Sunday, June 20, 2021

It’s been a while!


I hope everyone is doing well after this long period of total weirdness. My creativity has been up and down, but I’m showing some of my recent pictures here. I hope to remember how to use blogger the right way, so be patient with me! I look forward to blogging again, and looking at your work, too!
















 

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Solo Show!


Here are a couple new paintings! They can be found on dailypaintworks.com, and “Cruise Control” is also included in my solo show, which is going on now, and through the month. There are 33 paintings on exhibit now at the Liggett School’s Manoogian Gallery in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. The address is 1045 Cook Road in Grosse Point Woods.
If you’re in the area this month, check it out! Lots of fun places to have lunch and shop afterwards. A reception will be Friday, September 13, from 6-7:30 pm. More details can be found on my Facebook page.


No Ticket Needed

Cruise Control

Friday, August 16, 2019

Vintage Fun!

I have always loved flea markets, garage sales, estate sales, etc. I have started snapping photos of old vintage things and painting them. How fun! Here are some my my recent vintage paintings!
"Text Me"
"Old Hookers"
"And Sew it Goes"

Sunday, August 4, 2019

It's Been A While!

It's been a while since I've blogged. And I'm looking forward to updating it. Lots has happened. Babies, art, life, etc. Lots of new paintings will be posted next! And I'm on Instagram, which has been fun- not only to show my work, but to look at all the beautiful art on it! I'm lamujomac_art, if anyone wants to check it out! And let me know that you're there, so I can follow you.
I'm SO high tech, yes that's me!




But for now, I would like to talk about a dear friend of mine. Her name is Patricia Riascos. She is an amazing artist and friend. I just happened to walk upstairs to an art exhibit here in Rochester one day. I fell in love with her work. The colors, the character, the abstract nature of it that tells a story with every piece. I had no idea who she was, or where she was from, or anything. Except that I loved her work. I wrote an email to her, expressing how much I appreciated and enjoyed seeing her art. Lo and behold, she emailed me back, and a friendship was born. It turns out she lives 5 minutes from me! Talk about something being meant to be! We have spent time over the last several years laughing, painting, and just being in each others company. Her life has been amazing- she came to this country from Colombia, South America, when she was in her 20s- alone. She navigated a whole new country, learned the language, found employment, supported herself, went to college, married, had a beautiful daughter, made LOTS of friends, painted, and made a life for herself. And all this despite lifelong health problems that she has dealt with, but always triumphed over. When I met her, she was struggling with dropfoot and other things, and was using a cane then a walker. Little by little, her symptoms became diffuse and exacerbated. After many, many tests and doctor visits, she was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrigs disease. Since then she has continued painting, (although she is recently having to give it up), and she has had lots of success with sales of her work. She writes a newsletter, corresponds with people all over the country as well as her friends and family back home and in Canada. A beautiful article about her has been published in American Lifestyle Magazine. To read her interview, go to https://americanlifestylemag.com/discover/arts/the-language-of-art/.
Her website is https://patriciariascosart.com/.
And another really cool thing is that she has just published a book! And I can't recommend it highly enough!
She talks about her life, in a diary format, and I read it in an afternoon. I laughed and I cried. It is SO inspirational. It is honest, open, and is just real life. Her joys and her sorrows are all out there for the world to see. It's 160 pages and includes TWENTY of her beautiful and colorful paintings! You can find it on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble. Half of the proceeds go to ALS. She is happy to know that her book will inspire so many people. If you would like to read her book,  it's called "The Infinite Patience of Time".
Pat continues to live as full a life as possible, despite her many limitations. Being in her presence is truly a gift. She is truly a remarkable human being and I am so lucky our paths crossed.....


Saturday, February 9, 2019

"Divine Day"

 This painting is similar to many others I do. They are imaginary places, with imaginary people. The theme is always the same; they're searching for something. Something they might find in that imaginary building. They're here to pray. Or to enjoy fellowship with other human beings. Or even just to get out of the house and look for some kind of inspiration. I love painting these because to me, the message is always hope. There have been times in my life, and maybe yours too, where I felt I had nothing BUT hope...…
One of my favorite lines is from one of my all time favorite movies- Shawshank Redemption:
"Hope is a good thing, maybe even the best of things, and good things never die."
And that's my story of why I paint this particular scene over and over again.
May you be filled with hope when life gets tough... 

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Just Odds and Ends




I hope everyone had a peaceful holiday season. I sure did! And the twins turned one on January 15th!
Also, I’ve been painting a bit- yay! Also, stay tuned - my friend and I are taking an online class from Anita Lehman. Tomorrow is our last class and I'll post some pictures from it.
“I Wanna be a Star!”



“Hubbub” This one started out as an alcohol ink painting
on Yupo paper. But then I negative painted around it with acrylic.
 Really fun! 


“Chico” a commissioned piece.
Chico was found years ago roaming the city streets.
But he has had a wonderful life ever since!




Charlie Boy!


Top of the World!

Sweet Betty Boop!

Monday, December 3, 2018

Hello, World!


Long time, no blog! Like all of us, life goes in cycles and things get put on the back burner. For me, it's been a wonderful whirlwind. Life is fun and busy and sometimes very challenging. I am blessed on this Christmas season in so many ways. My family and friends being the most significant. We are lucky here in Michigan: no hurricanes, fires, or floods. So many people are suffering and I am grateful every single day for what I have. That includes a 6 year old Grandson and twins that are now 11 months old! Wow.....
I took a little break from painting, as other obligations have become a priority. Our summer was marked by the sad passing of our big, beloved, sweet dog, Wade. He only lived 2 weeks after being diagnosed with Lymphoma. A huge shock. We weren't the only ones who grieved. Our other Golden, Luddie, grieved unlike anything I've ever witnessed with dogs. Wade was a wonderful therapy dog. One of the first things I did was train (with help) his little brother, and Luddie is now a full fledged therapy dog. I felt it would be good for him, and selfishly for me.  
I'm including several pictures- of the twins, and of some random paintings, and of some recent commissions. You can see lots of my paintings, old and new, on my new instagram site, too. It's  http://www.instagram.com/lamujomac_art  Woo-Hoo, I'm SO high tech!
                                                            Houdini
                                                        Angole
                                                                 Fletcher
                                                                Let's Dabble
                                                                The Old Green Chair
                                                                   Breakfast
                                                                   From All of Us
                                                The Adventures of a Little Blue Ball
                                                              Lil Enchilada
                                                        Waiting For My Bride
                                                             A New View
                                                              Synergy
                                                              A Happy Grandma
                                                                     Pals
Available paintings are on www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/laurie-mueller-4045/artwork.
I wish everyone a peaceful and healthy Christmas/Holiday!

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Working Together





Well another term ended, and another term begins in a week or so. These are only some of the paintings that were done by students in my class. Some had never picked up a paintbrush! Others have taken my class before, and it is pure joy for me to see their art evolve, not to mention the confidence that has emerged! I truly believe we all have it in us, and I am grateful that these people (who have become wonderful friends!) gave it their all, and helped and supported each other. They were willing to take risks and they just dove in! For me, I enjoyed every minute of this term. We laughed a lot, and learned a lot (from each other), and I think they will all continue to paint!