Meet Lori Vogel | wildlife artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lori Vogel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lori, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Many things make me happy! My families well being and their happiness probably tops the list. I also get a lot of joy from finding the perfect inspiration for my next painting. Time in my little studio to paint uninterrupted makes me REALLY happy. Connecting with others who “get” the moment I try to capture in my artwork is amazing. Spending time outdoors hiking, fishing or mushroom hunting makes me happy.
I’m usually happy!😁

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Local wildlife is my favorite subject. I work mainly in acrylic and colored pencil with a bit of ink thrown in. I’ve moved away from traditional canvas and paper and work mostly on wood and sometimes stone. The more natural canvas just feels right. Recently I completed a series of 12 paintings on bourbon barrel lids which I’m pretty proud of. I’d been mindlessly scrolling through Facebook marketplace and saw that someone not far from me had the lids for sale. I thought it was time to try something a bit different so I picked up a couple lids to see what I could do. After scraping, sanding and reassembling the lids I thought about what my new canvas needed. It was a Maker’s Mark lid and I’d decided to keep the distillery stamp as part of the finished piece. The long tradition of bourbon distilling and the solid oak of the lid called for a bold inspiring subject. “American Made”, was the first completed piece featuring a portrait of a bald eagle. The surface I paint/draw on always influences my choice of subject so the bourbon lids all feature more powerful animals than my usual woodland animal pieces. I am still on a journey professionally. Learning and keeping up with the changes on social media is a job in itself. It’s not easy, and there are never enough hours in a day to accomplish all I feel is necessary, but there is nothing else I’d rather be doing. I’ve learned that I just need to keep pushing past the frustrating stuff. Not every painting is going to be successful and that’s okay. Some of the online posts I have and will continue to make will be cringy and awful and that’s okay too. I’m learning from all of it and that’s how we grow. You ask what I want the world to know about my brand or story, that’s a hard one. I can tell you what really inspires me, hopefully that’s what you’re looking for. I’ve always felt an empathy/connection with animals. I truely believe that there are more similarities between people and wildlife than differences. When observing of squirrels, birds, deer or any of the creatures around me there is often a moment when they are also observing you. It’s that moment of connection which stirs so much up inside me. I feel a strong need to capture/hold on to those moments. It’s just who I am.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio. Currently I live in Indiana, but am still very close so I’d take my friend to Cincy for the local favorite foods. Skyline Chili, La Rosa’s pizza and definitely a trip to Graeter’s for the best ice cream ever! An afternoon exploring Findley Market in downtown Cincinnati would be fun. Miami Whitewater Park is always a beautiful place to hike or take a boat out on the lake. Hollywood Casino is nearby and downtown Lawrencburg offers Wine Walks and outdoor concerts when the weather is nice. The area I live is between rural and suburban. It’s our little slice of Mayberry. Getting together with friends/neighbors around a firepit for a byob and grill out is the best. A day in Madison or Brown County Indiana where the parks are incredible and the shops are unique would be on the list.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My thanks goes to my husband Barry. He has always encouraged me to push past my insecurities. I am so very grateful for his support and honest critiques. It has given me the confidence to step out from behind the easel and share my creations with the public.

Website: lorivogelstudio.com

Instagram: lorivogelstudio

Linkedin: Lori Vogel

Facebook: Lori Vogel Studio