Out of the Office

Art/Work: Jane Wunrow

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 02:34:00 +0000

Evermore 2014 ©Jane Wunrow

Art/Work is a feature of Out of the Office that is dedicated to the amazing artists who balance work, family, and all-around full lives – while still managing to find time for their creativity. This is where I ask them to share their experiences, insights, and advice.

Jane Wunrow is an illustrator and mixed-media artist who creates images that are both playful and symbolic. She lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with her husband and three young daughters. I sat down with Jane to ask her how she balances being a full time parent with building her career as an artist.

Salvation 2013 ©Jane Wunrow

Sheep Among Wolves 2013 ©Jane Wunrow

Can you tell us a little bit about your work and your process?

My work largely consists of intricately drawn illustrations made with various materials, such as pen, marker, graphite, gouache, and found images. After creating these very detailed images I then begin the process of dismembering the drawing, taking what they once were and creating something new, by juxtaposing them with images of stratum formations.

My inspiration for my pieces tends to develop out of dreams I have, though rarely in any literal sense. I don’t dream of a bear and then decide to create a bear. Instead it tends to be a feeling or emotion that the dream produces which I will then create an illustration of an animal to represent that emotion or human characteristic that may otherwise get lost in something too literal. Two pieces that are most evident of this are Evermore and Lead Me Where My Trust Is Without Borders, both pieces use moths in them to represent a passing moment, a metamorphosis.

We 2013 ©Jane Wunrow

How did becoming a mother impact your art?

I graduated from the College of Visual Arts five months before my first child was born, and at that point of entering into motherhood I didn’t make any art at all. I thought I was done being an artist, and that part of myself was gone. I mourned that loss for a long time. Eventually I started talking with other artists who are also mothers. They told me not to worry and that part of myself would come back with time. That was very comforting to hear.

When I started creating art again, it was impulse driven. The pieces had to be done in one session, while my daughter was napping. The work was not particularly conceptual, but the act of creating was the most important thing. I had been pining for this part of myself.

The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come 2014 ©Jane Wunrow

You are a full-time parent with two kids (and a third on the way!) How do you balance the work of being a mom with the work of being an artist?

When my second child was about two years old, I decided that I really wanted to get serious about creating art and building my career as an artist.

My husband stepped in and encouraged me to get back into a regular schedule. I knew that I needed help in making the time to see this happen. There wasn’t a way to go about it without additional help to take care of our children. We discussed it, and with a more focused and organized mind, my husband helped me to stay on course with my goals as an artist. He has created a calendar to schedule in my workdays as well as an inventory of my pieces, sales, gallery submissions, and where they’re at, etc. A few months in to this new routine, I dubbed him my “Art Manager,” because that is who he is for me. He is who I needed in order to see art come back into my life.

With my third child on the way, I will go on “maternity leave” for a while, but eventually I’ll be back at work on a normal schedule (if my Art Manager has anything to say about it).

Lead me where my trust is without borders 2014 ©Jane Wunrow

What advice would you give to people who are trying to balance parenting with art making?

After my second was born, I attended a gallery reception at MCAD. I ran into an old professor of mine (who is also a parent). She gave me some advice, don’t worry about making art. It WILL come back around. At that time I needed to hear that so badly. I held onto that on days I felt like it was done and gone forever. Now that I’ve been able to fit it into my busy schedule, I know it’s true, and my desire is to pass that advice on to others.

Don’t worry if you have to take a break from art for a while when your children are young. It will come back around; the passion for creating will carry you through. Be ok with being impulsive and just making “quick” work whenever you get the chance.

Love on your babies! Spend all the time with them that you can; it goes by so fast. Raising your children is an important job; don’t second-guess that. If art has to take a back seat for a few years, it’s worth it. If you ever feel like you’ve lost your identity as an artist, know that your children haven’t overshadowed that part of yourself but will enhance you as an artist, bringing a whole new element to your art making. You just have to be open to it.

Thank you so much, Jane!

These are just a few examples of Jane’s amazing work. Please check out www.janewunrow.com to see her entire portfolio, a list of her upcoming exhibitions, and to contact her about purchasing a piece.

You can also find her work at:
· Forage Modern Workshop, Minneapolis, MN

· Leather Works Minnesota, St. Paul, MN - April 26th, 27th and 28th for Art Crawl!

Veggie Sushi Roll-Ups

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 03:12:00 +0000

We love making homemade veggie sushi rolls, but the process can be so time consuming that it ends up being a weekend-only type of meal. We’ve been experimenting with this less labor-intensive way of making and eating sushi. The basic idea is to prepare the ingredients for smaller rolls, and then make the rolls as you eat them.

Ingredients
For the Sushi Rice:
3 cups short-grain brown rice
4.5 cups water
rice wine vinegar
sugar, honey, or agave nectar
salt

Suggested Veggies:
avocado
green onion
cucumber
rainbow carrots
beauty heart/watermelon radish
roasted portabello mushroom strips
roasted asparagus
cilantro

Other ingredients:
nori seaweed sheets
pickled ginger (optional)
wasabi (optional)
cooking oil (canola or olive oil recommended)
salt and pepper
tamari or other high quality soy sauce

Notes on measurements: The amount of each vegetable you need will depend on how many veggies you decide to use. The most important measurements are the ratio of rice to water, and the balance of seasoning for the rice. You’ll need 1 part uncooked rice to 1 1/2 parts water, and for the seasoning you’ll need about 1 tablespoon of vinegar per cup of uncooked rice you start with. We found that 3 cups of rice made more than enough for the two of us to have dinner and the leftovers for lunch.

Steps

1) Cook the Rice: Combine the rice and water into rice cooker. It might take a little bit of trial and error to get your rice to turn out just right. The goal is rice with enough stickiness to hold your rolls together, but not so much stickiness that it turns into glue and ruins the mouth-feel/texture.

If you don’t have a rice cooker, combine the rice and water in a pot or saucepan (preferably one with a clear lid) and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat until it’s at a very low simmer. Scott can’t remember exactly how long it takes to cook the rice with this method, but it should be between 15 and 25 minutes. You’ll need to check on the rice without removing the lid so that you can catch it after all the water is absorbed, but before the rice burns on the bottom of the pot.

2) Prepare the Rice Seasoning: While the rice is cooking, add rice vinegar into a small, microwaveable bowl (see measurement notes above). Add salt and your sweetener of choice until the mixture tastes balanced (a little bit vinegary isn’t bad, but you definitely don’t want it to be too sweet or too salty). It makes it easier to mix all the ingredients if you heat the mixture in the microwave for about 15 seconds.

3) Prepare the seaweed sheets: Using scissors, cut your seaweed sheets into four pieces per sheet.

4) Prepare the Veggies: Cut all of your veggies into strips about 2 or 3 inches long (about the same length as your cut-down seaweed sheets).

Roasted asparagus and portobello mushroom: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Brush the asparagus and mushroom with cooking oil, and season both with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven until beautifully browned and shriveled (about 15-30 minutes; they will need to be flipped over once or twice). Allow the mushrooms to cool before cutting into strips.

5) Add Seasoning to the Rice: As soon as the rice is done cooking, add your seasoning to the rice and stir continuously. Scott likes to hold the bowl in front of an electric fan set on high while the rice is stirred. After stirring the rice for about 10 minutes (until the rice has cooled from hot to warm) it is ready to use.

6) Bring Everything to the Table: Each person needs their own plate to build rolls, a flat spoon or small spatula for spreading rice, and a small dish for soy sauce. Serve your rice in a large communal bowl, and put all of your fillings on serving plates. Serve with pickled ginger and wasabi, if you like those things.

7) Enjoy: Each time you make a roll spread some rice as evenly as possible across 2/3 of the small seaweed sheet. Put your fillings in the middle of the rice. If you have enough self control to not over-stuff every roll you make, you can seal your mini-roll by dipping your fingertip in some water and moistening the edge of the seaweed. Don’t worry about your roll holding together perfectly because it will be gone in 2 or 3 bites anyway.

8) Leftovers: If you have a long enough lunch break at work, leftover veggie sushi can be great. Put all of your veggies in one container, put your rice in a microwavable container, and bring your mini-seaweed sheets in a resealable bag. Add a few drops of water to the rice before reheating.

Notes on ingredients: If you are making sushi for the first time, we recommend starting with a smaller number of vegetables in order to limit the amount of prep time. We recommend Penzeys Spices wasabi powder, which is mixed with a few drops of water before using. We also love Eden brand pickled ginger with shiso leaves.

Happy sushi rolling!

New Job, New Space!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:07:00 +0000

Apartment Therapy

A few days ago I hinted that exciting things are happening in my life. I'm happy to announce that I will be starting a new job this coming Monday! I'll still be working for the same company (and enjoying my three-block commute), but I will have a new position in a different department. I'm so excited about this change because it will provide me with a better work/life balance, which has been sorely needed. This position also brings the opportunity for me to use a tiny bit of my creativity at work. Needless to say, I am pumped!

I have been thinking a lot about how I want to style my new work space. I like to think of the cubicle as the ultimate blank canvas. It may seem austere and uninviting at first, but a few well-placed objects and pictures can make all the difference. I've been all over the internets searching for inspiration...

Little Green Notebook (Still my ultimate dream office)

Houzz

Hmmm.... I think I need a (faux) sheepskin draped over my office chair. They're so luxurious! When it comes to office decor and desk organization, I think a there a few crucial ingredients:

Light! Whether or not you're close to a window is usually the luck of the draw in a large office. I'm hoping my new space will be.
White or light colored desk items (staplers, tape dispensers, trays, etc). They're so much cleaner and fresher than their drab black counterparts.
Pops of vibrant color - art prints, photographs, or maybe a fabric covered pin board.
Unexpected shapes (I love the trophy-esque pencil holders in the image from Design Sponge)
Trays - did I mention I love trays?

I'm interested: do you work in an office? How do you make the space your own?

Also: 5 tips for setting up a stylish office cubicle.

DIY: Patterned Cork Coasters

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 01:48:00 +0000

Hi friends! Sorry for the long blog silence. Life has been crazy but I have some very exciting things on the horizon! More about that soon.

Today I want to share a little DIY project. I've been trying to come up with ways to make our living room seem more "finished". I'm happy with our over-all decor, but the space needs a few finishing touches. Sometimes it's the fun little details that make all the difference, right?

So - coasters! I'm embarrassed to say that we've been using a mish-mash of cardboard bar coasters for years (classy, I know). Time for an update.

Materials:
-Cork board (3/16" thick)
-Painter's tape (3/4" wide is ideal)
-White acrylic paint
-Paint brush
-Xacto knife + blades
-Ruler
-Cutting mat
-Pencil
-Tracing paper or wax paper

Step 1:
Cut the cork into 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares (I made a set of 4, but you could make more if you're feeling ambitious).

Step 2:

Use the tape to mask off a pattern on the squares. For this side I decided to do diagonal lines. Placing the coasters together creates a pretty diamond pattern.

Step 3:

Paint! I applied a medium coat of paint - I wanted to cover the cork but not completely obscure the natural texture.

Step 4:

Once that side of the coasters dried, I flipped them over and started taping off the second pattern.

I created a 7" x 7" square on a piece of tracing paper, and then drew out my chevron pattern (each stripe is 3/4" wide, the width of the painter's tape). I arranged the tape on the tracing payer, then cut the whole thing into 4 squares. I then transferred the tape to each coaster, making sure the pattern would match up.

Repeat Step 3: Paint those babies!

So there you have it, some snazzy new coasters. I think they will look lovely on the coffee table...

Let me know if you try this project (or make up something similar on your own.) I'd love to see the results!

xo, Jeni

Lowertown Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:11:00 +0000

In honor of Valentine's Day, I want to share our engagement pictures! We took these photos last August, and I love looking back and seeing a world that isn't covered in three feet of snow. Look! Green plants! T-shirts! Oh that those days would come again...

We chose to shoot our engagement photos in our very own neighborhood of Lowertown, St. Paul. It's a very special place for us - it's where we had our first dates, fell in love, and now... it's home! (The building that we live in is visible in the background of some of these images.)

Oh, and did you know that St. Paul was voted "Most Romantic City in North America"? It's true!

All the photos where taken by my very talented sister, Hannah. She did an awesome job, didn't she? We shot on the train platform of the newly-remodeled Union Depot. Although there are no trains running yet, I think you still get a bit of that romance and sense of adventure. Not to mention the awesome views of the skyline!

Thanks for allowing me to share this little love-fest. Have a wonderful weekend!

Art/Work: Scott Demeranville

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:14:00 +0000

Greenland, Detail 2 - Ink on paper, 14" x 17" ©Scott Demeranville

Art/Work is a feature of Out of the Office that will be dedicated to the amazing artists who balance jobs, family, and all-around full lives – while still managing to find time for their creativity. I’ll be asking them to share their experiences, insights, and advice.

I’m excited to begin this feature with an artist who is very near to my heart: Scott Demeranville. Scott is an incredibly talented photographer - you can check out some of his photographic work here. Today he’s sharing a drawing project that he worked on last year while working a temp job in a call center.

Let’s start with the job you had last year. What can you tell us about it?

In March of 2013, I got a photography job. One month later, the company that I was working for went out of business and my position was eliminated. By a stroke of luck, I was able to get a customer service job through a temp agency almost immediately. I was answering phone calls for a firm that handled class-action lawsuits.

How did the drawing project start?

I had long intervals of time in between calls. I wasn't allowed to be on the internet or look at my phone. I read many, many books... but after a while I ran out of things to read. And then I started doodling on a notepad.

After a couple days of doodling, it started to evolve into a project. An idea started forming, and I knew I had to execute it within a set of constraints: the paper could be no bigger than the surface of my desk, all the materials had to be portable, and I had to be able to stop and start again many times throughout the day (so I could answer my incoming phone calls).

Norway - Ink on paper, 14" x 17" ©Scott Demeranville

Norway, Detail 2 - Ink on paper, 14" x 17" ©Scott Demeranville

Can you describe your creative process?

I knew I wanted to draw maps. I started by tracing sections of maps onto my drawing paper with graphite. I brought those blueprints for drawings to work, where I started filling them in with pattern. I made up certain “rules” for myself about the colors I used, how the lines would interact, and the differentiation between land and water. I was most interested in maps with intricate coastlines, so I ended up on focusing on fjords.

Greenland - Ink on paper, 14" x 17" ©Scott Demeranville

Greenland, Detail 1 - Ink on paper, 14" x 17" ©Scott Demeranville

Why maps?

I have always been interested in maps. I love the perspective you get from them- the sense of scale. Looking at a map of a place allows you to imagine what that place might be like. It describes is differently than words can.

Sweden, Detail - Ink on paper, 14" x 17" ©Scott Demeranville

It’s pretty amazing to get paid by the hour to draw. What’s your job situation like now? Do you still get to make art while you’re at work?

I am happy to say that I now have a permanent job with much better pay and benefits. Although I’m not able to draw while I’m at work, my mind is mostly free to think about the projects that I’m working on outside of work.

What advice can you give other artists who are working a day job?

Sometimes you have to plan your art project to fit you time and resources. Interesting ideas can evolve out of the constraints of time, space, and materials. Even if you can’t actually work on a project while you’re on the clock, your mind can still be exploring ideas and possibilities.

Thank you, Scott!

The man himself.

Are you an artist working a day (or night) job? I’d love to hear from you – and possibly feature your story in Art/Work. Please send a short bio and a few pictures of what you’ve been working on to: jenniferisoutoftheoffice at gmail dotcom

Book Report: The Wes Anderson Collection

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 02:55:00 +0000

One of the best gifts I received this past Christmas was The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Sietz. It’s a gorgeous, hardcover tome with insightful essays and interviews with the director about each of his seven feature films. Oh, and there are plenty of pictures…

This is the type of book that I tend to flip through a few times, ogle the pretty pictures, and then I put on a shelf to be admired from afar. I decided to take a different approach with this book – I’m actually reading it, cover to cover. I’m also re-watching each movie after I finish the corresponding essay and interview.

So far Scott and I have re-watched Bottle Rocket and Rushmore, and the mini film festival continues this weekend with The Royal Tenenbaums. I have really enjoyed seeing these movies again with a deepened understanding of the director’s influences, what the individual actors brought to the films, and fun little bits of trivia. (Did you know that Wes’ brother, Eric Chase Anderson, creates most of the artwork that appears in the films?)

Do you enjoy Wes Anderson’s movies? Do you ever binge-watch a collection of movies by the same director?

Also... Living In: The Royal Tenenbaums and The Darjeeling Limited, Moonrise Kingdom wedding inspiration, and what it might look like if Wes Anderson directed a horror movie.

Top image by Scott; all other images from The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoler Sietz via Amazon.

Rustic Vegetable Stew with Tuscan Kale and White Beans

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 04:10:00 +0000

This is something we have been making a lot lately. (And by "we," I really mean Scott, who is the master chef in our household. I am just the assistant.) It's the perfect hardy, comforting warm-up that you need after being out in the cold. And it's good for you!

Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus soaking beans overnight)
Total Cooking Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients*:
1 large bunch Tuscan (“Dinosaur”) kale
3 - 4 large carrots
1 package (approx. 20) Cremini mushrooms
1 ¼ cup dried white beans (Cannellini is best, but we are using Great Northern in this example)
3 - 4 cloves garlic
1 large onion, red or white (or 2 small onions)
2 tablespoons cooking oil
64 oz. cups low sodium vegetable stock (we used this kind)
2 tablespoon Hungarian Paprika**
¾ tablespoon Chili Powder
1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt

This recipe is: Vegan, Gluten-Free
*we recommend buying organic ingredients whenever possible.
**we also recommend buying spices in bulk from a co-op. In most cases it is cheaper, and the difference in flavor is night-and-day. This is especially true of the Paprika.

Steps:

1. The Night Before: Place beans in a container with enough room for them to triple in size. Add water to the top of container, cover and let soak at room temperature overnight.

This is how the beans look after a night of soaking.

2. Add cooking oil (we recommend olive or canola) to large pot, with burner set to low. You want enough oil to thoroughly coat the bottom of the pot.

3. Roughly dice the onions and add to the pot with oil. Lower heat by a couple notches.

3. While the onions saute, peel and dice the garlic cloves. Scott likes to smash the cloves with the side of his knife before he chops them.
*Nutritional Tip: According to Jo Robinson, letting the garlic rest for 10 minutes after chopping releases their maximum health benefits.

4. While garlic rests, remove stems from mushrooms and roughly dice.
*Cook's Tip: keep mushroom stems in a bag in the freezer- they make a wonderful soup stock. Recipe for that coming soon!

5. Add mushrooms and garlic to the pot, stir ingredients together. Allow to simmer for about 20 minutes.

6. While the pot simmers, chop carrots into ½” chunks.

7. After 20 minutes of simmering, the mushrooms should be thoroughly cooked and the onions should be beginning to caramelize. Now it’s time to add the paprika, chili powder, and a pinch of salt. Stir well, and increase heat to medium.

8. Add vegetable stock to pot, and scrape the bottom of the pot to mix any caramelized bits into the stew.

9. Strain the soaked beans, add them to the pot. Also add the chopped carrots.

10. Bring the stew to a low simmer, cover with lid. Allow to simmer until the carrots and beans start to get mushy. This will take about an hour and 15 to 30 minutes.

11. While the stew is simmering, cut the kale leaves off the stems. Then cut the leaves into 2” sections. We have found this is easiest with scissors.

12. Once the carrots and beans are tender, stir in the kale leaves. Simmer just long enough for the kale to slightly soften (about 5 minutes).

13. Remove from heat. Add additional salt, paprika and/ or chili powder to taste.

Bon Appétit!

Let me know if you try this recipe - I would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions. What yummy meal is keeping you warm this winter?

Also... Jónsi and Alex cooking up a raw vegan lasagna. Oh, my heart.

Good Morning, Lowertown

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer LaCasse) — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 18:31:00 +0000

Ever since Scott and I moved into our apartment, I have been in love with the view from our living room window. We look out over the farmer's market complex across the street, and we have a fairly unobstructed view of Lowertown. Sometimes I can even catch a glimpse of the river.

The views are particularly dramatic in the early mornings, when the sun is just starting to come up. I am not a early riser by nature, but most days I have to get up and head to the office before 8 am. I love taking a moment or two in the midst of the morning rush to admire what's happening outside. I started snapping photos with my phone, and now I consider this an ongoing project. Here are a few of my favorites so far: