laurawennstrom.com is now live!!!

Let's Read

Let's Read by yaelfran on etsy

 

 

The more you read,
the more you know.

The more you know,
the smarter you grow.

The smarter you grow,
the stronger your voice.

When speaking your mind
or making your choice.

(from a bookmark I have, author unknown)

Neuron Rebellion

Just stumbled upon a glorious website and fantastic project http://neuronrebellion.com

Chicago

I am back at school after a glorious 11 day spring break.  I flew out to Chicago, stayed with Kelly a few nights and went to Bethel with her.  On Friday Anders drove in, we ate at Tre Kronor with Aaron and then we went up to his parents house for a few days of relaxation.  Something about getting away from it all and having time to reflect is so refreshing.  It made me homesick to visit Chicago and drive down North Avenue and see all of my little (but growing taller all the time) friends.  I know I have a  home there, but I also have a home here.  It's hard to be in two places at once. 


I did some more printmaking work over break.  I entered this tree print into the spring CSA project, it would be my dream come true to be accepted.  I think trees are a beautiful metaphor for growth and life, they are especially awesome after they have some dings and scratches and twisty old bark.

beauty school

Today I visited the Minneapolis Aveda Institute because I am thinking a wee bit about getting my cosmetology license.  The school was very impressive and I am sure it's a top-notch program.  Only problem is that I don't have 20K sitting around to pay for it...  I started thinking about Jayber Crow (by Wendell Berry) and good old Jayber had some wisdom, hair will always grow and it will always need cutting.  Sounds like job insurance to me.  In some ways I feel as if I am betraying my undergrad degree by thinking about doing something else, all before my original loans have been payed off.  Who knows, I probably won't go to beauty school but at least I can make a more informed decision about it.

This economy is really frustrating and difficult to navigate.  It is hard to have faith that the Good Lord will take care of us... What does that look like?  Is it that the perfect job-posting will pop up on craigslist and they hire me, plus benefits?  Or is it living with my parents for another few months and driving an old car that can hopefully hang in there to 200,000 miles?  I guess life is just turning out differently than I imagined, and I thought I had pretty low expectations.  I guess being told you are special and gifted your whole life doesn't always equal any type of meaningful employment.

homes

some new collages, cutting up old art to make new art.

Printing Press

I received a super sweet Speedball mini printing press for Christmas and I have been busy trying it out. I have felt kind of confined to making editions, and perfect prints... so I have been playing. Instead I have been creating a series of 5x7" monoprints. Kind of fun.

Treasury Crazy!

I decided that I would make a treasury, just to try... and made it to the Front Page of Etsy. Then I made a 2nd, just to try agian, and it also made it to the FP! I feel an addiction coming on...

I've got a new favorite

Birds of North America Collage Audubon Painting TShirt by isotope

Organic accent pillow California by birdmafia

Book of Comics by Frantic Meerkat

Missing my Friends

this picture makes me homesick for my friends andre and jaleigh and a different kind of home.

North Park Triennial Alumni Exhibit

Image of my painting in the North Park Triennial Alumni Exhibit
photo credit: Steven Signa Avilez

Flickr Top 20

In effort to create a portfolio for my grad school apps, I am looking at my flickr stats. Not everything I post on flickr is portfolio worthy (some are quick sketches and old assignments). I have a pretty solid top 10, but the last 10 images can really go either way. I just have made so much work, editing is the most difficult part! Based on flickr stats (all time views, favorites, and overall interestingness) and some personal editing, this is the flickr top 20. I'm not satisfied at all with the results, but it is an interesting exercise nonetheless. My photography skills need some serious help! Basically anything that will be final portfolio material will be rephotographed. Please vote for your favorites.

Rain

I found some half finished paintings from a few years ago under my bed... I gave them some TLC and now I think they are more presentable. This one is called Rain, I'm excited about the layers that have literally happened over time, I love the texture that is happening as well.

I have officially started applying for grad school. Maybe I shouldn't be discussing it in case I don't get in, but its going to be quite the process... the portfolio and artist statement part particularly.

It was wonderful to have a 4 day weekend due to MEA. I feel energized and ready to go back to work. Work would be great if I didn't have to work with people, but people are difficult (but they also make it fun). And honestly, without people I wouldn't have a job.

PotAYto, PotAHto

Here are some pictures from our garden over the summer after we dug the potatoes. We left before we could harvest everything, but they have been pulling in wheel-barrows full of tomatoes. We were able to enjoy some leeks, tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and squash this when Uncle Bud brought them up on his way to a Twins game. Yum!

new painting

16 x 20 inches on canvas, inspired by a children's book "The two ton canary"