Explore creative spaces in the new eMagazine, Labor of Love

Few things make me happier than looking at the studios and workspaces of creative people. Glimpsing their tools, materials, organization methods, and artwork allows me a rare peek into their imaginative brains to find inspiration.

I have a feeling you love seeing creative spaces, too. That's why I'm excited to tell you about something new in the Cloth Paper Scissors Shop: Labor of Love. We have two issues of this new e-magazine (Click here for Issue 1 and Issue 2), which are filled with gorgeous photos of studios where all types of artistic people work, plus much more. You'll see where these men and women live, how they live, and read about what inspires them.

The digital magazines were produced by Lori Siebert, an artist herself. Here's what Lori has to say about this venture: "Labor of Love is an online publication that honors and shares the lifestyles of highly creative people. … Readers will see inside their homes, workspaces, gardens and favorite spaces. They will also discover new recipes, musicians, places to travel…and many other aspects of life to sample."

Among those featured in the first two issues are artists Steffanie Lorig, Sue Zipkin, and Kent Youngstrom, art director and writer Billy Lambrinides, and graphic designer Ty Webb. I caught up with Lori to ask her more about this special endeavor.

Why do you think there is perpetual interest in seeing artists' workspaces?

I find that artists tend to create eclectic, interesting, visually stimulating spaces, whether those spaces are in their home, their studio, or their garden. They see beauty in the unusual. Creative people are noticers. They see possibility in unexpected things. They love to bring their favorite pieces of inspiration into their surroundings. It is incredibly inspiring to see the wonderful spaces that are curated by an artistic eye.

I think it's wonderful that you wanted to show so many different aspects of an artist's life in the magazine-not just their studio and work. Why did you want to include photos of their homes, their favorite recipes, and their collections?

Creative people usually live creatively. An artist's brain works overtime. Artists are constantly seeing how one thing can be transformed into something new. I have many artist friends who inspire me in this way. The way they dress, the meals they prepare, the things they collect and display-all are born from their individual point of view. I always told my kids to embrace what makes them unique. It is our uniqueness that makes life interesting, unpredictable, and exciting! It's cool to get a little peek into these creative worlds.

How did you choose the artists who are featured in the magazines?

When the idea came to me in the middle of the night, I got so excited that I posted a Facebook message the next day, sharing the idea with many of my creative friends. The support and immediate interest was overwhelming. We put together a submission form to send to whoever was interested. I also reached out to some of my favorite artists whom I had never met. The love and care that each person put into their photos and writing was just what I was hoping to receive. Each submission really showed the unique personalities that I wanted to share with readers.

After doing all of these interviews with so many varied creative types, is there anything they revealed about their lives that surprised you?

A couple of things surprised me. I did not just reach out to artists when I sent the submissions info. There are inspiring people in my life who are wonderfully creative in everything they do, even though they don't make art. Several of these people decided not to submit because they did not see themselves as artists. I really want the magazine to be about people who live their lives in a unique way, artist or not. I plan to incorporate stories about travel and fashion in future issues to widen the concept of a creative lifestyle.

I also love that many of the contributors found the exercise of telling their story visually and through their own words very cathartic. When you take time to really look at your personal surroundings and think about how you wish to be portrayed, it gets you in touch with who you really are and what you love. I also love how revealing the answers to the questions are. They really give you a sense of each person's personality.

Big thanks to Lori for these great insights. I hope you enjoy these two issues as much as I did, and find inspiration on every page. 

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Art Business, Blog

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