Guest blog from Visual Artist Lauren Curtis gives us something to look forward to as winter beckons

I am so excited to be able to show you the work of this visual artist from New Jersey. Her stunning photography is actually making me for once look forward to winter! All Laurens work is available to purchase from the links i've attached, but please join the queue benhind me

Icicles

Winter Ice Branch

winter berries

Hello Bloggers!  First off, since Deborah was kind enough to have me as a guest here, let me tell you a bit about myself; I graduated with a BFA from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University (NJ, USA) in 1988.  I enjoy working in a variety of media, including oils, acrylics, pen & ink, watercolor and photography and am happiest when creating pieces that represent my love of nature, wildlife, travel and spiritual subject matter.  In many of my paintings, the symbolism and mythology of ancient cultures such as Egyptian, Greco-Roman and Celtic are fused with the symbols of modern-day , natural spiritual practices (Wicca), to form a unique and eclectic style.  These images are often portrayed through the woman’s perspective, showing the importance of “The Feminine” , which is sometimes over-looked.  My photography, like the pieces included here (all NJ winter images after snow storms), focus on the beauty of Nature and the creativity of other cultures I experience through my travels.  I want to convey the beauty in diversity, as well as the similarities, that run through various cultural belief-systems.

I'm now a full time visual artist and have had artwork and poetry published by greeting card and crafter companies, magazines and historical organizations, including the Middlesex County NJ Cultural & Heritage Commission.  One of my pieces was selected for the permanent

collection of the Joyce Kilmer Library (Edison, NJ).  My work has been displayed in private collections, healthcare centers and galleries and I was selected for a solo exhibit at Johnson & Johnson World Headquarters, July-August, 2009.  I'm proud to continually participate in shows and so far I've been in over 95 solo, group & juried exhibitions and am also a member of several NJ Arts organizations.  My artwork has been sold throughout the US and in Europe, and can currently be seen in venues in NJ, NY, MA and PA.

Please feel free to visit my websites and blog...I not only create fine art and photography but have my own lines of original t-shirts, greeting cards and hand-crafted jewelry (commissions welcome!).  I look forward to connecting with you & thanks for reading!

http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (commercial & fine art)

http://www.laurencurtisart.mosaicglobe.com (fine art, photography, art updates)

http://www.laurencurtis.imagekind.com (cards, T-shirts, photography, illustration)

http://laurencurtis.wordpress.com  (my Blog!)

http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt (Facebook Fan Page)