Smolen Studio

Husband and wife, Lane & Shelley Smolen create custom art commissions in their combined signature styles.

Lane (MFA SCAD) creates beautiful illustrations and paintings.  Shelley (MFA U. of North Texas) creates intricate collages using drawing, wood veneer, painted paper & various mementos/sentiments. Lane & Shelley both work full time as art educators and have three young daughters, including twins. 

Custom commissions are always welcome! Please message below for inquiries. The inclusion of sentimental paper/mementos is always an option but not required!

A note from Shelley:

Using sentimental works on paper is a process that naturally evolved from working with my three young daughters in my studio, interweaving their mark-making throughout the pieces I make is my favorite part of the process.  I would love to incorporate your cherished mementos and transform them into a one-of-a-kind work of art!

Maybe you have pages from a book of personal significance, your toddlers scribbles, letters, wedding invitations? The possibilities are endless!

Shelley’s Artist Statement:

There’s something special about how children view the world, and I hope my daughters always keep that sense of wonder. Perhaps that is why they’ve become such an integral part of my creative journey.  Since becoming a mother to three imaginative girls, my art has transformed, taking on a new sense of playfulness and exploration.  Involving them in my creative process feels natural, and we love to experiment together. I love watching their little hands create painted papers using different techniques, from swirling colors to stamping shapes, and the joy they feel in making “pieces for mommy” is truly contagious.

Each artwork begins as a fun adventure. It is always an exciting new experience combining our drawings, paintings, and various ephemera into intricate collages. It takes time and patience to bring everything together, but organizing our disparate creations into a beautiful whole has become a calm, almost meditative part of my process.  I find myself drawn to symmetrical and geometric designs, letting intuition guide the arrangement, while my daughters giggle at seeing their work nestled into the final collage.  Their excitement inspires me, and I look forward to how our collaborations might change as they grow older. Working side by side with my girls, I see art not just as a finished product, but as a shared journey full of laughter, curiosity, and wonder.

shelleyscottstudio@gmail.com
@smolenstudio