Lori Purk, Featured Artist

Featured BOMH Member: Lori Purk, Photographer

1. Can you please describe your art and artistic process?

I go out into the field to experience and enjoy whatever is presented to me on that particular day. I try to keep and open mind and am glad for whatever sights that I am blessed to see. Hopefully, a good image will come out of it. Sometimes, I only make “eye pictures” and nothing is captured in the camera but only in my mind and I am thankful for those experiences as well. I have seen some pretty amazing things!

2. How long have you been creating art?

I have been taking pictures since I was seven and cameras have been my constant companions. I did not realize I was a photographer until I was in my 30’s though. I became extremely focused on nature photography in 1997 when I joined the Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers. I have been sharing, selling, processing and printing my own work since 2000.

3. What inspired you to pursue art? Were you encouraged?

I have always been artistically inclined and grew up in a creative family. My grandfather was a magician, painter, photographer, gem collector, silver smith and master gardener. My mother was a great seamstress and a very crafty person who enjoyed various fiber arts and making things by hand. We spent lots of time outdoors camping and hiking and I got my love of nature from my father. When I was little, I remember getting bored easily. I was given creative “projects” to keep me happy and I learned to read, write, cook, sew and paint at an early age. Photography is what I think I enjoyed the most though growing up and I have taken millions of pictures.

4. What challenges have you faced?

The usual, being in a cubicle at a paycheck job for several decades and not having enough free time to create art. Allowing myself to stay in a job because I had good health insurance and benefits rather than taking the risk of being a full time artist. On the positive side, my husband has allowed me work part-time for the last 13 years so I could have more time to pursue my true passion. I have been able to participate in hundreds of art shows and exhibits since 2000. There were many rewards but I did find art shows to be very challenging mentally and physically and I have since retired from that portion of the program. I opened a co-op art gallery, Simpatico in Clarksville, MO in 2006 and operate it on the weekends year-round with several of the juried artist friends I have met through BOMH. None of this would have been possible without my husband’s support and would have been even more challenging if I had not found BOMH.

5. Greatest rewards of being an artist?

I really like knowing that someone else gets to share my very personal experience through the images I create. I love getting feedback on my work and learning from my customers and admirers. Having an excuse to be outdoors and to experience and/or capture a moment in time that will never happen again is also a very great reward.

6. What are your personal goals as an artist?

Since I learned on my own over several decades while experimenting with my equipment, I am not a very technical photographer. I have a very good eye, but sometimes my images may be lacking in technical qualities that could take them to the next level. I am always striving to increase my level of  technical expertise without hindering my creativity. Some days I would not make any images at all if I had to set up a tripod, bracket the exposures and make sure the lighting conditions, f-stop, aperture etc. were all perfect. I would rather be free to just take a picture and either it turns out or it doesn’t. Freedom versus technical quality is a constant balancing act for me.

7. Can you share a little bit about your family and personal life, outside the art world?

I have been married to my husband Jim for 27 years and we currently have three cats. I have been in the travel industry for 30 years for my paycheck job and I have gotten to see lots of wonderful places. When I am not taking pictures or running the gallery, I arrange cruises for groups of seniors who travel with bank travel programs. In the coming week, I will be the tour director for a group of 40 people and we will be cruising in the Hawaiian Islands together. I have a huge collection of antique miniature perfume bottles. I still love to read, write and cook. Recently, I have been experimenting with decoupage and paper arts.

8. How long have you been involved in the Best of Missouri Hands?

I have been a member since 2001 and attended a conference and was juried in right away. I think there were only a few other juried photographers at the time. I remember asking Cathy Evans if I could join, because I wasn’t sure if would be considered an artist or not. I have made some great friends over the years and have always been involved and have volunteered at the 9 or so conferences I have attended. I have been on the membership committee for about 10 years and have been the lady who sells BOMH merchandise almost since the beginning. I recently served as a board member for 3 years. I have gained lots of knowledge and BOMH has opened many doors for me over the years. I am proud to be a juried member and it has been very rewarding personally and professionally for me. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me find my way over the years.

9. Where can your art be seen?

Simpatico, an Art Gallery Co-op
105 C S. First Street
Clarksville, MO 63336

And online at www.loripurk.com.