA I used to teach at, or the homeschooling group I worked with last year. Today we're going to make a huge lily pad painting as a group, with rags instead of paint brushes, inspired by Monet.

NYC and Boston

2010-02-01T10:58:00.000-08:00

Both available at My shop

An older painting, revisited

2010-01-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

"Travels of our Ancestors" available at My etsy shop

Andrew and I made a trip to catch the last day of Roots and Tendrils'30/30/30 show, which was an amazing journey. On the way we stopped by a farm that we are thinking of apprenticing at this spring/summer/fall, and completely fell in love with it...so exciting! Then we stopped at RockCity books, a quaint book shop with coffee, soups, and salads. Their used book selection is incredible. I bought a book that would be useful for both Andrew and I, about artists of all kinds and how to succeed creatively. Roots and Tendrils had some amazing stuff, I recognized a lot of the artits from around Portland (such as Audrey Hotchkiss) and the Etsy Maine team! We then went to the Belfast Co-op, a market we love so much that we drive 3 hours to go there every few months. Ah! What a great day!

New work

2010-01-23T17:10:00.000-08:00

Artist Heroines

2010-01-11T04:25:00.001-08:00

I think every artist has at least a few other artists that they look up to for inspiration and motivation, new ideas, and creativity. Here are just a few female artists who inspire me.

Amy Cutler

Julie Mehretu

Joyce Kozloff

Maya Lin

Alison Hildrith (she's local!)
See her website here

New maps of cities and the ocean floor

2010-01-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

Two new pieces

2010-01-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Having a long weekend after the holidays has been so productive for me. Although I was pretty creative in December, most of the maps (and scarves!) I made were for gifts. I think having a list of things to make as gifts and a deadline definitely got my creativity flowing, and now I feel funny if I'm not working on a piece...which is awesome, because I'm still making so much.

What are your goals for 2010? My goals are to:
1. Spend less time on the computer (which has already been accomplished a bit, by moving the computer out of the livingroom/studio and into the kitchen, which also opened up a desk in the living room for more art making!)
2. Submit to as many calls for art as I can, and seek out galleries where my work would be a good fit
3. Integrate more maps of real places into my work. For the holidays, I made 10 maps of real locations of signifigance for friends, and I really liked how they came out. The recipients had an attachment to those places, which I think they liked more than an imaginary place.
4. Keep having fun with my art!

Forests of Lake and Snow

2010-01-01T06:32:00.000-08:00

I love making these. There is something so meditative about layering the wax, waiting for it to dry, feeling the textures, and then scraping away at the layers to form the lines of the map.
The beauty of the forests and lakes under a fresh snowfall encased in wax for your viewing. There are colors that you have to look closely to see, hidden in the woods. Smooth stretches are interrupted by the sharp outlines of mountains and villages. The colors diffuse and appear.Perhaps someone is iceskating, or snowshoeing, or taking a deep breath. For more views of this piece, check it out here

Fun with encaustics

2009-12-30T13:08:00.000-08:00

Mmm, playing with colors and scrapes is lovely to do on the morning of a day off, keeping warm in the house next to the hot plate (to melt the encaustic wax), smelling beeswax. This piece, titled "Look closely at the beauty between the cities" is one of two maps I made with encaustic paint today, and the colors make me happy. Andrew gave me a huge assortment of colors for Chirstmas, from fellow Mainer Jamie Ribisi. Yeay!

Four Years

2009-12-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

Today is my etsyversary -- four years selling my art on etsy.

To celebrate I'm offering FREE Shipping in my store, plus a free mystery print with every purchase.

I also decided to list the last piece I posted.

It's crazy to think that I've been making art and attempting to sell it for that long. I didn't start drawing until my sophmore year of college, when over winter break I bought a sketch pad and decided to make it my project to learn. When I came back to school I would sit in the library for hours with architectural and design magazines and old master artist books, drawing away in one of the corrals. I took two art classes that summer and then drawing III my junior year, and then studied art a bit in Spain, still addicted to drawing. Most of my work then was either of people or architecture. It's funny how now I've transitioned into maps, something that fascinated me and held my attention for hours as a kid. Until college, I never called myself an artist or thought I could be. Now I don't know what else I would do with my spare time.

Our community by the sea

2009-12-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

I'm a bit proud of this piece...it's on super long amazing watercolor paper that I found in town. It's been fun experimenting with this new size. The colors are so bright and lovely, and houses are always something that pops up in my art.

It's rainy here, it was supposed to be snow but it's been unseasonably warm this month so far...I miss snow!
I've been working on gifts and knitting and drawing, and staying relaxed.

This morning's work: owl maps [in progress]

2009-11-23T07:39:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about what I like : houses, owls, birds, plants, herbs, trees, and bringing them into my maps. This morning I focused on owls, surrounding them with bright swirls of color. Later on today I will add in contour lines and such, perhaps some stiching.

New piece, new show!

2009-11-23T03:50:00.001-08:00

This is a new piece up on etsy that you should go check out. It's inspired by maps used and created by explorers, and the idea of traveling and exploring for spices. Now we just go to the baking isle of our grocery store. Inserted into the vellum that's sewn up on one of the islands is licorice and tea flowers, imaginary artifacts of the location.

I also woke up to good news -- my map, "Travels of our Ancestors" got into Roots and Tendrils' 30/30/30 - 30 works by 30 artists under 30! Roots and Tendrils is in one of my favorite Maine places -- Belfast, right downtown. Check it out if you're up there in December!

Today's a day off for me. On Mondays I've been getting up at 6, researching galleries and calls for art and keeping up with blog posts and such, and then working on art from 7:00 onward, until about noon-ish. After that I'm going to seek out display options for the East End Community School craft fair on December 4th and 5th. It's a wonderful thing to know I have a whole day to dedicate to art every week.

We Belong in the Sea

2009-11-21T04:57:00.000-08:00

We Belong in the Sea is an original encaustic painting. This map features bright tropical islands surrounded in deep blue swirls of ocean.
This piece was created on a 5 by 7 inch wooden panel with convenient spots for hanging on the back. Signed and dated by the artist.
Encaustic has been a fun medium for me to experiment with. I use it to recycle old maps that I've made and make them into a new piece. The wax is fun to work with, especially mixing colors with the heat gun! I also like to use encaustic when I feel stuck drawing a map, just as an artistic exercise to clear my mind. After I finish my fun encaustic piece, I usually feel focused enough to begin working on drawing a new map with watercolors and inks.

I just listed this map in my shop, here.

We were flying overhead

2009-11-18T03:26:00.000-08:00

This is part of my new series of maps on longer sheets of watercolor paper. This one is the smallest...still working on getting photographs of the larger ones! Thread and bright colors are a theme in all of them, and my larger ones have houses and birds and ships and such.

SEA Art Sale

2009-11-15T15:18:00.000-08:00

I'll be selling map prints, originals, cards, and tiny apothecary necklaces and tiny terrariums! Whoo!

2 more sneak peaks!

2009-11-15T04:05:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been working with 140lb watercolor paper that's about 18 inches long with 5 inches wide with lovely torn edges that I found at Artmart on Congress Street here in Portland. It's been different working with something that isn't square, as you probably have figured that I'm partial to. These scans aren't perfect either, because of the size of my scanner. When I feel finished with them I'll bring them to a big scanner to have them done properly. I think more sewing and contour lines are in order.

finished piece and part of a work in progress.

2009-11-11T14:07:00.000-08:00

The first piece is a smaller map with vellum, thread, hibiscus leaf, watercolor, and ink. You can find it here

The second piece is larger in length, so it won't fit into my scanner! And my digital camera is in need of batteries. So, a sneak peak. It's watercolor and ink covered in a layer of encaustic wax.

Submitting and Focusing

2009-11-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

I've been making submitting to galleries and calls for art my goal this week. I've submitted to one gallery in New Hampshire, a call for art in Belfast, ME, and am dropping off work in Damriscotta (while checking out the new Co-op market location!) tomorrow. I'm also planning on selling my little terrariums and terrarium necklaces (soon to be unveiled at my other shop) to a little garden design and gallery shop in South Portland, Souzou. I used to make it a point to submit to shows at least once a month when I lived in RI, but I've fallen out of the habit the past 3 years that I've lived in Maine.

I'm also planning on buying probably too much art supplies today. Wood panels for encaustic pieces and new Indian Rag Watercolor paper to gear up for the SEA Holiday Sale at the East End Community School on December 4th and 5th.

Hopefully I'll have some new things for you all to look at soon.

Additional Shop!

2009-11-01T17:50:00.000-08:00

My husband and I decided to open a shop called Tiny Apothecary. We will sell things from the earth, such as terrariums, and energy necklaces filled with stones or herbs with certain healing properties.
Check it out!

2009-09-03T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's encaustic -- boogie woogie woogie

2009-08-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

Whoo!

2009-08-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

A few good things:

Ferdinand on Congress Street in Portland, Maine will be selling my cards! This makes me so excited since I love to browse around that store. It's a place that makes me happy and feel creative.

I am one of 100 artists to be in Picnic Portland on Saturday September 12th. Hopefully it doens't rain, because I don't have a tent.

A bit old news, but still cool, is that you can find my necklaces at Material Objects in Portland, Maine, which is where I buy most of my clothes.

I actually have this weekend off, which is amazing. I'm sort of glad that it's raining. I'm going to meditate, do yoga, and draw draw draw. I have a project due for a company for a series of compass roses. It's a bit more technical drawing than I'm used to, but I'll be excited to integrate compasses in my artwork again, since now I can make them more perfectly. Andrew has the weekend off too, so we can get some wedding planning done. We still haven't sent out all our invitations! Eek!

I live with the trees

2009-08-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

Birtch, particularly.

5.5 by 8.5 inch original collage, incorportating thread and wishes of having trees rooted in my house.

New Original

2009-08-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

new finished piece! I really enjoy the colors and details in this one. It makes me imagine city streets, blocks of galleries and coffee shops, a bright and cheerful place to spend time.

2009-08-08T18:50:00.001-07:00

Some new things

2009-07-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

1. New show on First Friday in Portland Maine with Caitlin O'Niel at the Hill Top Coffee Shop on Congress Street (next to Rosemont Bakery)

2. I'm now offering custom made necklaces at my shop!

3. I added cards for lovebirds

New product!

2009-07-29T15:58:00.001-07:00

Hi friends,
Check it out! I'm making cards featuring prints of my artwork! Now you can send your imaginary travels to others!

2009-07-26T11:56:00.001-07:00

finished!

Works in Progress

2009-07-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today I picked up a check from Material Objects in Portland (an amazing clothing shop -- all second hand stuff!) today for selling some necklaces! It made me happy to know that I might see someone with a map necklace on. It's such a good feeling to know someone's enjoying what I've created.

Also I got together prints for my greeting cards! Tomorrow I shall glue them on and list them on etsy. I'm pretty excited for this, too -- the idea that someone gets something out of my maps and wants to send them to someone else. It's like twice the benefit.

I guess that's something that's really important to me -- for people to enjoy my art and feel something familiar and beautiful when they look at it. I also love the process of creating, the colors, the meditation of it all. But giving it is also really wonderful too.

I had some time to make some beginnings. I'm going through a little house drawing phase right now. The idea and concept of home has always been really interesting to me. Here's a bit of what I did:

Where have I been?

2009-07-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

See at my shop!

Hi friends,
Good question! Since I last wrote, my homeschool teaching job ended for the summer and I got an AMAZING and rewarding job at a holistic preschool where we do yoga, meditate (yes 5 year olds!), go on nature walks, make art, read stories, and use our imaginations. It's such a lovely place to spend my time. But, in addition to that, I've been working at the coffee shop, which equals working 15 hour days sometimes with very few days off which equals no art being made. Well, I have been doing some things, but just not as much. I miss the days when I could make art every day, even when I was working five days a week. I've tried to quit the coffee shop (which, unfortunately, would mean the end of my health insurance) but my manager doesn't want me to, since I told her I'd stay through September (I didn't expect to get this new job). But oh well. Time will be opening up soon, and I"ll get to make more art, and feel a lot happier and a lot more myself.

On First Friday this August in Portland, Maine, I'm having a show at the Hill Top Coffee Shop with one of my best friends (and bridesmaids!) Caitlin O'Niel. Her work is full of imagination and life. It should be a fun time, if you're around that area.

City Clusters

2009-04-07T15:08:00.000-07:00

City Clusters was made with mixing soap and paint in a small container, using a straw, and blowing paint bubbles, making prints of them against this small canvas. I then traced around the bubbles, forming city blocks with ink and thread.
It feels SO NICE to create after lots of other sorts of work!
xo
Lauren

Look at What I've Been Working on!

2009-03-27T16:36:00.001-07:00

Necklaces!!!! Get yours at my Etsy Shop

Island of Hibernia/Ireland

2009-03-17T05:57:00.001-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day! This postcard is of Hibernia.
Hibernia is an island not far from England knows as Ireland in the common tongue. It is inspired by a map drawn by Queen Elizabeth's minister Lord Burghley. According to Wikipedia, the name Hibernia was likely influenced by the unrelated Latin word hibernus meaning "wintry."

On an original postcard created on watercolor paper with Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel chalk, Drawing ink, and india ink.

Engagement photos!

2009-03-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

If you're in New England, check out Audrey Hotchkiss for your photography needs! She did such an amazing job, everything came out exactly how we wished!

(mostly) finished custom pieces

2009-03-02T08:51:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
Another day of snow in Maine means another snow day for me from teaching! I do miss playing in the snow with my students, but got to take a walk and do some yoga this morning, and now I'm on to make some more art. The pieces above are from the custom order I am doing for Chantola, a very brave world traveler. It depicts her journey around the Pacific, starting from Australia. We decided that we liked the rough look that happened when I painted on quality drawing paper, so decided to work with them to create a finished product. We're going to mount them on watercolor paper,a nd then she'll hang them in her boat! How cool is that? My art will travel around the world too!

Searching City Blocks

2009-02-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

hurrah! First new listings since early this month:
here and
here

I sort of didn't know what to say...any suggestions for the description? What do you want to know?

Trades, anyone?

2009-02-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

In these economic times, I think trading / bartering is awesome. I love art and jewlery and such, and so am inviting trade requests, if anyone wishes to trade, I'd love to send you a print.

Cheers!

New Stuff, and my messy studio desk!

2009-02-21T17:10:00.000-08:00

New Finished Piece:

Work in Progress:

Where I work

New Stuff

2009-02-19T08:26:00.000-08:00

Materials: Tea, india ink markers
City/Cell-ish pieces, larger and such.

Sneak Peaks at Beginnings

2009-02-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

A wee glimpse at some larger pieces I've been working on, using primarily tea, with visions of city scapes in my head...

beautiful and haunting videos

2009-02-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

What Else Is There
and Human

Last Few days...

2009-02-09T15:08:00.001-08:00

Of my anatomy sale at My shop...plus, check out my heart map series for great originals for Valentine's Day.

xoxo,
Lauren

"Some place you've never been" at BLUE on Congress Street!

2009-02-03T10:13:00.001-08:00

Check out my new show, "Places you've never been" at BLUE on Congress Street in Portland, Maine! It will be a part of the First Friday Art Walk, and will be up all month!

New Custom Project!

2009-02-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

This week I am working on a custom piece for an adventurous sailing couple, who are leaving Queensland, Australia, heading to Papua New Guinnea, Micronesia, Japan, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, Queen Charlotte Islands, and Vancouver Islands! Whew! I am working on a few ACEOs charting their journey, since the space for hanging art in a ship is small. The above are my sketches, minus compasses and an image of their ship and such.

Also, my piece, "Unreachable Blue," which is the image in my previous post, was chosen to be in the Whitney Art Works Gallery as a part of their Portland Paper Project! Hopefully they add the link to my work soon!

I'm also working on a wee project for Andrew -- February 7th is our one year anniversary! He's keeping me in suspense about taking me to a location that day. I don't think I'll be able to figure it out before we go!

from east to west: bicoastal verse - winter

2009-01-28T10:35:00.001-08:00

An aweosme literary and art compilation, from east to west has featured a lot of my maps in their winter issue, which focuses on travel. You can see my work starting on page 25!

Refreshing Weekend, busy week ahead

2009-01-27T11:20:00.001-08:00

I created these two pieces while at my fiance and my friend's mom's camp in Wayne, Maine...it was such a lovely time. We stayed there Thursday night until Sunday morning, and it was just what I needed to get away from the stress of health issues and lack of finances. Being immersed in nature and surrounded by friends and my dear Andrew -- what more could I ask for? There is a lake there, which was frozen over and covered with snow. We took some night and day walks over that, and I felt completely at awe of the world, the season, and my surroundings. Andrew and I even saw a meteorite fly across the constellation Orion! We played games, read, and I got some nice artwork in.

I feel like the heart a day challenge lead me to where I felt I needed to go with my art, but didn't know how to get there. I feel like it was the familiarity of the heart as a subject that led me to it. I love the simple city scene, it's almost molecular/cellular. I used to draw almost strictly biological art, so I feel like it's a nice conglomeration of my map and science works.

Today I just took down my show at Artist and Craftsman in Portland, (Maine), and am gearing up for my February show at BLUE, a wonderful bar on Congress Street in Portland. I was approached to be in a solo show at the gallery in Village Books in Washington, Maine, and was featured in The Maproom, a wonderful weblog about maps that I subscribe to. What a wonderful surprise!

I started a second job today at a coffee shop, which is good in some ways, since I have a lot of bills to pay off, but I'm going to miss my free time and being able to see Andrew more often. But, it should be fun. Everyone I worked with was cool, so it will be nice to meet new people.

City surrounds

2009-01-20T06:45:00.000-08:00

Third in the series, perhaps my favorite so far...it's a bit different, closer to what I was going for. See it in my shop here

Today's a great day! I found out that Jamie Ribisi featured me in her blog, I'm going on an interview, going to the co-op for some good food looking, and then looking at land! Hopefully more drawing afterwards.

And let's not forget --- OBAMA!

Heart Map #2 - "heart badge"

2009-01-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

Heart Badge is the second map in my heart map a day series...today was perfect for artwork, because we got at least 10 inches of snow here in Portland --not much to distract me! Andrew and I had fun adventures sledding, and decided to postpone looking at land further north until it was less dangerous for driving.

Heart Map Challenge! Day One

2009-01-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

So, if you've been reading my blog, you know that I've been in a bit of an art slump lately. I can do custom orders, but have not been satisfied with anything I make for myself, so I sort of stopped, but am not happy about it.
Thus,my fiance (appropriately!) challenged me to draw a heart map a day from January 17th (today!) until February 1st to get me out of a bit of an artist's block. This is the first piece from the series.

We've been thinking a lot about land and yurts and cob houses (oh my!). I have this dream of owning 80 or so acres of land, living on and with the land, having wonderous herbal and vegetable gardens, and having a space in my life that is meant for art. Also! I'd really like a seperate yurt to be a school house, where I could teach what I'm teaching now (art, environmental appreciation, culture, cooking) but have my own place for it for kids to come to me! If I were a kid, I'd totally sign up! Tomorrow we're heading to our favorite co-op in one of our favorite towns to scope out some land for sale in the area. ::sigh:: Hopefully grants will help our project to become a reality!

Sale in my Etsy Shop!

2009-01-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Sale! All heart and anatomy themed items in my shop are going to be buy one for a special price of $15 (instead of $18), get a mystery map print free! Just in time for Valentine's Day, and starting today and lasting until Valentine's Day!!

Also, today's the last day to vote for me at Paper n' stitch

15 more votes and I get money for art supplies! Which I need!

Love is in the Air

2009-01-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

Check out lovely Valentine's Day gifts in my blog post on the Etsy Maine Team Blog!

Trying it out

2009-01-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to do something new -- something not so mountainous with my maps, something more like where I live -- a city. I keep debating with myself how to go about it -- layers? wax? collage? In this attempt I have used my old technique for my base to my old maps, using watercolor and ink, and drawn the city right over it with india ink brush pens. I'd love anyone's opinion on improving it to make it look aesthetically interesting.

Cheating on Etsy?

2009-01-08T15:39:00.001-08:00

So, I just joined 1000 markets, an alternative place to sell my art besides etsy. I feel a bit bad doing this. Like I'm cheating on a partner, or something. I did it more for fun and more exposure. And I'm already a staff pick! (On the left, cartography of the imagination, the chick with the spoon[the picture was taken after Andrew proposed to me in Spain, and we got ice cream at a little shop]) It's all the same stuff, but 1000 markets seems smaller, more like the original etsy back a few years ago, when things were small and community centered. You can post little notes on people's pages, and the layout of the shops are really visually pleasing. You can even blog there! I do wish the forums were more active, and that you could save items in a favorite system.
Regardless, I'm slowly adding items -- check it out here: !!!!

Five things I love every day

2009-01-06T13:52:00.001-08:00

I've been tagged by my fellow paper n' stitch member gretchen to post five things that I love every day....
1.

My darling dear fiance

Yogi Ginger Tea with...

3.

Cinnamon!!! Which I love and put on everything!

4.

The city I in which I live

Art, drawing, and maps!

Now, I'm gong to tag five people:
Judy B, Jamie Ribisi, Jen, and Lynn!

Our featured Mainer for Monday is -- Dreabunny!

2009-01-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Pine Time Earrings

Morning Glory Wine Stopper

The Donna Necklace - Mint Chocolate

Check out her awesome shop!

1. When did you start beading? What drew you to this craft?

I started making beaded bobby pins when I was a kid; I must have been sick and my mom brought home a kit, and I was hooked! I went from there to making dream catchers and windchimes for friends as gifts...all seed beads and some art wire, I never really knew about how much more I could do! When my husband and I moved to Maine in 2007 I got a job at a local bead shop...a total eye-opener! I learned so many new techniques and discovered tons of new materials. Beading is now one of my favorite things to do, whether I'm at home watching TV or at a friend's house for a fun "craft night."

2. What do you do for inspiration?

I'm inspired by my materials, usually. I'll see a strand of gorgeous stones and design a bracelet around them; I'll find a treasure of a pendant and mix up colors and components until I have the perfect necklace. I also am inspired by the seasons and what I see outside my bead-room windows. There are currently black branches out there with a dusting of white snow and a bright blue sky beyond them...sure enough, I'm making several pairs of blue and silver earrings!
I also find inspiration from friends and family. Several items in my Etsy shop got their beginnings from my mother's simple elegance, my aunt's taste for glamour, my friend Sasha's passion for anything orange and bright or cousin Liz's love for girly pink and butterflies. I have fun thinking of someone and creating a piece that reminds me of them...when the item is sold, I ship it off to Jane Doe in Anytown, and know that they're getting a taste of my life.

3. What does your workspace look like?

My workspace is varied and mobile. I currently have a desk, a beading table, three tray tables, an end table, and a good amount of floorspace covered in beads and projects. I think it must drive my husband, Matt, crazy. The desk and beading table are in our office, and that's where all my beads should be. Matt put the table and desk together for me, but I always seem to migrate away, no matter how many times we clean up and bring everything back to the office. It's just too easy to pull out some beads and weave up a bracelet while watching Dancing With The Stars in the living room!

4. What piece are you most proud of? Why?

The Donna Necklaces are my favorite items in my shop. They're named after my mother and a necklace I made for her. My mom has a pretty classic sense of style with a funky twist. I made a four-way braid of glass and stone strands in shades of blue, green, and snowy white. It's my second-favorite piece. My absolute favorite is a necklace I made for myself out of a vintage brooch Matt bought me, which I turned into a pendant. I have a small collection of pieces such as this that are my own, and I'm going to be putting some into my Etsy shop soon. They're fun to make and have some history to them.

5. What etsy experience has taught you the most?

Joining the Etsy Maine Team! I've met some great people and have gotten wonderful tips, tricks, and advice from them. They're such a positive bunch! No matter what's going wrong, they are there to help; when things are going well they are there to congratulate! I considered joining some other teams, but I have so far stuck only to the Maine Team, and I am so glad I did!

6. What has been your most successful method of advertising?

I wish I knew! I always send business cards with any purchases made and I have given some out to family and friends as well to help spread the word about BunnyBeads. I'm sure that being active in the Etsy Community has helped as well, and I love to hit up the forums and chat rooms to make new Etsy friends and business connections.

7. Do you sell your work in local shops? Where?

I don't...yet. I would love to, though! It might be about time I got out there...

8. What do you love about being a crafter/artist in Maine?

I love that there are SEASONS here! I have lived in several different places thanks to Matt's job in the US Navy...but I am a New England girl forever and always and I love that when I make snowflake earrings for Christmas that I actually know what snow is. The same goes for Autumn's colorful foliage, which I will miss terribly next year when I am in Florida. With Spring coming, I'm looking forward to using color palettes in line with blooming flowers and the blues, greys, and greens of Maine's beaches. Maine is so full of inspiration, wonderful people, and wonderful places--what's not to love?

My January Show

2009-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Check out my show titled "Cartography of the Imagination" atArtist and Craftsman on Deering Avenue in Portland!

Studying Cities, Studying Streets

2009-01-01T13:05:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T18:57:00.000-08:00

In 2008 I met the love of my life and dreams and more. He's inspired me to be my most creative, inspired me to make art and cook creative meals and discover cities and towns and walk in the snow, and to leave a secure job for a more adventurous, fulfilling and peaceful teaching job.

I hope 2009 treats everyone nicely.

Andrew's Christmas Gift

2008-12-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

So I've been working on my fiance's Christmas present -- a map book of Spain and the cities we visited when we went on our trip earlier this fall. I'm planning on working more on city maps after the holidays. Granada is extra special to me because I studied abroad there four years ago and because that's where Andrew proposed to me!

I hope everyone has a merry holiday full of fun, food, family, and friends.

Cover image of Spain, in progress, as can be infered by the needle still attached to the thread!

Madrid

Granada

Cordoba

Barcelona

My first Monday Maine Artist!

2008-12-22T03:57:00.000-08:00

I've decided to feature a different Maine Artist every Monday! Our first artist is Casie, from LittlePutLand on Etsy. Here are some of her pieces and a bit about her:

Peace...a pendant in a little tin box

Washi Maple Leaf, a magnet set in gorgeous colors

Italian Print Slide Top Box Tins -- Set of Five Large Tins

I live on the West End of Portland, Maine! I work from home since I was laid off back in March from the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram after 10 years of employment. I was the market research manager there for the last several years as well as managing the graphic artists.

I got into the Scrabble tile business back in May/June because I was looking for something to fill my time and to be able to earn some money. At the time, Ryan of LittleputBooks decided to get out of the business and I bought her supplies as well as her wholesale business list. I have worked more diligently on the wholesale side of the business which is more consistent than on the Etsy side. On Etsy there is a TON of competition so I knew getting into this was only going to make sense if I was going to be able to grow the wholesale line.

I do have a second Etsy shop called Vintage Image Madness. This is my outlet for my vintage image passion - I have had my own site www.vintageimagemadness.com since September 2006 and opened the Etsy shop for my collage sheets in June 2007. I have thousands of individual images on my site and offer the collage sheets on Etsy. I look at Etsy as a small source of income and a great way to "advertise" my site. Many of my etsy customers visit the site and sign up for a monthly subscription to download an unlimited number of images. The images are in the public domain and my customers are free to use the images anyway they want to and resell the goods they make using them.

There aren't too many difficulties managing two Etsy shops - both offer vastly different products so it's easy to keep them separate in that respect. My only difficulty is finding the time to devote to both shops. One of the benefits I have found is that when shop is quiet, the other is busy so it keeps my busy and helps pay the bills!

I have not marketed my Scrabble tiles locally very much. I have done two local craft fairs this fall - one in Portland and one in Augusta. I did alright but I think the economy has really affected the number of shoppers at the craft fairs. I got a lot of positive feedback about my craft and that really made my day! The absolute best part of doing the craft fair was meeting Jamie and Joy Rabisi, the founders of the Etsy Maine Team! Joining this team was probably THE best thing I did getting my name "out there" locally. In addition to joining the team, I was able to work with Joy Rabisi who photographed all my products to relaunch my Etsy shop with much better images that reflect the state of Maine and my style. I was happy to say that my sales in the first week of updating all the images matched the number of sales I had since I opened the shop months earlier. :-) While this was not an online promotion per se, it was the most successful thing I did with the shop that showed a siginificant increase in sales.

I would love for my shops to increase business to the point where I could continue to work from home, pay all the bills and spend more time with my husband and 3 year old son.

Caitlin's Finished Tattoo Design

2008-12-21T06:07:00.000-08:00

Here's what I ended up with for Caitlin's half sleeve. As I said in my previous post, the apple is already tattooed on her, right below the crook of her elbow (I love that it's called a crook). This half sleeve will extend to her wrist, where the flowers will wrap around like a bracelet.

I really enjoy the concept of integrating a floral design such as this into my maps...do you think it works aesthetically? Input would be appreciated...this could be a cool new direction for my art!

I am interested in tattoo design, if anyone would like something drawn up for them!

Happy Winter Solstice!

Featured Artist

2008-12-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

Today I'm the featured artist at Papernstitch!
Hurrah!

Today I'm going to finish up Cait's tattoo sleeve and hopefully Andrew's Christmas present...I'll post updates if I'm successful.

Creative Cartographies

2008-12-20T02:46:00.001-08:00

Some of these Creative Cartographies on display at the Brooklyn Arts Council are extraordinarily beautiful. Check out the ones on the third page, especially.

Cait's sleeve...in progress

2008-12-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

Caitlin Hartman O'Neil is rad. She's got tattoos already of things like dinosaurs and dancing lovers and an anchor. Caitlin paints a ton, wears shoes with thick soles, and once had a shaved head. Then she had a checkerboard pattern. Caitlin rocks my socks. We were roommates here in Portland for a couple of years, and it was super fun times all around.

This is a sleeve for her. It's going around a tattoo she already has of an apple, thus the apple branches. I'm going to add latitude and longitude lines, some monsters creeping about the apple blossoms, and land land land.

The coast is inspired from a bit of the coast of Maine.

Awesome literary compilation

2008-12-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

east/west: bicoastal verse is going to be featuring my art in their winter issue! Keep your eyes out/I'll keep you posted about when it's released!

It's cool to be included in a literary magazine as an artist...I used to write poetry and run the literary magazine at my school...it's cool that I can still be in that field, just with the sort of artistic medium I'm working with now.

Off to work on Caitlin's half sleeve tattoo!!!!

Fun Garland Video

2008-12-16T16:24:00.001-08:00

I'm totally going to make this with the homeschooling kids to celebrate winter solstice on Thursday!

p.s. it's also my half birthday! hurrah! I am working on a half sleeve tattoo for my buddy caitlin involving my map and the blossoms of an apple tree, and we hung out and got coffee and took a walk in celebration! Tonight I'm making delicata squash and fennel for a good dinner. I also treated myself to some stones for creativity and stomach problems. Hurrah!

vote for me por favor!

2008-12-15T15:15:00.001-08:00

So, I scored a spot in Paper n' stitch's new exhibition...they're having a contest for who ever gets the most hearts...please heart me! I'd give you a million karma hugs if you do.

I hope everyone's electricity is back...the school I work at just got ours today...we use a woood stove, so it was warm enough, and gas stove, so we could make our lunch...but it was quite exciting to see the lights go on!

This video is rad

2008-12-12T08:52:00.001-08:00

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Hurrah!

2008-12-12T06:15:00.000-08:00

So, a lot of good stuff has been going on.

I decided I just need to do it, to create, regardless of how it comes out. Making a little something for Andrew sort of helped me, too. It gave me an idea, which sprung off of the piece in my last post, and I made 2 finished pieces in one day! It felt so great, just to do something that feels like myself again. The maps aren't as pretty as I had been making them, aren't as stream of consciousness, but their very meditative and make me feel focused. I think I'm going to finish the other two tonight, and maybe take that same concept to be used for other things. I can't be more specific, in case he reads this!

Other good art stuff has been happening, too. I was in a show in Kennebunk for their Holiday Prelude. I got an email a few days ago from a image selling company called imagezoo who wants me to sell my art through them for companies. While I don't think I'm going to do it, it's an honor nonetheless. Also, I was accepted to Papernstitch's Gallery!. They're a cool site with a collection of Etsy artists...it will help get my name and art there a bit. I'll be in their next online exhibition, starting December 15th.

Also, if you're around Portland Maine tomorrow, I'm going to be selling in my very first craft fair! It'll be at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, on Congress Street this Saturday. Whoohoo!

I ironically feel lost with the making of maps!

2008-12-09T16:49:00.000-08:00

I've been a bit blocked lately: a lot of exciting things are happening, with work, being back from Spain, and fun times with friends and my dear fiance. But for some reason, despite all this positive energy, I've felt stuck with the maps. I felt like I was just going in the same direction, instead of spiraling toward expanding my ideas. I am working on this map, my first in a month or so. Hopefully more play, art time, and my craft fair this Saturday at St. Lawrence Arts Center on 76 Congress Street (hint hint!) will continue to inspire me to keep going, even if it's not in the right direction...hopefully the maps will show me how to navigate my art mind successfully.

I'm back!

2008-11-15T14:10:00.001-08:00

After a couple of weeks in Spain, I have returned -- with good news! Andrew proposed to me at the Alhambra in Granada, which is where I did my study abroad program four years ago. We're both so happy for our wedding next autumn!

I've been sort of dry on art, but I've been writing a lot about it...I want to continue with the maps, but go a bit deeper, take it to the next level. I think I need to do a lot of sketching and thinking before I make another batch of finished pieces.

Free Mystery Map Print!

2008-10-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hi all: For a fun and mysterious promotion, if you purchase something from my store by midnight tonight, Friday October 24th, and I'll include a free mystery map print!

After that, my store will be on haitus until Monday November 10th. It's spooky and fun, in time for Halloween!

Art =Fun

2008-10-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

Last night Andrew and I went to see the fabulous and inspiring Amy Cutler at Bowdoin College. I've been really into her art work for a few years, and couldn't believe it when I saw in the paper that she not only had a solo show at Bowdoin, but was going to speak. It was really cool to hear another other artist speaking about their work. She had a lot of personal connections to the pieces. I usually have a really hard time talking about my work, especially my older pieces. It makes me wonder -- how do you start talking about your work that makes you get recognized and appreciated by the public? What do you have to do to your work to make it so that you can support yourself from your work? I don't want to change where I'm going with the maps, but I want a more positive response, more excitement.

Also, check out my interview on Satin Doll Cafe -- I'm also doing a give away of a print!