My mother-in-law always says, "Lori will never be bored." This is not completely true, but since I decided to focus on my art 5 years ago, I have had very few boring days. My mind is always buzzing with projects and ideas, and it feels like there's just not enough time in the day to do them all. I try to keep myself focused on just two or three projects at a time, and when I am able to do that, it's a great feeling of accomplishment. 
Last year, I saw a project to completion in about two months. I was so proud of myself! It was a labor of love and now I have something to show for it.

The idea for this book came about during a conversation with one of my studio regulars. I was planning a trip to New York City to visit my dad, and I thought it might be fun to try and meditate in Times Square, the busiest place in the world! Then I thought, maybe I can get others to join me. My next thought was, why not write a book in preparation for this event, about how to meditating in busy places. The book idea was born. I became obsessed with completing the content, and then with figuring out how to self-publish. It was a lot of work, but a great learning experience, and one that I hope to repeat again this year with my second book, Meditate and Create. If you've ever thought about self-publishing a book, let me know! I'd be happy to offer suggestions. 

Anyone who knows me, knows I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan. Growing up in Freehold, NJ, it was difficult to avoid his presence. I got hooked when I was in high school, and became a life-long fan. Sometimes, Bruce inspires me to make art. Bruce put out his 18th album this month, and once again inspired me to make new artwork. I called it "High Hopes" to honor the album of the same name...Maybe I should have called it "Human Touch"…that might make more sense given the imagery. I've been really interested in making these "hands-on" pieces lately. They feel sensual, alive, and hopefully fun to look at. I have plans to make lots more..stay tuned!

"When one door closes, another one opens." I have shared this quote many times with friends who are going through transitions. Well, this week, it rang true for me. After working with a utility company as an instructional designer for 4 months, I was told they no longer needed me on the project. I felt bad about being rejected, but was relieved to have more time in my days to focus on my art. 
The next day, I received an email asking if I was available to write a monthly column for local magazine called My Out and About. I was thrilled! I could not  think of a better way to share my passion for the arts with my community. Since the focus of the magazine is all things local, I have the opportunity to showcase local artists, local galleries, and local arts events. I finished writing my first article today…hopefully, the editors will give a thumbs up and I can look forward to seeing my name in print next month!