Art is communication at a very emotional and elemental level. - Jason Horejs
Black and White Photographs
Black and white photographs.
There is a distillation in black and white photography, a distillation of soul. The expression on form or shape through light and shadow. It may also be patterns or compositions.
There is an atmosphere of singularity I seek after in my photography.
The thoughts and feelings I have are so elusive and inhabit no body of words…most often I am speechless.
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I have a hard time talking and writing about my black and white photography. Which I find perplexing since I usually am good with words, especially written words. I will be making a deliberate effort to express my thoughts on my work over the coming months. And while it’s tempting to research online what others are saying about black and white photography, I will refrain and look first to myself, listen intently to express what I feel inside about my art.
Art is
Art is a dedicated and exploratory practice of a thought.
Art is
Art is made for its own sake. And for the sake of humanity.
The world needs art - the world must have art.
I must create art.
Art is
Art is that freedom which brings the most beauty.
Art is
Art is not to be forced nor controlled.
Art is
Art is not to be forced nor coerced. It’s a process of submission and action which you can either fight and be frustrated with, or accept and abide in the pure joys that come from that form of discovery. My friend, Dan, said ‘Art is about the process. If your goal is to surprise and delight yourself, you will get there.’
Surprise and delight yourself. That is a wonderfully positive perspective.
I need to let go of the grasps I place on the end results of what will be on the wall. When I grip it, it only frustrates me and therefore my art. My ideas become a tangled mess of threads shedding off a raiment of fabric.
Do I create my art? Or is it waiting to be found. Not just discovered, but uncovered. I am not to be controlled by my art either. It cannot and does not tell me what to do. There is an equal relationship between my body and this body of work that is yet to come forth. Like a dance. Or maybe an adventure, or something reminiscent of that wild abandonment of childhood summer days and nights. That freedom which brings the most beauty.
Art Is
Art is the creation of something from nothing.
Art Is
Art is a transfer of energy.
A Room I Love
I have held onto this image for years. I still love it.
Ricky Jackson and Eddie Vernon
I have listened to this Story Corps segment dozens of times. Stories of deep and difficult forgiveness touch me the most.
Finding My Way Forward
I've missed my old blog, Lorien Hall Everyday. I miss the simplicity - the pared-backness about it. I've missed having a dedicated space to write. And I've missed writing. Sometimes I find when I shift things around for the sake of improvement, I create a less productive situation. But how could I have known prior? Like when I moved my computer desk from the nook to the west wall and ever since then I have spent such little time on my computer. I moved it because I wanted to put a chair in the nook so I could sit there and read and write and enjoy the sunlight coming though the windows. I don't do that. Maybe it's the chair. I spent more time in the nook when I had my desk there.
Since combining my blog with my website, I find that I am less motivated to write.
So now I will move my computer desk back to the nook and I will separate out my blog from my website. I hope that by so doing I will move my work and my writing along in a more steady and consistent manner. I want to be a productive person, more so than I am today. And while I am becoming to believe less and less that there a magic trick to becoming productive, hopefully these changes will have an impact.
These changes represent a larger picture of what I am going through right now. I am trying to find my way forward. 2017 has proved to be a very different year for me. In some ways it's been good and positive, but in other ways it has been my worst year yet. This is especially true financially. I have never been in a worse financial spot than I am now. Also I have never been in a more confusing spot as to my future than I am now...immediate and distant. I have ideas for the future and I am moving on those, but as an artist who is staying in the artist's vein, I am taking the less predictably stable route. I can't not do this. If I am not meant to be a full-time creative for life then I will have to be knocked over the head and dragged towards my new profession. And if that new direction is where my future happiness and success lies, then so be it as I know I can always lead a create life otherwise. But until then I will fight to pay the bills by what beats in my heart the most.
So now I will wish myself the best of luck in this endeavor.
Selah
I LOVE this beautiful story - what a legacy this man has left.
Touching the Sun
Sun touches water.
You touch water.
You touch the sun.
Monday Inspiration: water, light, simplicity
Dreams of Love in London
Client Testimonials
There is nothing more satisfying than receiving wonderful, encouraging words from your clients and colleagues after a design has been installed. It motivates you to keep going and shows you that something you're doing and creating is making a difference for someone else.
That kind of encouragement is good for my heart.
Landscaping is not a term that does Lorien's work justice. Natural art would be closer to describing her work and scope. Our Utah mountain property is 7 acres, with two natural streams, 1200 trees and some very challenging elevation changes. Lorien has turned that description into something out of a dream. For someone so young, her talent is amazing and obviously involves a gift. One look at her very first rendering was all it took to know that she had to be on our team. She listens to our wishes and transforms out desires into reality. She is attentive and has a great passion for her work. Her follow up is exemplary and her attention to detail is outstanding.
- Gary and Debra; Client
We had the pleasure of working with Lorien during the construction of our new house. The advantage it gave us was that we were able to plan and build the house to compliment the landscaping and our home. Lorien planned all the aspects of the layout, including the plants and trees, to enhance the architecture of the house. She supervised the construction of her plan and it turned out better than we could have ever expected. Lorien, with her keen eye for art, designed planters and sculptures that fit our house perfectly. She lived our project and her enthusiasm was contagious. Many of our friends have complimented the creativity of our landscaping. Her work is special and we are thankful for having the opportunity to work with Lorien.
- Arnold and Beverly Levin; Client
Working with Lorien is a joy! She is very knowledgeable and professional - but more importantly - has vision and natural artistic sense exuding from her designs. She listened to my suggestions and incorporated my ideas for the project using her talent - added to the equation with fresh and novel suggestions resulting in an awesome outcome! I love my mountain zen sanctuary.
- Jill; Client
Lorien is a pleasure to work with. She demonstrated a great deal of creativity and professionalism every step of the way. Our planters look wonderful and exceed our expectations. The concept of greenhouse growing our custom planters for thirty days before delivery is a great way to accommodate the short growing season in our mountain environment. I would recommend Lorien highly.
- Chris and Michelle; Client
My association with Lorien is three-fold: as her teacher in three classes, as her academic advisor, and as a colleague in landscape design instruction at BYU. I have instructed over 2300 students in landscape design during the past twenty years, and Lorien is definitely among the top five designers I have ever taught. She displayed immense passion for the subject matter, and made meaningful contribution to class discussions. She regularly seeks opportunities to expand her awareness, and has traveled extensively to provide broad cultural perspectives to her work.
- Phil Allen, PhD; Professor at Brigham Young University
In my opinion Lorien brings a rare gift to the design world. Primarily she is very humble and unassuming. She has a remarkable ability to step forward and inspire her design team and clients as they work through the design process. I believe that Lorien is one of the most talented designers in our profession. She will inspire others along her path, and will elevate any project's level of success with her wonderful talents.
- Jeremy; Principal at Northland Design Group
Open Studio Days for Workshop II
Workshop II participants will have access to my studio on Wednesday April the 12th and Wednesday April the 19th to work on their designs. This will allow you to:
- Work on your design in the quiet of my studio so you don't have the distractions of home or work.
- Have use of the studio's drafting boards, which is very useful especially if you don't have your own at home.
- Have access to my books and magazines for design inspiration.
- Receive additional one-on-one help from me.
- Hang out and talk gardens and landscapes!
Open studio hours are from 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Come anytime and stay for as little or as long as you like.
Design Inpiration: Rotunda Dish of Water
This is enchantment.
A favorite detail about this project is that it isn't perfectly round. SEE MORE.
Design Inspiration: Verdant with Reflection
I love reflection of light in the garden.