Art by Lori Lejeune
Intuition + Art
I believe in following joy when creating art. When you find joy in creating and put your primary focus on doing work that feels meaningful to you, this is what carries you through the ups and downs of an art career. Also - when making decisions for the business and income side of art, I believe that you have to follow what feels right and joyful over what other people will tell you that you must do (such as be in this gallery, do this kind of art, get this particular grant, etc.)
It takes a lot of time and effort to listen to and develop one's own authentic style of work. So it's actually not simple advice and a lot of hard work to follow joy! But, I believe that when we do work that's authentic, the right people become drawn to us.
You can call it intuition or the power of the unconscious mind but sometimes the best work results from unintentional "accidents."
My Flight Series mixed media works are birds and other creatures with wings that overcome gravity through flight. Every bird starts with doodle. My doodles on the computer are very free so only a few of them come out looking as intended like proper birds. Some of my other winged creatures like my butterflies are more involved to create since there are more patterns of color.
The works that I decide to develop beyond this initial stage are combined with acrylic paint that is brushed onto the surface of paper or canvas to add texture and movement to the final piece.
I began creating the birds a few years ago when I was seeking a way to move beyond some personal difficulties. It's wonderful bonus for me that many people find the work to be uplifting. Although the birds and butterflies can be appreciated on their own without additional meaning, the series is about overcoming adversity.
In these times of racial and social justice struggles and COVID-19, the Flight Series has new relevance and offers a message of hope and inspiration to viewers.
— Lori Lejeune
to learn more about Lori’s practice, please visit her website.