March Art is Happening!

Happy March…Spring is almost here….can you feel it?  Getting the ol’ energy back so I’m very excited to announce the following exhibits that my work has been selected for and I’d like to invite you to join me at the opening receptions (or please stop by when you can to view the work)…

SMALL WORKS, 3 Artist Show, McCall Gallery, Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie, Trenton, NJ, located in Cadwalader Park in a gorgeous, historic mansion.
March 1-June 30, 2013. Opening Reception, Sat., March 9, 6-9pm. I have 10 NJ photos in this exhibit.

BrainFlower (c)Lauren Curtis Sept.2012
Digital Photo Collage

RITES OF SPRING, Juried Show,  Gallery @ 14 Maple, Morris Arts Council,  14 Maple Ave., Suite 301, Morristown, NJ, 973-285-5115.
March 27- Sept.4, 2013. Opening Reception, Wed., March 27, 6-8pm. The digital photo collage above will be in this exhibit.

FANTASTIC TALES, So. Brunswick (NJ) Municipal Gallery, 540 Rt. 522/Ridge Rd., Monmouth Jct., NJ.  I have 2 oil paintings in this show, open during business hours, Mon. – Fri. Show runs thru 4/2/13.

FEATURED ARTIST INTERVIEW on MANUFACTURED DISSENT’s site: http://mandismag.wordpress.com/2013/02/28/featured-artist-lauren-curtis/

UPCOMING NEWS: Here’s what I have in the works…Art blog & website features, radio interview & POSSIBLE TV show appearance!!  Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading & hope to see you at an event,

~Lauren

Shameless art plug

Happy March, everyone…Spring is almost here and people will be coming out of hibernation so I thought it was time for a little shameless self-promo! I’m a full-time freelance artist who creates unique logos, promo/marketing material designs, book & CD covers, illustrations for publications (including children’s books) & more! So if you need to hire an artist for these services, I have reasonable rates, keep in regular communication w/ clients & always meet deadlines! You can see work samples here:
http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com/ (commercial & fine art)
http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com/ (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)

That’s all for now but I’ll be posting a BIG art announcement next week!

Have a fun weekend.

A few design samples:

Design & Art Samples (c)Lauren Curtis

Getting UN-Stuck!

WOW!  The response to my post a few weeks ago about “being stuck” (artistically and otherwise, depending on your situation) got such an amazing response with a ton of varied yet great replies!  It’s good to know we’re not alone when we feel stuck…and for many artists that often work solitary,  this means a lot!  The comments ranged from doing nothing and just relaxing and reflecting, to letting go and having fun to trying new things/ new art forms that are out of our comfort zone.  To read all the helpful comments just refer back to the “Are you stuck” post here from early Feb.

So, since this topic resonates with so many people, I welcome more ideas from others on how you deal with feeling stuck, in a rut, dissatisfied, etc.  I do know that since writing that last post some amazing opportunities have surfaced for me….don’t want to say too much yet as I want to see where they’ll lead but they include new art exhibits, some art sales and a POSSIBLE  TV appearance!!!  More info soon…don’t want to jinx it!     But for me, forcing myself to continue on with my career, searching for new venues and art experiences, leads to more motivation.

Sandy Hook Clouds Photo (c)Sept2012 Lauren Curtis

Now don’t get me wrong…it takes a while to get your creative mojo back and I’m still a bit stuck as to some fine art pieces I’m working on…my brain seems to go faster than I can,  so it speeds ahead while I’m trying to catch up and process the information along with all the other stuff going on in my life…but I’m hopeful that with the positive events coming up, and with persistence, I’ll eventually be fully back in the swing.  So, in the meantime,  I hope your projects are moving ahead and you’re figuring out ways to “de-stick” yourself…and please feel free to post your comments and insights about that here!   And you don’t have to be a visual artist to share…musicians, writers, poets, chefs, film makers, actors, marketers and promoters…so many forms of creativity out there…how do you deal with blocks and brain barriers?  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Sandy Hook, NJ Sea-Sunset photo (c)Sept2012 Lauren Curtis

Discover NJ Arts Artist of the Month

BBBBRRRRR, it’s been cold out there but the art world is giving warm support to local artists!  Discover Jersey Arts, in conjunction with ArtPride NJ, has featured me on their VIRTUAL GALLERY as February’s ARTIST OF THE MONTH!!  Please check out some of my newer work and info on their website:   http://jerseyarts.com/ArtistGallery.aspx

Mothers Lament (c)Lauren Curtis
Watercolor and collage

I’m proud to have artwork in the following exhibits this month:ONE NIGHT SHOW at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ, 2/16/13, 8pm-2am, 4 local artists and 5 live bands!!

BIANCO, a group exhibit featuring artwork based on the color white, Gallery U, Red Bank, NJ

FANTASTIC TALES, group show of NJ artists at the South Brunswick, NJ Municipal Gallery

WINTER SHOW, group show of NJ artists at Fiddlehead’s Restaurant, Jamesburg, NJ

Morgana’s Murder, oils (c)Lauren Curtis

Thanks for reading & stay warm,

~Lauren

http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com(fine art website)
http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com(commercial & fine art)
http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com(cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)
http://laurencurtis.wordpress.com  (my Blog!)
http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt(Facebook Fan Page)

Are You Stuck?

So far, all of my blogs have been about what I’m doing art-wise, exhibit info., creative guest bloggers and the like, but today I’m doing something different.  How many of you, artist or otherwise, feel an intense need for changes in your life but you feel stuck?  Well, that’s me!  I’m in my 40′s and don’t feel like I’m close to where I’d hoped to be by now.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to be doing art full time and am very grateful for the successes I have had…and I know that times are especially rough for artists to make full-time living earnings…but yet there’s still something gnawing at my gut that things aren’t where they should be in many ways.

Behind Every Fear There’s A Wish
Digital photo collage (c)Lauren Curtis

So, I’M STUCK!  And it’s not for a lack of taking action…I’ve been told by many people that I’m one of the hardest working artists they know and I’m always looking for new opportunities, networking with and supporting other creatives, exhibiting my work, promoting it, working on new things…but it’s like trying to focus on one star in a sky of many…when you try and look directly at it,  it seems to become fuzzy and disappear.  When you avert your gaze it’s,  back again.  The “big ideas” are right there…you can almost taste them…but when you try to pin them down they fade, become hard to materialize.   Has this happened to any of you?  If so, I’d love for you to post comments and share your experiences…that’s part of what blogging is about, after all…to connect & share.  

All I know is there needs to be some major changes in my life to get “UN-STUCK”…and then maybe some of the creativity that’s lurking like a fuzzy star in my brain will shine brightly!

“Enlightenment” 35mm, digitally enhanced photo

Renee Phillips & the Healing Power of Art

Hello Creatives!

Have I got a treat for you today!  My guest blogger is “artrepreneur” & founder/director of Manhattan Arts International at http://www.ManhattanArts.com,  Renee Phillips!

Now here’s a woman who is pro-active in her own career as well as tremendously helping others with their career goals.   A big focus for Renee is the healing power of art, which I think we can all take inspiration from, so I’ve asked her to describe her project in her own words…

Professionally, I’ve been devoted to the subject of Art and Healing, and Positive Change through Art, for at least 14 years. In my book Success NOW! For Artists, A Motivational Guide for The Artrepreneur, published in 1999, I have a section devoted to the Healing Power of Art.

 

All my life I have been a reader of Emerson, Thoreau, Jung, Peale, and others, and a strong believer in the power of positive thinking and the correlation between our thoughts and our reality.

 

As an artist, writer, and a career coach, I have always created from a place of pure love and joy.

Perhaps what triggered the original Celebrate The Healing Power of ART exhibitions was my desire to counterbalance a lot of the negative, angst-ridden art that I noticed was dominating the NYC art scene at the time. I felt a strong need to promote artists whose work emanated positive energy.

I believe in the “law of attraction” and as a career coach most of my clients have shared the same philosophy. I have become more focused on helping artists who have something positive to bring to the world. I have many written articles about artists who survived illness, grief, loss through their art and are helping others through the power of artistic self-expression.

 

When my mother was struggling with Alzheimer’s disease I saw firsthand how art helped her cope. She was unable to communicate verbally so we “spoke” through drawing and coloring together.

The Celebrate The Healing Power of ART exhibitions serve as a platform to bring our strong beliefs and truths about the power of art to heal, not only the creator of the art but viewers as well. And, the wondrous magic of it all is every artist has a unique way of expressing the message in many different styles and mediums.

 

And, that’s why I feel very strongly about bringing positive healing art to a global audience through Celebrate The Healing Power of ART exhibitions. In recent years I added the word “Celebrate” because the word injects bliss and hope.

 

One of my greatest pleasures is being on the jurying panel and viewing the art submissions! I feel that I connect to the artist and their heart and soul through the work they create.

 

All the best,

Renee

Here’s some samples of winning artwork from Renee’s Healing Power of Art contests:

Orion (Meaningful Life)

Benny H.V. Andersson (Bridge over Infinity)

Carolyn Abrams (Contemplating)

Winning Healing Art

Here’s where you can see what Renee’s up to:

The Healing Power of ART page:

http://www.manhattanarts.com/Gallery/Healing-Power-of-ART/index.htm

Visit Renee’s Artrepreneur Coach blog

Visit Renee’s Healing Power of Art blog

Manhattan Arts International
www.ManhattanArts.com
212.472.1660

Join Renee
Twitter reneephillipsny
Facebook ReneePhillipsArtCoach
linkedin.com/in/reneephillipsartcoach

“X-RAYted” art book is out!

WAIT!  Before you jump to any conclusions about the contents of this book (although if you’ve been reading my blog &/or facebook posts you already know what this book is about), it’s not “x-rayted” in the way you might think…this MAY disappoint some of you but I promise that this book is a unique collection of my recent artwork that’s sure to please!

This 20 full color, glossy paged book, with black cloth hard-cover, shows examples of many of my digital photo collage series, X-RAYted.  I actually photograph human x-rays and digitally collage them with other original photos, Victorian woodcut images and sometimes text to create interesting, anatomical art.  Many of these pieces have been exhibited throughout NJ, in Detroit, and online, have been sold to collectors in 5 states and The Netherlands and were featured on my episode of the Science Channel’s TV show, ODDITIES!  Also, my piece Micro/Macrocosm Tree has won TWO awards including the Ray Bradbury 1st Place Art Award!

Digital photo collage using actual x-ray images.

So, you can see why I’m excited about this series and why I wanted to create an art book about it to share with you!  And now you can get your own signed copy of the book…and maybe even a framed print…here’s a sneak peek into the book & the info. to order yours today:

X-RAYted Art Book (c)2013 Lauren Curtis

$29 each, INCLUDES S/H in the US ($35 for international orders included s/h).  SIGNED copies!
Paypal orders to me at forestwalker333@hotmail.com

Send checks or $-orders to:

Lauren Curtis, P.O. Box 193, Franklin Park, NJ  08823

Cold hard cash gladly accepted!   Get X-RAYted Now!

My Facebook Feature

Hello again, Creatives!  I know it’s not “appropriate blogging” to have people go to a link away from your blog in the beginning of a post but this is an exception!  ARTPROMOTIVATE has featured my Facebook art fan page on their site this week so they deserve some hits,  plus I hope it encourages you to visit, share & LIKE my fan page!  It has a lot of my new artwork, t-shirt and greeting card designs,  one-of-a-kind jewelry and more!  I also post questions about people’s creative processes to encourage artistic conversation so join me there and join or start a conversation!

Here’s the link to my feature which will take you to my Facebook page (I’m the 2nd of 2 features on the page).  http://www.artpromotivate.com/2013/01/acebook-art-pages-cathy-mcclelland.html

See you on Facebook!

~Lauren

 

Art with soul; a call for artists & poets!

Art can bridge gaps, start discussion and have healing effects.  These are 
some of the main reasons i love being represented by Gallery U in Red Bank!
They strive to help others through creativity and here's just on example.  So
if you're an artist/poet and also a social worker, this one's for you!




CALL FOR ARTISTS AND POETS WHO ARE SOCIAL WORKERS
 
In celebration of Social Work Month 2013, Gallery U in Red Bank NJ
presents a month long celebration of social workers in New Jersey. A
number of events are scheduled for the month, including an exhibition
celebrating artwork by social workers and a special edition of POETRY
U focusing on poetry by New Jersey social workers.
We are currently looking for artwork by social workers (current,
retired and students) who are also artists. You can find submission
guidelines at https://www.facebook.com/groups/251637761584426/ in our
"file" section.
 
We are also looking for social workers who are poets to join this
special POETRY U event scheduled for Friday, March 22 from 7-9 PM. If
you would like to be considered for a featured reader spot at POETRY
U’s SWART event, please send three sample poems to
rlangdongalleryu@gmail.com. Submissions must be received by March 1,
2013.
Please pass this opportunity to anyone who may be interested.
 

New Year, New Art Shows & Book

I guess it’s still fine to say “happy new year” for the next couple of weeks, so, HAPPY NEW YEAR!  As a full time artist I can’t waste any time getting back to business so here’s what I have going on over the next month in the art world.  Feel free to contact me with any questions about the info posted here and I’ll be happy to give you the complete scoop!  Hope to see you at these events, or online!

FANTASTIC TALES

Join me & several local NJ artists at the opening reception for this juried art exhibit hosted by the South Brunswick Arts Commission.  FANTASTIC TALES features a wide variety of work depicting fantasies, dreams, imagined worlds and beyond!  Reception is TUESDAY, 1/15/13. 6:30pm-8pm, SO. BRUNSWICK MUNICIPAL GALLERY, 540 Rt. 522/Ridge Rd., Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852  732-329-4000 x7635    Exhibit runs through 4/3/13.

Omen (c)2011 Lauren Curtis, oil painting with decoupage

Coming soon; THE WHITE SHOW
Opening with a reception on 2/1/13, Friday evening, this exhibit at GALLERY U in RED BANK, NJ will feature artworks all in white!  Come see how artists interpret this theme of creating artwork using mainly this color (or non-color)!  I have a photo in this innovative show.  The gallery is located at 80 Broad St., Red Bank, NJ 07701  732-747-6696

*********************************************************************

Caged Nerves (c)Lauren Curtis

X-RAYted Art Book

Wait!  It’s not what you think…it’s an art book featuring my series of digital photo collages created from photographing actual human x-rays and combining them with other original, photographic images, Victorian woodcuts and often text.  I’ve been working on this series since 2010 and have exhibited them in several shows throughout NJ, in Detroit, Michigan, Waukegan, IL and online…some of these pieces won awards & were sold to collectors as far away (from NJ) as The Netherlands!  I Hope you’ll enjoy your signed copy of this unique book that I designed myself…makes a creative coffee table book or a fun gift for the art lovers in your life!

9″X11.5″, BLACK CLOTH HARD COVER
20 GLOSSY, FULL COLOR PAGES OF ORIGINAL ART
SIGNED COPIES ONLY $29 EACH, INCLUDES S/H IN THE US
($35 FOR INTERNATIONAL ORDERS INCLUDES S/H)

PLEASE SEND CHECKS OR MONEY ORDERS TO:
LAUREN CURTIS
P.O.BOX 193
FRANKLIN PARK, NJ  08823OR PAYPAL (PLEASE USE GIFT OPTION IF POSSIBLE) TO
FORESTWALKER333@HOTMAIL.COM
$29 US   $35  INT’L  (INCLUDES SHIPPING!)

ALSO AVAILABLE, MY NEW ORLEANS PHOTO BOOK
GLOSSY HARD COVER, GLOSSY FULL COLOR PAGES
SIGNED, SAME PRICE AS X-RAYTED BOOK

NOLA Cemetery Path (c)2010 Lauren Curtis

And, just in time for the book’s release, is my feature on… Artpromotivate!  This zine has featured my X-RAYted digital collage series on it’s website this month!  Check out my interview on this informative, motivational art site:  http://www.artpromotivate.com/2013/01/lauren-curtis-artist-gets-x-rayted.html

THANKS FOR READING!  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, PLEASE LIKE & SHARE IT!