I have written more bios that I can count.
This time, I wanted to be really true. No BS. I mean, how did this art thing come to be for me? I didn't go to art school. I found my way here somewhat unexpectedly. So I dropped into my heart space and wrote. Here is my story. For real.
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Happiness Through Art
My Story
I graduated from college, married, worked as a teacher.
Got my masters in mental health counseling.
Thought I would work forever in a school and earn a safe, reliable income.
Read The Artist's Way.
Began making art again at age 30-something for the first time since 10th grade.
Heard my husband say he didn't love me anymore.
Realized it was true.
And my heart broke.
And we divorced.
And I felt abandoned and angry and afraid and shamed.
And somehow, I kept making art.
I turned a blank book into a visual journal where I sat in meditation, wrote my intention, prayed, and let the art pour out of me and onto the paper. It gave me a place to hold my grief and fear about the past and my hope and excitement about the future.
Everything changed.
My heart opened.
And sometimes I rode the waves of pain on a boat of pastels, paints, chalk and inks. It was such a bumpy ride.
I grew deeper, more spiritual, more compassionate.
Sometimes happiness can be elusive. It comes in and graces us with its presence and light, then disappears, leaving us with only shadows. That's ok.
Happiness always returns again.
And I am still finding happiness through art.
These days I am remarried and happily living in a cute cape-cod home in upstate New York with my loving husband, my gorgeous step kids, gentle-hearted greyhound, and calico cat. We love to read spiritual books, drink green juice, travel, go on hikes, and snuggle in to watch movies and eat dark chocolate. I am so grateful for this life here; doing work I love and watching my creative dreams open up and become real.
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35 comments:
this made my heart burst! it is beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring. i love that you've used art to heal yourself, feed yourself, push yourself in new directions... in my mind that's what art is all about. thank you for opening up and sharing yourself so deeply with us. xo
dearest lori,
i love your raw honesty.
i love that you stayed open
to love -
still.
i love that your art
somehow kept
happiness in the room
& it seemed to grow
like the sunflower
(i can imagine that flower
as a tatoo on your foot/
isn't that funny?!).
i love that someone
found your
oh so beautiful face
& joined you
in your
bountiful brushstrokes life.
lol to you. xox
I fell in love with your beautiful art a couple weeks ago. Now I know your story, I love it even more. The sweetness in it is deeper than I realised.... :) xo
Your story is beautiful and so are you:-)
Kelly
I am floored. I mean my jaw is just hanging here. This is one of the most honest, raw and beautiful all at once things I have ever read. I want to write something like this about myself someday. I want to understand myself like this someday. I am in total awe right now. Thank you for sharing this with us. You are an inspiration.
this is the bio. the one that makes all the other bios seem like blah blah. and I so enjoy knowing you a tiny bit more now. thank you.
this is so beautiful...so genuine....your story!
i loved reading it.
i loved learning more about you my friend!!
i love that art helped you heal...and your art helps so many of us by its absolute gor-jussness!!! it makes me smile!!
and i especially love this..."happiness always returns again."
sending big big hugs to you!!
xoxoxo
k
Oh! Lori.
This is so beautiful and soul-stirring. I am so touched by the raw honesty here.
"And sometimes I rode the waves of pain on a boat of pastels, paints, chalk and inks. It was such a bumpy ride."
I'm so very glad that you were brave enough to ride those waves. And brave enough to open your beautiful heart.
Thank you for sharing you. You are such a blessing.
xo
I could cry. That was lovely.
My favorite part:
Happiness ALWAYS returns again.
I think I will remember that forever...
LOVE this post. Hugs, Holly
Okay, so seriously?
POETRY, Lor.
I'm crying, thinking of that fridge poem and SERIOUSLY.
Poetry.
Good for you Lori! You are brave and you are beautiful!
sweet girl...
this is beautiful.
it is brave.
it is honest.
it is real.
it is spiritual in it.s own way.
a legacy to leave for those who mean the most to you.
a shoulder for them to lean on when they may find themselves wondering where "happiness" is hiding.
i, like lovely rachel, love that someone was blessed enough to reach out and see the beauty that OBVIOUSLY shines through you into the world.
it makes everyone a winner.
huge hugs to your story!
thank you lori, for sharing it.
xoxo
chrissy
on another note, i am sending you an email tonight so be on the lookout for it dear friend.
also...been shopping on your etsy....SOOOOO many yummy things to choose from.
What an incredibly honest and beautiful bio. I think all artist bios should be just like this - not in that overused professional gallery style, but speaking from the heart like this one.
And I'm glad to hear that you kept at it with art - that you used it to help you through the tough times in life. Very inspirational - thank you for this post :)
Amazing Lori, I am so profoundly touched by how honestly you expressed your self here. There is such a deep rawness to it, that's where the honestly lies isn't it? In being split open and bare so that all can see. My heart is full to bursting with all of the power that I feel coming from these words, how you are owning all of your broken places...and the story of you rising up out of the ashes of what you had built and now being so happy. You are truly an inspiration! xoFaith
Uh huh. Got goosebumps reading this. This bio rocks! Speak or write or create anything from the heart and it's pure magic, truly and for always.
Wow Lori, what a beautiful story! You inspire me so much! It's never too late, right? I am so glad that your art made you find a better place in your life... And you have so much talent - this was what you were made to do!
I would love to see more photos from your home, it sounds lovely! xxx
Ida
thank you for the wonderful post!
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you found love again and you're happy!
PS: I love the new picture of you! :-)
Awee, lovely post and so brave of you to share it all with us. I am so happy for you and it's wonderful you share your art with us through your blog. You should put your story on Crescendoh because this is another example of how Art Saves us all!
Wow. This is such an inspired and authentic bio. My favorite line was about riding the waves in a boat of pastels. Genius. If I lived close to you, I would want to come over and have art and craft time together. You seem like one cool chica.
beautiful story Lori!! thanks for sharing it! I can hardly wait to see what you create with the clay! another chapter in your story!! :-)
Great story!! Just like Jenny Doh from Cresendoh says--Art Saves!!
I love you for this! The beautiful gift of honesty, and sharing your true self - I have huge respect and appreciation for this post :)
Without those shadowy times we'd probably be less appriecative of the sunny periods:D You've obviously found something very speacil and it makes it even grander that you kept it up during such difficult times...keep going lovely lady:D
Oh my, I'm late to the party! And I am just reading this post, Lori. What a beautiful, honest reflection on your bumpy but beautiful journey. Isn't it amazing how the hardest parts of the ride make way for the most thrilling, joyful twists and turns? It's no wonder your art uplifts and heals others - it's done it before! :)
Just noticed I hadn't read this! Thank you for this beautiful post, so much truth, and so much HOPE! All of you comes through with such beauty in your writing and art. This world is truly better for having you in it!
Ditto what everyone else said :) This is too beautiful to put into words. Thanks SO MUCH for sharing it!
-Kristen
beautiful story, so raw and honest. Inspired me to write an honest bio for my website :)
Art has been my healer, my therapy through the hard times.
Polly
xox
I actually got goosebumps reading your profile. That is the most honest and beautifully worded story of heartbreak and recovery I think I have ever read. My story is not dissimilar to yours and like you I didn't study art beyond high school but am mostly self taught. I am so glad you found your way through your art and that you found your happy ever after. I love to discover new like minded people out there in the world and came to discover you by way of Aimee from Artsyville - your friendship and recent road trip also makes me smile - so many similar artistic souls in your sisterhood!
I just read your story and am truly touched. Beautiful, heartfelt words. Thank you for sharing *you* with *us*.
well. This is what I call an introduction. I'd say this bio is a keeper. I'm over here from Aimee's doodletour and it is really great to "meet" you. Looking forward to following your artful journey along with you.
This is so beautiful and honest it made me cry! I can relate to several aspects of your story and you've truly inspired me in many ways. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Hi Lori,
I found you through rootsofshe and I am so glad!
I am blown away by your artwork. If I had an artistic bone in my body (oh trust me, I don't!) I would want my work to look like yours... I love the color. I need to look through your Etsy shop too.
Your "About" bio is wonderful. No wonder your artwork is beautiful: it has so much honest spirit in it.
Thank you for sharing your gift,
Tracy
Do not be afraid. There is beauty in your vulnerability. Being real is relateable and comforting...it leads to true relationships. If we have not love we are nothing and that is true in this Blog Community. I am new to Inspirational Studio and that is where I found you. I'm so glad I did for you are inspiring me from a deep heartfelt place.
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