Podcasts, Tattoos & Favorite Things

What do these 3 things have in common?  They are all new art exhibits and art interviews happening now…and I’m happy to be involved with all three of them!  Spring brings out the motivation & creativity in many of us so it’s a great time to create new work or get out & experience what’s going on in the art world.  Social media makes this easier than ever, especially with podcasts !  My friend at the XFactory hooked me up with the awesome guys at Know-Shit Podcasts to do an hour long interview about everything from what it’s like to be a full time artist, to the Gothic & Steampunk scenes, mythology, spirituality & more!   I hope you’ll take some time to check it out, & listen in on future podcasts as well, as they have many interesting guests.  Here’s the link to my interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjFT7TLpCF4&feature=share

As for Tattoos, they are an ancient art form that has gone thru many changes and stereotypes but is now more respected than ever as a true art form and is being honored in a new art exhibit at Atelier Rosal in Rahway, NJ!  Amazing works depicting tattooed people and art by artists who’s work has ended up on a walking canvas as well as images addressing this much maligned but now popular art form. Show runs thru June 7, 2018.  74 East Cherry St., Rahway, NJ.  
https://www.facebook.com/AtelierRosal/

Digital photo collage using actual x-ray images.

I’m happy to have 2 of my “X-RAYted” digital photo collages in this show and the exhibit will also coincide with a huge biker fest in town Sat. May 12.  Here’s the Facebook invite page for details:   https://www.facebook.com/events/1803649219938141/

This town wide, free event will be the perfect place to see tattoo art at it’s best, both in the gallery and on human canvases!

Finally we come to “a few of our Favorite Things”.  This is the latest theme for the new art exhibit at the South Brunswick Municipal Gallery, which opens Fri. May 18, 6:30pm-8pm. It’s a free event, with refreshments served, that features art from many local NJ artists focused on things we feel a connection to, that bring back memories and tell stories!  I’ll have the photo below, “NOLA VooDoo Window” in this exhibit.  Show runs thru Aug. 5, 2018.
540 Rt. 522/Ridge Rd., Monmouth Jct., NJ www.sbarts.org

So, there are many ways you can get involved with the arts this spring, whether it’s attending a gallery show, a biker tattoo outdoor fest or listening to a podcast from the comfort of home…or all three!  Either way, I hope you enjoy these free and creative events…& stay tuned for more to come this summer!

Mixed Media Frenzy

As an artist, I’ve always been somewhat of a creative schizophrenic…or maybe the proper term is artistic multi-personality??  Anyway, I work with a wide variety of media…started with pencil and charcoal drawings, moved to oils and acrylics, branched to photography and pen & ink with watercolors, finally digital art and collage…and now they’re all kind of merging together in a mixed media frenzy (like the tie in to the blog title??)

In this day and age of things going by so quickly & fads coming and going in seconds…and of me striving to earn a full time living as a freelance artist… I’ve found that having this wide selection of modes to work with can come in handy although I also admit that it can get a bit distracting.   So I have to find ways to achieve balance and focus.  Also, being diverse helps when earning income as I can translate my artwork to t-shirts, greeting cards, reproduction prints, jewelry, etc., which offers options for collectors and clients in a varied price range, making my art more accessible to more people!

My Business Postcard

Lately, my personal artwork has leaned much more to mixed media, especially combining collage, either digital or hand-cut, with photography or watercolors.  This allows me to use several of my preferred media all at once and create a new look while expressing my cohesive themes.  I really love utilizing (c)-free Victorian woodcut imagery, as I’ve always loved this era, and combining this element with my painting or photography work adds a vintage feel to modern pieces.  Here’s my latest creation, “Reminisce”.

Reminisce (c)2013, watercolor and collage  (repro. prints available)

And, while creating fine artwork to submit to exhibits and galleries, I also continue working on my commercial art;  in honor of my favorite up-coming holiday of Halloween, I’m having a pre-All Hallow’s T-shirt sale!  Anyone who orders TWO or MORE T-shirts will get 20% off!  Prices go from $20-$37 each, which includes s/h!  Shirts are 100% pre-shrunk cotton, come in white, gray or black, short or long sleeve, women’s cut in white, all sizes, including kids thru XXL!  Price depends on size, color & shirt type.  PAYPAL accepted to me at forestwalker333@hotmail.com  Here are a few samples…more can be seen on http://laurencurtis.imagekind.com

T-shirt Flyers; Lauren Curtis T’s

OK, promo portion of this blog is over…but it serves as an example of various ways to use your artwork to reach many types of people!

So, that’s just a small sampling of how I’ve incorporated my obsession with mixed media into my fine art and commercial work.  Feel free to post any questions about this post or comments about how you use mixed media in your creative endeavors.  Thanks for reading!!

“X-RAYted” Art Show, NJ Art Fests & Online Exhibits

Greetings!  Now that  it’s warming up out there it’s time to get out & about so I hope you’ll join me for these exciting art events I have coming up in May & June.  And, as an added incentive, they’re all FREE so bring friends & family…the more the merrier…

1. SAT. MAY 28,  X-RAYted Flesh & Bone 2 Artist Exhibit featuring my digital photo collage series, X-RAYTED, & the creator of the vampiric comic, In Flesh & Spirit, Baron Misuraca, featuring illustrations by Vampirella artist Alex Horley!!  Join us for a night of gothic art, music, free refreshments & give-a-ways!  It all happens 8pm-11:30pm at ARTISANAL TATTOO GALLERY, 26 Davenport St., Somerville, NJ  08876,  908-707-8000  See attached flier for more details & art teasers!  Show runs thru  June.

2. Metuchen JUNEBUG ART FEST every Friday night in June!  My friend Judy & I will be vending our artistic, original wares at this indoor/outdoor family event on Fri. June 17th from 6pm-9pm!!  The fest will take place throughout downtown Metuchen, NJ! 100+ visual & performing artists & musicians!!  http://www.junebugartfest.com has details.

3. East Brunswick Fine Arts Fest: Sat., June 11 (Sun. 6/12 rain date) 10am-4pm. I’ll be at this outdoor, free arts fest again this year with my artwork & original cards, shirts, etc.  Set in a beautiful pond-centered park; Municipal Pond, Ryders Lane, E. Brunswick, NJ.

4. I have new photos I shot in Barcelona in the current juried ONLINE Caladan Gallery exhibit called Traversing Dimension!  Since this is an ONLINE show, you ALL can check it out anytime, anywhere (from your computer, of course).  Just go to http://www.CaladanGallery.com & view the current show.

Looking forward to seeing you at these events &/or online!
Thanks for reading,
Lauren
www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (commercial & fine art)
www.laurencurtisart.mosaicglobe.com (fine art, photography, art updates)
www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)
www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt (Facebook Fan Page)