Sunday, February 4, 2024

My Upcoming Solo Show: Crazy Wonderful!

 


Hi friends!  Checking in with you from a very busy, very messy studio, as I prep for my upcoming solo show: Crazy Wonderful!  It will be in the upper room gallery of the GORGEOUS St. Paul's United Methodist Church here in Cedar Rapids. 

I'm having a ball!  This entire show will be works on paper, and there will be a surprise interactive element for visitors.  I hope you will mark your calendars for Sunday, March 3rd at 10:15am for the artist meet and greet.  I'll be handing out hugs, we'll chat, and there will be some sweet treats as well.  

Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Juggling Several Paintings in my Studio this Week

 

A recent page in the small square art journal. 

Good morning pals!  I'm writing to you from my studio on Tuesday morning.  Everything in town is delayed a couple of hours, due to slick, icy roads.  I'm looking out the window and now I see another layer of snow coming down.  Sigh. And so it goes.  I was supposed to get my hair cut this morning, but think I might end up rescheduling that.  There are certain things that can just wait.


At my work table, finishing up an abstract painting.

Close up of final mark making. 

My studio is the chilliest room in the house as it's an addition on the back of our house. There's just a crawlspace under it, instead of a basement that runs under the rest of the house.  That makes a big difference.  We added insulation when we moved in years ago, and the new-ish windows help, but on damp, cold days like today, I turn to the little space heater and a hot cup of coffee to set things right. 
 

My color shaper tools help my marks stay loose and spontaneous.

Things are humming along in the studio again.  I'm juggling multiple paintings, which feels really good. I am prepping for two big spring events....I'll be able to share details on those very soon!  I'm also working on a "paper goods update" in my Etsy shop.  I've had a few card designs sell out,  so I spent most of yesterday working through my inventory and figuring out what needs to be replenished.  I'll likely spend part of this day packaging cards and getting them listed.  With Valentine's Day around the corner, I want to be somewhat prepared.  Hope you all are staying safe and warm on this Tuesday! Keep moving your hands. Create every day!  

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Hello 2024!

 

Happy New Year, friends!  Happy 2024 to you and yours!  I'm writing this from my studio table on the morning of the 10th.  We had our first really significant snowfall of the season yesterday.  I've been hearing totals of 10-12 inches being thrown around.  It was the beautiful kind of snow....sticky and perfect for snowman building!  Just gorgeous!  (Says the woman who works from home and didn't have to go anywhere) Whenever there is inclement weather, hubby and I are always grateful for our jobs at home.  


We are also grateful for a fireplace on cold winter nights.  I'm currently obsessed with all things COZY.  When it starts getting dark in the late afternoon, I start turning on a few lights, make some warm tea, (I love peppermint!) and light some candles.  I will also wrap Butterbean (the yellow girl lab) up in a fuzzy blanket, cuz I tell myself she loves it.  She doesn't protest, at least.  







After a crazy busy 2023, we were happy to find a little rest and rejuvenation over the holiday break.  I was able to catch up on some home projects that had been waiting on me to finish. I also try to take the holiday week to reorganize and re-evaluate my processes.  I'm a nerd about a new year.  I don't really take to resolutions exactly, but I love the clean slate in January to start thinking about all the possibilities ahead of us!


One of the things I do towards the end of every year is purchase next year's daily planner.  (I love Moleskine's daily planner with the hard cover)  I've tried all kinds of planners, calendars, etc, and this system seems to work the best for me.  There's a video up on my YouTube channel where you can watch my process for prepping the 2024 planner. 


Cleaning out and organizing my collage papers has also been giving me so much joy.  I'm a nerd about that too.  Ha!  Fun announcements are right around the corner, friends!  Thanks again for all your support and encouragement through the years.  See you soon!  -Dori




Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Three More In Person Events in 2023!

 


Hey pals!  Happy November 1st!  How can it be November already?  Sheesh!  Well, I've got three more in-person art events this year, and I would love to see you!  Lots of new paintings, gift items, stickers, prints, cards and more!  It's so fun to buy handmade for the holidays!  Hubby will be with me, and we'll be handing out hugs as well.  See you soon!  

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Square Foot Show Opens in a couple of days!


Hey friends! How is it August already? A WEEK into August, no less. Sheesh! Big thanks to everyone for making the summer shows a success for me! I was blown away by your kindness and support. Thank you!

I'm really chuffed to be a part of Square Foot Show.....here's what's up.....

“Naturally Abstracted” launches THIS WEEK at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern on Thursday, August 10 and runs until midnight on Saturday, August 12!
HOW IT WORKS
The show goes live at exactly 5pm Pacific/ 8pm Eastern at SHOP.SQUAREFOOTSHOW.COM
and it is often true that many artists will sell out within the first few minutes of opening. (Crossing fingers!!) The sale lasts until midnight on Saturday and there are always plenty of original pieces to choose from. Each piece is $300 CAD (approximately $245 USD) + shipping & handling. It couldn’t be easier to support the arts and bring a bit of original art into your home!
DON’T FORGET
Add this Show to Your Calendar
By being on our mailing list you’re automatically entered to win “Folksy Blues”, a 12x12” original by Lori Siebert. The winner will be announced (chosen at random) during the show. Sign up at www.squarefootshow.com



The collection I created is called Bomb Diggity!   There are five abstract paintings on gallery depth wood panels.  They have an amazing gloss finish, which I refer to as "candy coating."  


Each piece has a lot of yummy texture, layers and mark making.  I hope you love them.  I had a blast creating them!  

Bomb Diggity 1

Bomb Diggity 2

Bomb Diggity 3

Bomb Diggity 4

Bomb Diggity 5







 

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Last Art Festival of the Summer Coming Up!

 


How is it July 18th already?  Sheesh!  Another summer is whizzing by me!  I wanted to let you know my last art festival of the summer is this weekend!!  Art at the Park in Appleton, Wisconsin is one of my favorites of the year.  It's hosted by the Trout Museum of Art.  Such a lovely town, and fun event!
Show hours:
Saturday, July 22nd   9am-5pm
Sunday, July 23rd  9am - 4pm
For more details on this event, CLICK HERE.
See you soon!!!

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Thank you, Quincy! Also, a new doggo!

 


Hey friends!  It's been a while since I updated the blog, so thought I'd pop in and say HOWDY! I'm having fun enjoying a really busy season.  My days are full and crazy and I'm striving to get a lot of things done at once.  I fall into bed with that nice, exhausted feeling...and when my head hits the pillow, I'm out like a light.  Ha!  Over the weekend, we attended the Quincy Maker's Market, in Quincy, Illinois.  It was an easy drive, only a couple of hours, and it was a lovely event.  I made several new friends and contacts, and we were blessed with the LOVELIEST weather!  I mean, PERFECT! 

The highlight of my day was when a grandma and her granddaughter bought a couple of my scrappy fabric crowns!  The girl got "weirdo" and the grandma got "shenaniganizer." They plopped them on their heads and walked around the rest of the show with them!  I regret not getting a photo of them.  It was the cutest thing ever!!!!  It's got me excited to make more of those crowns! 

In other news.......drumroll please.........


We've adopted a new doggo!!!  His name is Otis Ray Sweetiecakes!  He's a young chocolate lab, who has been on a journey......major surgery (hence the cone) and having to say goodbye to his original family.  We saw one of our friends was fostering him. And when we heard his story, we just had to meet him.  He is the sweetest boy!!! We have spent the past week bonding and overseeing his recovery from his procedure.  And we have just fallen in love. 


He loves hanging out with Dad in his office.  There's a big couch to stretch out on.  He loves walkies and snacks (of course) and butt scratches.  He loves bones and tennis balls, and he's sweet as can be with our yellow lab, Callie Mae.  She is getting used to having a brother again.....haha....but has been very kind and patient with him.  


The house feels complete again.  We are looking forward to years of fun and frolicking ahead. 
I hope you are also having fun and frolicking on this lovely June day!  More soon!  Cheers!!!



Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Art Studio Vlog for Sept 13, 2022

 


Good morning, friends!  Happy Hump Day!  I'm a day late in posting this......but there's a new studio vlog over on the YouTube channel.  I'll catch you up on what's happening here in the studio (it's a hot mess), some new figurative work I'm excited about, and then I'll answer one of your questions about how to best make your acrylic paints more transparent, with a demo in my sketchboook!


I'm becoming better friends with all of my new camera equipment.  It's slow but steady progress.  This week, I even tried a little "intro" and "exit" set to piano music.  Bwahahaha! 

I hope you enjoy!  Click on video below for a peek.  Have a great day!
-Dori



"Never be afraid to try something new, because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know."




Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Three More Art Shows Around the Corner!


A few more art shows will round out 2022.  It's so much to meet you all in person!  I hope to see your smiling faces at one of these upcoming events.....

Octagon Art Festival
Main Street    Ames, Iowa
Sunday, September 25th



Red Wing Arts Fall Festival
Red Wing, Minnesota
Saturday October 8th and Sunday October 9th



Prairiewoods Holiday Bazaar
Prairiewoods Spirituality Center   Hiawatha, IA
Saturday, November 19th








 



Wednesday, April 6, 2022

My Show "All My Love Unto You"

 


Good morning friends!  It's been a while since I've done a blog post.  I truly don't know where the time goes.  Honestly!  We're in April!  What?  All is well here.  Ramping up the art making activity in the studio again, since I reorganized.  I just did a little studio tour video if you'd like to take a peek.  You can find it over on my YouTube channel.  

My show, titled "All My Love Unto You" is now over and came down on the 1st of April.  If everything goes as planned, I'll be traveling to Storm Lake this weekend to pick everything up and bring it back home.  THANK YOU to everyone who made a purchase!  We'll be getting those to you soon.  Also, THANK YOU to everyone who came out to my meet and greet a few weeks ago!  What a fun day!  

Here are a few pics of that day....so many bright, happy faces!  So nice to meet all of you!