Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori Sandstrom.
Lori, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in a military family; second of four children to a dedicated Air Force fighter pilot and a creative home economics major. I look back with fond memories as my dad’s assignments took our family all around the United States and overseas. I consider myself very fortunate that he was posted on Oahu when I was college age. There, I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Hawaii, majoring in Graphic Design and minoring in Painting and Photography. I moved to San Diego in 1984, and I began my career as a graphic designer with the Union-Tribune, working alongside 20+ of San Diego’s most talented artists in the Creative Services Department.
My work as a designer and illustrator won both local and national awards. In my early 30’s, while quickly climbing the corporate ladder as an art director for a Fortune 500 company, I made the decision to get back to basics and join the Peace Corps. I sold everything I owned except my favorite art supplies and began my new adventure. I had assignments in two countries: Ghana, West Africa, teaching art; and Thailand, teaching English (TEFL) and art.
After three rewarding years as a volunteer, I returned to the United States not sure what lay ahead. It was difficult for me at that time to accept a regular 9-5 job sitting behind a computer. Once again, timing was everything, and a job with Princess Cruises as a staff photographer seemed to fall into my lap. Soon I was off exploring the world on a ship!
Oh, the stories I could tell, but I’ll save those for another time. I returned to the U.S. in my early 40’s, living close to my family and working at an architectural firm in the Pacific Northwest. Four years later, my heart called me back to San Diego, where I’ve lived for the past 15 years. I met and married the love of my life and eventually found my dream 9-5 job at the San Diego Zoo as a graphic designer.
Traveling overseas has played a big part in my growth as an artist. My passion for intense cultural immersion and exploration of the human experience has shaped my style of painting and point of view. Many years of traveling, working, and volunteering on four continents have instilled in me a deep admiration for the crafts of artisans around the world. I use this appreciation, along with my photographs and sketches, as a source of inspiration for my paintings today.
Dots! After admiring Mexican and African bead art for many years, I started playing with dots in my paintings. A trip to Alice Springs, Australia, had me reeling—I was so awed by Aboriginal paintings! I have happily let the amazing artwork of all these cultures influence my own.
Recently retired from the San Diego Zoo, I’m now my own boss and loving the freedom I have to work on my own “to do list”. I’m busy freelancing graphic design and painting in my Mission Valley home studio. Occasionally I paint in the courtyard at Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, where I have been a member since 2009. I’m also a member of a fun art group called On the Edge Art Collective. We have monthly painting parties and an occasional Pop-up Garden Art Show. This time of my life is about exploring all of my creative possibilities. I feel like I’m just getting started!
Has it been a smooth road?
By the time I graduated from high school, I had been to nine different schools in six different states. I have some wonderful friendships from those early years, but I didn’t always make the best choices as I was trying so desperately to fit in. I got into trouble more often than I like to admit, but in the long run, it helped me to become a stronger, more self-confident person.
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an artist, so it was easy for me to choose fine art as my college major. University life was good and it paved the way for my jumpstart into the real world of graphic design. Ten years later, after becoming a successful art director, I realized my profession had its drawbacks. I worked very long days and weekends, often sitting behind a computer for several unhealthy hours in a row. I began to burn out.
That’s when I knew I needed a change and chance to follow my heart. Joining Peace Corps gave me the opportunity to get my hands dirty and experience other cultures worlds apart from my own. It was a huge challenge, and it was the toughest job I ever loved!
Working as a photographer on a cruise ship was a demanding, relentless job. I worked every single day for six to nine months in a row, sometimes for as long as 14 hours a day! But I was seeing the world and gaining lots of inspiration for my future artwork. Well worth the exhaustion!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Studio Sandstrom is a fine art, graphic design, and photography business, which I started after “retiring” from ship life in 2000. While employed as a full-time art director, my side business doing freelance graphic design and painting blossomed. My artwork was accepted into galleries and shows in the Puget Sound area—and it was selling!
When I moved to San Diego for the second time, Studio Sandstrom became my full-time job for seven years. My clients had me doing everything I loved: commissioned paintings, graphics, web design, and commercial and event photography. During this time, I developed a unique style of painting with colorful dots that has become quite popular. It’s a very detailed style that takes time and patience. Often I slip into a meditative state while methodically dotting away. The end product is anything but sleepy, it’s rather entertaining. A client once described my art as “caffeine for the eyes”, and I like that!
While working for the San Diego Zoo, Studio Sandstrom’s paintings thrived, growing my client list by participating in art walks, gallery exhibits and pop-up art shows. Now that I’m on my own again, I’m back to freelancing design (choosing only the “fun” projects), and sinking myself into a series of new and evolved dot paintings. Basically, I’m doing what I love and getting paid for it. To me, that is the true measure of success.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Regarding fine art, San Diego County has lots of venues and opportunities for artists to show their work. Having a strong tourist industry is helpful. For a young artist, there are art groups and meet-ups to join. Becoming involved in your community and volunteering your art services is a good place to start.
There is a lot of competition in the graphic design world here in San Diego, so it’s probably not the most ideal place to start your career as a designer, but again, volunteering is very important. Groups like AIGA (American Institute for Graphic Arts) are always looking for young talents, and doing pro-bono work is a good way of getting your name and work out there.
Pricing:
- Graphic design hourly rate depends on your client. I charge anywhere from $25 – $50/hour. Sometimes it works out better to charge by the project and not hourly.
- I’ve heard one rule of thumb for pricing your artwork is $1/square inch for new artists, and $2/square inch as your work becomes more popular.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.studiosandstrom.com
- Phone: 6196235434
- Email: studiosandstrom@mac.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiosandstromlori
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/public/Lori-Sandstrom
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/lori_sandstrom
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/studiosandstrom
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