News – Lori VanKirk Schue

Finding Michelangelo

Lori — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:18:04 +0000

While studying at Accademia in Florence, Italy lately, I experienced one of those lifetime ah ha moments that will truly stay with me forever. First, I need to thank my loving and supportive husband. More than a year ago I expressed my thoughts on what it must be like to have lived in the Rennaissance period in Florence walking down the street seeing the great artists of the day strolling to their workplaces. Of course, at that time who knew, but still. In his casual way he supported my desire to at least for a short time experience what it must be like to be an artist in that atmosphere. Long story short I end up flying to Florence for an incredible experience. The academy was of course in an ancient building by our standards, and the studio was on the third floor. Much like any studio you can imagine it was covered with artworks being created and I was shown to my easel by enthusiastic instructors. From moment one I felt included. I say this because we Americans are sometimes just tolerated even more so now with the current government. I chose to take part in instruction of silverpoint, a favorite medium of Da Vinci, Michelangelo and others and also Trois Crayon. Now, just to be clear, I teach both of these subjects for the Smithsonian Associates program, yet I feel you can always learn more to hone your skill if nothing else. As imagined, I had a wonderful rapport with the instructors and giggled feely with every “Molto Bene” or “Perfecto”. I am pretty confident with my drawing skill but still to hear those words directed at me was music to my ego. As I worked, I noticed the other artists diligently working on their paintings, portraiture, etc. All from different countries (I was the only American) it just cemented in my heart that artists have a universal need to create no matter the political differences, etc. My husband took some leisurely time off which he so deserves and enjoyed running in the mornings and exploring while I was occupied from 10am to 5pm every day. He, always making sure I am staying in the best hotels, booked us into a former palace on the same street as the academy which gave us a wonderful morning walk to drop me off. As the days went on, I pinched myself egotistically as I was now one with the artists of this fantastic city. Imagine my surprise one day when my husband said to me, “You know Michelangelo’s family home is on this same street.” Guess where we went? It is now a museum and as you walk around the home you definitely feel how much his family loved him. Back home now, I still hear the tic tac tic of a sculptor working on his craft floors below me, advice being given in Italian or an Italian laced English. I’m proud of my work which I will upload when I have a chance and thankful for the opportunity and experience, I was given. Oh, and I’ve made one request of my husband to please on occasion tell me “Molto Bene! Perfecto!”

Using Your Art to Influence and Reflect

Lori — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:21:57 +0000

Recently I wrote and illustrated a Christmas book called The Tree of Hope. It was inspired by an act of kindness of a good friend who every year places a small Christmas tree in his open corn field for everyone to enjoy. People have gotten so attached to the tree every year that they look for it and it seems to bring out those lovely holiday feelings of hope and joy. The prose is in poetry form of which I must say I am especially good at. My mother loved poetry and she and I often traded poems, either self-written or a wonderful find, once I left home. Of course, the illustrations I created are soft and humble to match the feel of this lovely little tree. Since the book was published, I have been amazed at the response to a picture book created for children but with a message for adults. Mostly folks are touched by the story but surprisingly I have been contacted about the illustrations and the special touch that is in every SeeSayCreate book. That being the wonderful creative vocabulary list and art activities to make each book a whole minded learning adventure. The art has absolutely influenced the gentle feelings people get when reading the book and helps them reflect on what the season is all about. Now, create your own story complete with artwork. And if you need inspiration check out the new tab SeeSayCreate and see all of my lovely children’s books.

Back to the Pencil

Lori — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:01:03 +0000

I’ve decided to go back to the pencil for a while. I hadn’t created a graphite drawing in some time, and it was calling to me. It has been at least 6 months since my last pencil drawing. I need to rectify that. I usually have quite a selection of art materials as I am like every other artist out there and that is that we are hoarders of art materials and all things crafty. A serious working artist has their favorite tools but lurking in those drawers and cabinets are vast numbers of pencils, paints, brushes and millions of sheets of paper plus canvas and well, you know what I mean. God forbid you throw anything away as you might NEED it. However, since I made the decision to do some graphite work, I looked at my trusty pencils of all makes and values and decided they weren’t good enough for this serious mission. So, I ordered some of the Blackwing pencils. These pencils are considered to be of premium value. I must concede the hype is true. I have lovely drawings and am pleasantly surprised. Get yourself their starter pack of 4 grades and try them for yourself. But, after using them I caught sight of all my other pencils I so carelessly ignored for new shiny pencils and instantly felt guilty. They worked for me, and I had abandoned them! I must leave you now as I have some drawings to do with the hundreds of other pencils I own. Everything has a soul folks.

Stop and Breath!

Lori — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 15:45:28 +0000

It’s been a while since I’ve added a blog. Things get busy and I get busy and pretty soon months go by that you haven’t taken time to sit and process your world.

Three things have happened to me in the last 6 months that have made me stop and breath. I had my first encounter with anti-American rhetoric. In England no less! Yeah. It’s the same old thing from people who think they know us but couldn’t in a million years understand us. Actually, I have to clarify although this happened in England it was done by a Belgian. Let that sink in. It was the same old blah, blah, blah about how we Americans can’t live without air conditioning and are so soft and privileged. One side of me wanted to explain that yeah, I need the air on because it’s 95 degrees and I’m slightly asthmatic. And I live in the 21st century where it is insane to not have air conditioning. The other side of me wanted to let the kracken out and say “hey you moron, how dare you judge me you little Belgian. If it weren’t for the Americans, you’d be speaking German right now and oh by the way not only did we have to save your sorry butts, but we then had to rebuild your country for you. You’re welcome!” I don’t let the kracken out often but it’s in there. Oh yeah, don’t poke the kracken. Yet, I did stop, and I took a breath so as not to damage my soul.

Next, I woke one morning to an email from my sister telling me my dear childhood friend had just died. Unexpected, at least to me. Death is always startling but when you naively think you will see this person at least once again before your own death it seems somewhat unfair. Memories flooded me and tears overflowed. Were we old enough to be sick enough to not recover? Again, I went full stop and then took a breath. Thanking God I at least had this wonderful person in my young life.

Last, I live in an area that doesn’t routinely get snow every winter. Yet this past week we were graced with about 7 inches of the fluffy stuff. I grew up in a place of very snow filled winters every year. So, when we get snow here, I am engulfed with memories of snowball fights, sledding and snow people. Yes, there were many. I stood in my studio which has glass windows on 3 sides and watched those large, miraculous snowflakes fall. I was in a snow globe! And yes, I stopped and took a breath. Feeling my peaceful space in the world given to me by God.

So, what I’m getting at is take the time to stop and breath in life. No matter if it’s because someone insulted you, or because of tragedy or because of miracles. At least once a day just stop and breath.

Sleeping with Titian

Lori — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 21:24:21 +0000

I love the small market town of Ledbury, England. My friend Hilary lives there. I first made friends with her more than 25 years ago when she worked with my husband. She, a British citizen and her husband, an American Navy officer lived here in Virginia. After her husband retired, they moved back to the UK to her hometown and invited us for a visit. We have been calling it home away from home ever since. The local church, St. Michael & All Angels, is a place we always pay a visit to as it evokes a calming sense of spirituality. It is a very old church with long history. As you walk around the inside of the church one gets a feeling as if you are absolutely welcome. The wood is dark, the floor is made of engraved stones of persons of note who rest there and everywhere there are signs that the church is still very much alive with the grace of God. Along one wall there is a very large painting. At one point it was a very dark painting of which you could barely make out the Last Supper. In desperate need of restoration, patrons were found, and experts were hired to do this delicate work. As the painting was being restored the experts were shocked when they suspected and then confirmed it was a genuine Titian. How could this tiny town have such a painting in their midst? Research and restoration began in earnest. The painting, a gift to the church, now hangs resplendent for all to enjoy and admire not only for the subject matter but for its rebirth. Now, here I was checking into my room at the local Feather’s Hotel, room 21, labeled The Titian Room. (How appropriate for an artist?) Inside along every wall were framed replicas of the famous painting and stories of how the Titian was discovered, restored and reinstated in the local church. But best of all was the portrait hanging near the door of the man himself, Titian, and why I can name this blog, “Sleeping with Titian.”

Byzantium is Alive People!

Lori — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:36:00 +0000

I’ve just come back from taking a fabulous course at Oxford University from Dr. Aphrodite Papayianni about Byzantium. In this course she taught me to read icons and illustrated manuscripts of the Greek Orthodox. I had some knowledge of the illustrated manuscripts of the Northern Rennaissance but already knew that was different from those of Byzantium. I have actually taught the making of illustrated manuscripts but by no means count myself a scholar on the meanings of them. I now recognize the actual beauty of all of these manuscripts in many ways stem from the Byzantine era and was so engrossed in learning the meanings of design that I find myself spending more and more time deciphering these ancient and lovely depictions of biblical stories. Just yesterday I spent an hour or more marveling at hand positions of Jesus and the saints giving us clues to what it’s all about. Fascinating stuff folks if you’ve never delved into the world of manuscript illustration. Luckily, I was brought up in the church so knowing the stories helps. But seeing the opulence the illuminators and scribes depicted with their careful drawings and calligraphy is mind blowing. Being a book illustrator myself, I feel an affinity with these ancient artists. I marvel that these lovely manuscripts still survive considering, well everything our earth has been through. I marvel even more that we have scholars such as “Miss Aphrodite” who help the lowliest of us understand not that these illustrations are art, but they are timeless communications from beyond. Thanks Aphrodite!

The Arts and Crafts Movement and William Morris

Lori — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 18:04:23 +0000

Recently I was at Oxford University having a great time learning about Cotswold life and William Morris from my tutor Mike Breakell. You know Morris, he’s the one who created all of the beautiful timeless designs we see in home furnishings these days. He actually went to university to become a theologian but disliked it so much he became a poet and then took up art by becoming friends with Burnes-Jones and Rosetti of the Pre-Raphaelites. Lucky for him he met his wife Jane and had two lovely talented daughters. Jane actually is the lady you see in many of Rosetti’s paintings such as Proserpina. Morris made his homes in London and the Cotswold region of England which I must say would be my choices should I ever give up the good old US. My love affair with the British Isles is no secret and I am convinced I experience cell memory every time I visit owing to my ancestors coming from the island nation. But I digress. Morris loved the outdoors and often took long walks taking in all of the flora and fauna that show up in his many designs. The Strawberry Thief is arguably his best-known work and came about from his simple observation of birds stealing strawberries as he sat on a bench. If you ever get the chance, visit Kelmscott Manor, Morris’ home so richly preserved and learn more about this gentleman whose poetry, “that should be taken in great gulps” along with his superb eye for design lives on and on for generations to love and enjoy. Imagine writing poetry as you weave a tapestry. His life, although blessed in many ways was not all rainbows. His daughter suffered a fall which caused her to be an invalid the rest of her life. His friend Rosetti would become a drug addict and take his own life. Through all of this, Morris would come up with thoughtful poetry and thoughtful design. I urge you to look up Morris. His life is wildly interesting. Here are some of my favorites. My favorite bit of design is the hare from the Forest Tapestry. My favorite Morris saying is “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” My favorite Morris poem reads, “Love is enough; though the world be a waning, and the woods have no voice but the voice of complaining, Though the sky be too dark for dim eyes to discover the goldcups and daisies fair blooming thereunder, Though the hills be held shadows, and the sea a dark wonder, And this day draw a veil over all deeds passed over, Yet their hands shall not tremble, their feet shall not falter; The void shall not weary, the fear shall not alter, These lips and these eyes of the loved and the lover.” Good stuff!

Lucky Me

Lori — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 17:06:30 +0000

I am such a lucky person. Of course, I work hard so I generate my own good fortune. I have never been in a position where I could wait for someone else to do for me so at an early age I knew if I wanted something I had to make it happen. From making my own clothes to making my own family to making my own career, I had to get up and do. I’m lucky because in order to do those things I had a supportive mom, sister, and husband. After I retired, I decided to teach art to adults. I was lucky enough to sign on with the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution. The majority of my students did not create art as a career but instead were physicians, lawyers, government workers of all types, etc. My joy is tickling their right brains and turning on their creative juices that have lain dormant for many, many years. I am lucky because my students seem to like me as a teacher, a tutor, a champion, cheerleader and friend. Once in a while I receive a nice compliment and that boosts me forward to be the best art teacher I can be. Today I woke up and checked my email as usual. I noticed a name I had not seen or heard from in many years. A student from pre-pandemic times. The fact that this long-lost student had taken time out of her busy life to write to me and thank me for turning her on to art made me cry. She was successfully showing and selling her art and felt I was somehow instrumental in her newfound love. I was humbled. We all like to receive notes like that one telling us we are doing good things at least for some people in the world and in some small way. Yep, I am such a lucky person.

Learning Something New

Lori — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:12:21 +0000

I decided to learn something new. When it comes to art, I think I am a well-rounded artist. I am better at some things than others but consider myself pretty knowledgeable of most mediums and subject matters. However, I decided to learn something different and that is to make my own art materials. I have been successful making my own inks to some extent from things I grow in my gardens but other than making vegetable dyes or adding oils to powdered pigments I haven’t explored past that. But today is the day I have signed up to learn from a master pigment maker and dyer. My first task will be to learn a better way to extract pigment from plants. I shall tackle madder first I think, or maybe indigo. From there I hope to create some oil pastels or crayons.

I am planning to work my way around the color wheel and value scale to see what I can achieve. I have always used dyes for my basketry materials but have never produced enough dye for any large quantity. Onion skins, cabbage leaves, marigolds, etc. have all been used to dye materials, but as I mentioned not in vast quantity. I will try to eventually create some sort of crayon using beeswax so that my young granddaughter will be able to safely use them. Plus, I would love to be able to make a boxed set to give to my favorite artist friends. What do you think? Too ambitious? Well, we shall see.

In the meantime, I think I will create some colorful napkins using white cotton fabric and some colorful petals from flowers. An easy way to get those pretty flower prints is to sandwich the fresh flowers between the layers of cotton fabric and hammer them. Yes, you read that correctly, hammer them…with a hammer. This makes the colored pigment dye right into the fabric. Simply take off the remnants and you have a pretty floral print.

Check back to see how I am getting along with my pigments. Until then, try something new for yourself and grow as an artist.

Rev Up Your Creativity

Lori — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 21:04:51 +0000

Every once in a while, you feel like your creativity has left you. For an artist that is an all too familiar feeling and a terrifying one. Why don’t I feel motivated? When will my mojo come back? What’s wrong with me? Where am I? Well, I’m here to tell you to just calm down and take a deep breath. Your creativity hasn’t left for good. The first thing I do is check the last time I took some time off. Burnout is real people and I suffer every so often with this crazy feeling. I think for me I have realized I will never retire as I was doing art before I decided to work in the art fields. Yes, I said “fields”. You see, I am a commercial artist, fine artist, art teacher, art historian, and art therapist. I’m not bragging, life just happened that way. One thing I am really good at is art. I’m an okay wife and mother, better than most but not as good as some. But I am good at art! When I need to rev up my creativity, I drag out some of my portfolios and have a peek. This usually inspires me to get back to the studios. Yes, I said studios of which I have three. You can guess on the amount of art supplies I have. Yes, it’s massive. Some from as far back as my college days. But I digress. If you are in need of some revving up, try these next six steps to help.

Schedule some dedicated time to daydream.
Keep a sketchbook and pen handy at all times in every situation.
Take a class even if you are a pro. Other artists will inspire you.
Try something different to get out of your comfort zone.
Brainstorm with someone. Even if the other person has no clue what you are talking about.
Take a walk and drink lots of water.