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Art & Entertainment

Don’t Be Afraid to Buy Fine Art
by Lori Levin, Soulful Studios

Imagine walking into a room filled with images that touch your heart and please your eye. The art on the walls represent places you have been and emotions you have felt. The space is unique because the paintings are original and one of a kind. The pieces feel familiar and like “home”. This is what collecting original art is all about.

People often feel intimidated by art. They don’t feel they know enough about it to have an opinion, let alone buy it from a gallery. Is the painting worth the price and is the artist any good? These are questions they ask themselves. 

First, let me say that art is for everyone. You do not need a degree in art history to know what pleases your eye or what moves you. Art buying does not need to be a mystery. The artist paints from his or her heart and the patron needs to select works that touches theirs. Do not feel intimidated. Some high end galleries will try to impress you with artists’ names and resumes, but in the end it all comes down to what you like and what you don’t. It is as simple as that. 

Surprisingly, fine art originals can be found at very affordable prices. Some galleries will offer small works by emerging artists for lower prices. An even better bet is going directly to the artist’s studio. Self-representing artists often have original paintings and drawings at prices equivalent to what you would spend on a mass produced framed prints at the mall. These artists do not have to share proceeds of the sale with a gallery or shop, so they tend to keep their prices lower. Many offer prints of their more expensive originals that are signed by their own hand.

Self-representing artists like to deal with the public. They look forward to speaking to you and answering questions; they want to share their passion with you. Learning about their art and inspirations directly can make your art buying experience very comfortable and informative. Some artists will create custom commissions of images you request such as your pet, a family member or your home. 

Finding artists is easy. Locally, Salem County hosts a yearly event in the spring where the artists open their studios to the public. Many have works for sale. Quite a few of these artists sell all year round directly from their studios. They paint images of local scenes, events and people you may know. Because they are part of the community, many feel an instant connection to their art.

Original fine art is not just for museums or the wealthy. Your home can be filled with meaningful images that bring a sense of peace to the room and spark conversation. The best thing is it can be found in your own neighborhood, a place that is already home.


About Lori Levin, Soulful Studios
Inspired by the Salem County countryside, Lori Levin left the corporate world to start her own business creating custom pet portraits and fine art landscapes. Soulful Studios, her artist’s studio in Pilesgrove, was born out of the need to express her belief that understanding and caring for animals is the key to health and happiness. Graphite and traditional oil paints are her mediums of choice. Her pieces are realistic and exquisitely detailed yet still have an impressionistic and romantic flair. Each piece she creates touches her deeply as if the animal was a part of her own family. For more information, please visit www.SoulfulStudios.com.


WOUNDED SOULS
THAT SOAR TOGETHER
by Lolae Joline Lambert

Battered and beaten from life’s rejections
Lonely and empty from love gone wrong
Tired and angry from all the struggles
Crying in anger... something more
 
God stepped in and sent a soul mate
One who shared the same refrain
God stepped in and joined two souls
To soar on high as one again
 
Wounded souls that soar together
Filled with love and hope and dreams
Wounded souls that soar together
Now can do most anything
 
God filled all their empty places
With hope, joy, and love
Soaring seemed some much lighter
Creating value from the dust
 
It’s amazing how it happens 
When the time and place is right
Discovering the perfect answer
Directly in our sight
 
Wounded souls that soar together
Filled with love and hope and dreams
Wounded souls that soar together
Now can do most anything
 
One summer morning without warning
Without good bye or one last kiss
Her soul mate left on his journey
To a place much more than this
Her soul weeps unending
Her true love to really miss
 
Her wounded soul flies so much lower
Filled with emptiness and pain
Will there ever be a reason
To soar that high again

About the Author
Lolae Joline Lambert resides in a quaint village in Southern New Jersey. Always looking for new adventures, she is entrepreneurial by nature. Her careers have included real estate sales, real estate investing, and property management. She was Director of a Christian Preschool, and is currently a Substitute Teacher. Writing has been her life long love. For Speaking Engagements and Book Signings, please email  lolae_joline_lambert@yahoo.com. For more information, visit her website, http://www.lolaejolinelambert.com.


A portion of the proceeds donated to the Salem County Women's Shelter.