About
About Lori Poff Kellogg
Hello I'm Lori Poff Kellogg, and I'm thrilled to tell you about myself and my creative journey.
For most of my life, I didn’t feel like the main character in my own life. I was always someone’s something…someone’s daughter, wife, mother, employee, congregant, follower. Various traumas and obstacles made me feel broken, small, and silent.
And at the same time, creativity has been my sanctuary, my solace, but I never did anything with it. I did not pursue art school or to improve my skills in any way. I just enjoyed art making and writing as I had extra time…which was pretty seldom with raising 3 kids and working as a special education teacher turned social worker.
Until the Covid-19 lockdown.
At that time I was working as a manager of a shelter for families experiencing homelessness. In a job that was already stressful, the tension and worry I felt became debilitating. I needed to find a container to put my anxiety into that was outside of my body, or it was going to make me physically ill. In fact, it already was!
Amidst the chaos of a worldwide pandemic, my sketchpad became a haven for my imagination. I turned my jumbled emotions into color. I used my art to express all the feelings I could not say in words. I blended my intuition with artistic expression, and took myself on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and healing. It felt like I had taught myself a whole new language!
For me, painting is a threshold. The canvas is an invitation. It is a place of self-discovery, of reflection, and of challenge. If I allow it, the canvas will reveal to me what I most need to see in myself. As I have found joy and liberation in the process of art-making, I have experienced a profound transformation. And now I feel called to share it as authentically as I can.
Whether you're a seasoned artist or embarking on your creative journey for the first time, I welcome you with open arms. I’m so happy to welcome you here!
About Crystabella and Crystabella Studio
Meet Crystabella. She is my magical manifestation painting.
The intention I planted in this painting was “Redeem My Dreams”.
In 2007, I was divorced and when that happened, I believed the goals and dreams I had put off until then would never happen. So I gave them up (or at least buried them). But suddenly in the process of starting this painting, I realized that my dreams are possible and that I am worthy of the desires of my heart!
Even her name came to me intuitively...a name I've never heard of before…but then I looked it up. Crystabella is a name of a powerful mermaid! So many synchronicities!
First, Crystabella is a mermaid...a woman reborn after betrayal. Her spirit guide is the snake who has potential power and is also shedding his old skin as he grows. The human figure on the lower right corner is Crystabella's old human form that she has left behind.
She has flowers on her chest and stomach to denote that she is blooming from within. She has nautilus earrings because they represent evolution.
She has the healing symbol in one hand and the compass arrow in the other. This means that she is in charge of her own healing and her direction is in her own hand.
Crystabella is wearing a starry crown to denote her own sovereignty. And she is seeing from her jeweled third eye meaning she is trusting her own enlightenment.
Then I knew that Crystabella was the archetype of my new business and I needed to name my studio after her. She is my strong, warrior self who will help me to realize my dreams. Therefore, Crystabella Studio was born.
Please, explore Crystabella Studio further or reach out to Lori to learn more about the inspiration behind my artwork and business!