AAAAND Here's the donation for the 2013 NEMAA Silent Auction

This piece is going into the 2013 NEMAA Art-A-Whirl Silent Auction

which takes place in the Northrup King Building Third Floor Art Gallery, #332

1500 Jackson St. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413

24x36 inches

acrylic on canvas

retail price $250

Silent Auction Hours:

Friday, May 17: 5:00 - 10:00 PMSaturday, May 18: Noon - 8:00 PMSunday, May 19: Noon - 3:00 PM (auction closes at 3:00 PM)
Buyers will be contacted, and may pick up items in the same location at the Northrup King Building:Sunday, May 19, 3:30 - 7:00 PMMonday, May 20, 3:00 - 7:00 PM

stuffed happy guys become sculputre

These are the start of a new adventure.  I've been making stuffed guys for a few years now and until recently I displayed them in baskets.  Those who noticed them tended to coo about their cuteness and most people didn't notice them at all.  Well, this month I had the good fortune to meet a couple of lovely ladies who excitedly suggested (strongly suggested) that I find a way to hang them on the wall.  And so here I go.  Here they go on to a double life as cuddly buddies and soft sewn sculpture.

I'm very, very excited.

And I can't WAIT to show you pictures.

They will be available to view in person at this year's 

Art-A-Whirl

May 17-19.

Mark your calendars and come visit!

There's SERIOUSLY going to be SO many new, cool things in my studio.

OH BOY.

art-a-whirl on the brain

Like my new motto?  Lauren Strom art to make you happy.  

That's all I want to do; make art that makes you happy!

Art-A-Whirl preparations have started up.  I placed 10 orders last week for art supplies, picture frames, hardware, packaging materials, office supplies, postcards and so on.  When you buy art from an artist you aren't just paying for the time and materials it took to create it.  You pay for the planning, the painting, the frame, the wire, the labels, the paper to wrap it up in, and the studio in which it was created.  Thank you to everyone who will pay for all my orders with the art they buy at Art-A-Whirl.

Speaking of AAW prepare to be blown away this spring.  I've done a boat load of new styles of art about which I am incredibly proud.  I have a new series of framed fat birds based on children's book authors.  I created another new series of uplifting graphic prints, hand-drawn and printed in my studio. 

For those who haven't yet experienced Art-A-Whirl/don't know what I'm talking about let me walk you through it.  Art-A-Whirl is the largest open studio event in Minnesota... possible second or third largest in the country.  This year May 17-19 all the studios across northeast minneapolis will open their doors to the public to come in, explore, buy and most importantly build lasting relationships.  I hope to make some friends.