Cre8ive Klatch: Getting to Know the Cre8ive Crew: Lori Leissner

Hi there! My friends, Ursula and Susan and I are the leaders of this band of Cre8ives. I do mixed media, poetry and art that speaks.

I was born and raised in Texas and am Texan through and through. Any stereotypically Texan thing you can think of I will either have done it myself or witnessed it first hand.

Right now I live on a biggish piece of land with my husband, teenager daughter and all our dogs, cats, and barnyard fowl. My son is away at college. In the daytime, I'm a Quality Assurance Specialist, making sure folks are following all the rules. At night, on weekends and in every other spare moment, I try to avoid all rules on my blog, in my art, in my poetry.

Here's some more stuff about me.

How often do you create?

Not nearly often enough. I have a “real” job, so I have to create around that, home responsibilities, and my girlie’s sports activities. I don’t get to do it as often as I’d like. When I have time, sometimes I have no inspiration. Sometimes when I’m most inspired, I’m stuck sitting behind a desk or in the bleachers.

Describe your personality in three words.

Loyal, dry-witted, observant

When/how did you realize your life had to have art in it?

After my dad died suddenly at age 62 only 5 months after he retired and I was diagnosed with breast cancer two months later, I decided I needed to get to my “retirement” goals early. I may never get to do art full time, but I had to get on with it anyway.

"It's Time to Begin"--mixed media

Give a couple of tips on how you stay organized. (This doesnt have to be about your art or studio, could just be life, office, kids...whatever)

1. Ha 2. Ha 3. Ha

What’s your superpower?

I can organize the Tupperware drawer. And I’ve been told by numerous people over the years that I’m “the voice of reason”. I would totally dig either one of those superhero outfits.

"Be Your Own Hero"--mixed media

If you could pick one tool or supply to do more experimenting with what would it be?

I would love to sculpt or carve wood, so whatever you use for that.

What’s the worst job you ever had?

I had a few really bad jobs. Interestingly, working for a collection agency, delivering pizza and cleaning mouse cages were among the better ones, so I’ll refrain from naming names.

If money were no object in what country, place, or on what planet would you live? ...and why?

I haven’t traveled that much, actually. I’m pretty happy here, where I am. But It would be fun to have a winter house in Hawaii and a summer house in Maine. I would spend spring and fall in Texas.

"Parachute"--mixed media with vintage paper collage

What’s your least favorite food?

I won’t eat anything that has coconut in it or on it. I can’t stand the texture.

Most favorite?

I’m a big fan of most everything else, unfortunately.

Are you an introvert or extrovert? How do you feel about that?

I’m very much an introvert. For a long time, I fought against it. Well, I didn’t really fight it. I stayed home and talked to myself about it. But I felt left out of things that I didn’t even really want to participate in. That’s weird, I know. As I’ve aged, I’ve learned to embrace my introversion. I work around the things I’m not comfortable doing and I excel in the environments that work best for me.

What’s was your worst haircut?

My mom was a hair dresser. I had a number of questionable hairstyles over the years—pixies, perms, mullets. And then there was that period when I cut my hair myself because I couldn’t find a new hair person and getting to appointments was a challenge and I just couldn’t be bothered with the trouble of it all.

"Giraffing"--mixed media