Mother's Day Acrylic Flower Making Workshop at AAP →

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Join Associated Artists of Pittsburgh on Saturday, May 4th for an Acrylic-Flower-Making Workshop with Artist Lauren Braun. Braun will demo her acrylic skin process. Acrylic skins and art supplies will be provided. Participants will be invited to create their own acrylic flowers in time for Mother’s Day.

Registration is required, and the workshop is pay-what-moves-you.* The workshop is limited to 20 participants.

11:00am–1:00pm, Saturday, May 4, 2024
Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, 100 43rd Street, Unit 107, Pittsburgh, PA

Blog Feature: Art Biz Success by Alyson Stanfield, How Your Art Makes People Feel (ep. 184) →

My artwork, The Ruffled Edge, is featured on Alyson Stanfield’s Art Biz Success Blog in an article about “How Your Art Makes People Feel”

Magazine Feature: Duquesne Club Avenue 6 Magazine Spring/Summer 2024 →

I am delighted to be included in a group of stellar artists in the Made in Pittsburgh section of the Duquesne Club Avenue 6 Magazine Spring/Summer 2024 issue. A link to the issue can be found here.

Meditation and Bilateral Markmaking Workshop

Join artist and mindfulness facilitator Lauren Braun in meditation and mark-making in conjunction with the exhibition, Oneness: Brie Ruais at Contemporary Craft.

We will meet in the gallery to explore bi-lateral mark making, creating "body maps" and markings on paper on the floor. Mark making with both hands simultaneously engages the left and right sides of the brain, connects you to your body and natural rhythms and helps bring you into the present moment.

Please wear comfortable clothing that will allow you to stretch and move. If a participant is unable to lay on the floor for part or all of the workshop, this activity can also take place seated at a table.

Tuition: $5 (non-refundable)

Location: Contemporary Craft (5645 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201)

Register for March 22

Register for April 19

AAP Featured Artists 2023-2024 exhibit

I’ll be showing some recent small work alongside some earlier work at the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh Featured Artists 2023 - 2024 exhibit.
Opening Reception: March 9, 4-7pm.

https://www.aapgh.org/23-24-featured-artists-exhibition

Untangling Our Roots: Peggi Habets & Lauren Braun at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

Exhibition runs March 7 - June 23, 2024 at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden

In the exhibition, Peggi’s work explores the evolution from childhood beliefs and cultural influences to developing a unique path and voice as an adult. Each painting in the series addresses a different universal struggle and is infused with a solitary figure, enigmatic nature as a healing and guiding force, and/or spiritual and cultural symbolism. This series strives to embody mystery, beauty, exploration, and discovery.

Lauren's art practice consists of researching images and creating a library of collage materials in a cyclical process of drawing and painting, cutting out and arranging. This current body of work was inspired by shell shaped architectural moldings, tide pools, and Art Deco jewelry and design. Her process is a playful exploration of materials in collage, mixed media and ceramics.

Together the artists' work creates a seamless flow of nature, color, texture, and symbolism.

Solo Exhibit: Palette/Palate at Nemacolin

I’m delighted to exhibit new artwork in the Laurel Lane Gallery at Nemacolin. My solo exhibit, Palette/Palate has been extended through October 2023.

Lauren Braun, Gallery view of Palette/Palate

Here is a little about the work on display: My art practice consists of researching images and creating my own library of collage materials in a cyclical process of drawing and painting, cutting out and arranging. For this current body of work, I looked at images of shell shaped architectural moldings, tide pools, vintage and Art Deco jewelry, and still life painting. I experiment with a range of drawing and painting materials to create collages and add sculptural embellishments with air dry clay and acrylic paint peels. My process explores themes of transformation, play, and meditation.

Lauren Braun, Shells with Pearl Necklace

Lauren Braun, Tide Pool

Lauren Braun, Acrylic paint peels on panel (reds)

Detail, Lauren Braun, Acrylic paint peels on panel (reds)

Lauren Braun, gallery view Palette/Palate

Fall Books & a Podcast

Hello!

It is Sunday, November 6, 2022 and it’s 76 degrees in Pittsburgh. The clouds rolled in and it has just begun to rain.

In October, I thoroughly enjoyed reading these two books by Paula Brackston. I found them to be perfect for Halloween time! Highly recommend if you like witchery, magic, inspiration, healing balms, time travel, and lots of other witchy themes. I’m still thinking about one of the chapters in The Return of the Witch that is set in the Sahara Desert. It has an empowering message that I’ve written about numerous times in my journal.

The Women of Chateau Lafayette is currently on my nightstand and I’ve read about 1/3 of it so far. It’s set in three separate time periods that alternate back and forth - all set in Historical Fiction around the place and evolution of the Chateau Lafayatte and the women that make it so.

The Thrive Together Network podcast is one of my favorites to listen to while at the gym. I particularly liked listening to the most recent episode “How to be an Empowered Artist” with some thoughtful suggestions on spending time with yourself, by yourself and getting clear on guiding values and goals.

To close, here are some topics I’ve been writing about in my journal of late. The prompts are three headings and then I make a list under each.

Gratitude - what am I thankful for today?

Release - what can I release that is no longer serving me?

Manifestations - imagining all the possibilities

August Reflections

As August winds down the seasons begin to make a subtle shift from late summer to early fall. This month I switched my focus from studio work to writing proposals for grants and future exhibits.

I participated in a three person exhibit called Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Other with fellow artists Christine Lorenz and Travis Mitzel. Our work was part of a larger grouping of exhibitions happening at Blankspace in Wilkinsburg. Blankspace is a house that is currently undergoing various stages of renovation by artist and printmaker Joey Behrens. I spent a lot of time gallery sitting in the space and loved how the show came together. It was off the beaten path and had a gritty, whimsical, apocalyptic feel.

Photos by Christine Lorenz

July Reflections

The month of July can be summed up in two main ingredients, Fear and Inspiration.

I attended a mixed media art workshop called Contemplative Practices in Art with Lisa Pressman & Sue Stover. This workshop was hosted at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. It is a beautiful place! And the workshop, the setting, the people were all so inspiring. And I had so much fear during the 7+ hour drive to get to and from my destination.

Flower offering at the Sanctuary, Omega

We made offerings to the garden. And below you can see one of my offerings to this tree. This ritual felt very alive and nourishing to me - it was separate from all the usual systems that humans and artists participate in, systems of Capitalism, Consumerism, and yes, even a Gallery system. This artwork was an exchange between me and this tree and it doesn’t matter if anyone else notices it.

Offering to the tree

Here are some things I made during the workshop having to do with layering, adding/subtracting, burning, scraping, coloring, rolling, dripping, wrapping, sewing.

Artwork I made during the workshop

I took a lot of pictures on our last morning as we did a walk through of everyone’s work. Here are Sue and Lisa looking at Kim’s collage work.

Lisa & Sue look at Kim’s work on the last morning

I recently read something about Fear that I have returned to several times.

Fear is not the problem your Everyday Mind thinks it is. The problem arises in what you tell yourself about fear: that it is not a good thing to experience, and that you must eradicate or control it. Meanwhile, your focus then becomes fear rather than Unconditional support. It is wise to listen to all your feelings, including fear. And, there is a vast difference between listening to fear and thinking you need to act in response to it. Remember that infinite and unconditional love always exists.

- Sheila Reynolds

June Reflections

June is my Birthday month and I was definitely feeling into my Cancerian energies around my birthday as I said goodbye to last year and hello to a new one. I welcomed in the summer season by having lunch in the park on my birthday, feeling the grass and the sun, and a little fawn ran by me.
I have to admit that the heaviness of the news this week and the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe settled into my body. I felt a heaviness in my body and a brain fog in my mind that lingered for several days. It’s only now starting to lift.

Earlier this week, I guest facilitated an arrival practice for the 2022 Mindfulness Facilitator Certification cohort via Zoom. We spent some time looking at this painting below by Leonora Carrington titled ‘And Then We Saw the Daughter of the Minotaur.’

Leonora Carrington, And then We Saw the Daughter of the Minotaur, 1953

Things in my art studio continue to move towards mixed media. I’m making objects out of acrylic skin and air dry clay, and thinking about adding in some mesh to shape the clay. I’ve also been playing with spray paint finishes and thinking about ways to make small sculptures that incorporate all of these elements together. Below is a view of my work table. I tend to make lots of piles of things and work on top of a pile!

Closing journal prompt for the week:

What areas in your life do you feel you are thriving? What areas in your life do you feel you are surviving? And does this feel like a spectrum where some items exist in both places?

May Reflections

This month I’m excited to share my newest work on my website called staying in the flow. I’ve been thinking about what it feels like when I reach the creative flow state and I feel that this work embodies that feeling. Moving through a repeating cycle of processes that include painting, drawing, cutting, shaping three dimensional objects that make up the parts of my work.

A few videos and books that inspired me this month:
I’ve found pleasure in watching the youtube channels: Nowness: In Residence and Honeyjubu.
I enjoy watching Honeyjubu cooking Korean food with all wooden cooking implements and beautiful cutting boards. There is something very soothing about watching her make steamed rice.
And Nowness: In Residence is a series of short home tours. I love having a peek into unique homes and gardens.

This month I enjoyed reading Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg because I’ve been practicing more creative writing. When I arrived at the end of this book, I was sad to finish reading it.

On June 3 I begin facilitating Meditation and Craft at Contemporary Craft and I was delighted to answer some questions for the Contemporary Craft blog about mindfulness and art. The article can be found right here.

I was also delighted to have a piece included in the Pittsburgh Paints Initiative, a project of First Lady of Pittsburgh Mrs. Michelle Gainey. My piece, Soft Bridges, is on display in Mayor Gainey’s office to celebrate Jewish American Heritage this month. In addition, my Cascades collages exhibit at the Swissvale Library is extended until June 30.

This month one of my journal prompts was, “what happened this week that you’d like to remember in 10 years?” The answers have surprised me.

The Art Police

I had an experience while working on the new work seen in these photos. I combined collage pieces with acrylic skin flowers and paperclay (air dry clay) shells and flowers. The acrylic skins are paint peels made with matte medium and soft body acrylic paints). I cut the peel into pieces to create a flower.

When I combined the paint peels and the paperclay in the artwork below I had a feeling of discomfort as though someone was going to come in and tell me “that’s wrong, you shouldn’t do that!”

I decided that was a great reason to go ahead and glue the pieces in place. I realized there are no art police except the ones inside my own head.

Do you ever feel discomfort with a project you’re working on, and how do you move through it?

April Reflections

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

— Lao Tzu

My April reflections are tinged with a bit of sadness as I’ve encountered a range of wins and disappointments throughout April. Isn’t that life?!

Creative Journaling

I joined a creative journaling group at the library and it has been a wonderful experience to share and listen as part of the group. I loved writing stories and poems as a much younger version of myself and opening up to that part of myself again feels healing. I’ve been journaling throughout the pandemic and since joining the group I started writing stories and poems responding to my artwork. I’m not ready to share my writing yet but I am thinking about making a zine to go along with a future art exhibit. Also, my Cascades collages are on view at the library through the end of May so I’ve been able to visit them.

Disappointments and delayed gratification

I’ve been keenly aware this month of delayed gratification. It’s been a good reminder for me to take notice of what habits and thought patterns aren’t helping me and consciously release them. This is a daily practice just like meditating, yoga, making art.

Finishing new work and continuing to make work

I happened to finish up the beginnings of a new body of artwork as the month was coming to a close and it felt like a good transition of both finishing and beginning. I find myself drawing lots of imagery that I cut out to use for collage, painting acrylic skins that I cut up and form into flowers, and shaping creative paperclay into shell shapes and flowers. There is some repetition and overlap in each of these processes that feels exciting. I’m more now to go with the flow of creating in cycles and what I have on hand is what is meant to be used. I combine these elements together in ways that make me feel slightly uncomfortable - like someone is going to come in and tell me that’s wrong! - and I take that as sign that I must continue in this direction.

Leap into the void and letting go

Themes of uncertainty, trust, and letting go are ever present in the studio and in life. I’m constantly reminded that the only certainty in life is uncertainty and I’m trying to be more ok with that. It’s out of my control anyway. In May one of my daily goals is to ask the Universe to take care of something I’m worried about so that I can release the worry altogether and redirect that energy to other things.

Here are some journal prompts to close:

What is one thing you feel grateful for?
What is one thing that makes you feel proud of yourself?
What is one thing you would like to accomplish today?

Upcoming: Meditation series at the Society for Contemporary Craft →

Join me for guided meditation at the Society for Contemporary Craft in Lawrenceville!

6 part meditation series begins Friday, June 3

Detail of Artwork by Lauren Braun

Dates: Fridays, June 3-July 8

Time: 9am-10am

Description: Join artist and mindfulness facilitator Lauren Braun in practicing meditation. Each week we will focus on a different mindfulness theme. The hour-long session will include instruction, guided meditation, voluntary discussion and time for reflection. When possible, we will look at the artwork on exhibit at Contemporary Craft as part of our mindfulness practice.

A few of the many benefits of meditation include: improved mental focus, stress reduction, anxiety relief, improved self-awareness, building skills of compassion and empathy for self and others, increased access to imagination and intuition, and learning to focus on the present moment. All are welcome. No prior experience is necessary.

Tuition: $75

Location: Contemporary Craft (5645 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201)

More details and registration can be found through the Learn More button below!

Ongoing Conversation: Working Our Way Home

I’m happy to share some images from a group exhibit, “Working Our Way Home,” curated by my dear friend and fellow artist, Soude Dadras. The exhibit is in the Roswell Visual Arts Center in Roswell, Georgia through April 29, 2022

Installation of drawings, Roswell Visual Art Center

A series of events led to the development of this artwork. First, I was distressed last summer to read a news story about an extreme heat wave that killed millions of sea creatures during low tide on Kitsilano Beach in Vancouver. I started thinking about shells and how the shells that we see on the beach are just a hint of the life of creatures living in the ocean. This feels very generative to me. I started drawing shells and looking at how they influence fashion, design, architecture, etc.

Drawings on paper inspired by shells

Just like being in the flow of the ocean, my research and the experience of making sketches and drawings carried me to a place of excitement and delight in the endless variations of my source material. I found the Decorators Supply website to be a terrific source for looking at architectural mouldings based on shell shapes that are used as ornamentation in historic buildings. This book: Concophilia: Shells, Art, and Curiosity in Early Modern Europe is on my list of books to read for further research.

As I was drawing all the pieces that make up my paper installation, I felt very much in the creative flow of inspiration. The installation consists of about 30 paper cutout drawings of shells, architectural mouldings, acanthus leaves, delicate ribbons, and a few other hidden surprises pinned in place to the wall.

Cascades on display at the Swissvale Library through May

I’m so delighted to share some of my Cascades collages on display at the Swissvale Library in April - May, 2022.

This artwork was inspired by the many walks I took with my husband in Frick Park during the pandemic. In all different kinds of weather, I observed daily the pebbles on the trail. On sunny days, the pebbles were gray and dusty. On rainy days, the pebbles turned earthy colors. These walks helped me to feel more grounded, connected to the cyclical nature of the seasons and inspired me creatively. I made the artwork by painting sheets of yupo paper with acrylic inks and then cutting out my pebble shapes. Yupo is a synthetic, tree-free paper that resists water. These materials helped me to realize my vision of a waterfall of colorful pebbles cascading down the page.

Artwork displayed is in the price range of $225 - $250. Contact info@thelaurenbraun.com for info.

Cascades collages on display at the Swissvale Library

March Reflections

Ink on paper sketch, March 2020

Reflecting back to March 2020 - this ink on paper sketch made during that first week of the pandemic stay at home time is filled with chaos and the unknown.

Flash forward to March 2022:

I’m excited for Springtime and here are some shows I’ve watched on Netflix that have entertained and inspired me this month:

1. Shtisel is an Israeli TV series about a Jewish Orthodox family in an orthodox neighborhood. I am particularly fond of the son, Akiva Shtisel, who has the soul of an artist and is trying to navigate the world of his Jewish responsibilities and skeptical family while trying to be an exhibiting, working artist. I can relate to Kive’s trials and tribulations as an artist!

2. My Octopus Teacher is a beautiful documentary about a filmmaker who spends a year diving into the underwater kelp forest of False Bay on the coast of South Africa where he meets a female octopus who enchants him.

3. Emily in Paris - Yes, we binged watched this show this month and Emily’s clothing color palette got me very excited for Springtime and some brightly colorful clothing updates!

4. Better Things - season 4 is unfolding weekly on Hulu. I really enjoy watching Pamela Adlon as Sam Fox. She also creates, writes, directs, etc this program and it’s clear she put a lot of heart and soul into it. I loved last week’s episode with the guest feng shui expert. Also, Sam/Pam loves figurative artwork! Artwork hangs salon style in the stairwell of their TV house. It’s a focal point throughout the show.

   
   In general I’m learning new things about myself and I often have this thought that the older I get, the more I learn, the less I know.

   I’ll end with a journal prompt:
   What is inspiring you about Springtime?
   What is one thing you’re grateful for?
   What is one thing that you are proud of about yourself?