Lori Franklin: Painting the Wonder of the Wild

Get to know artist Lori Franklin from Duluth, MN as she prepares to release her latest collection for our upcoming virtual art show!

To Be Featured In:  Momentum (Feb, 2025)
Learn More & View Work Examples:  Artburst Studios Artist Profile

Lori Franklin’s paintings are an invitation to step into nature’s stories. Based in northern Minnesota, she spends countless hours outdoors, observing wildlife through the lens of her camera before translating those moments onto canvas. Her work, a blend of magical realism and reverence for the natural world, explores the deep connections between animals, landscapes, and intangible emotions like hope and love.

“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to feel blessed”

Mary Oliver

Growing up in Montana, Lori’s love for wildlife began with a box of crayons and a fascination for winged creatures. Over time, those crayons were replaced with a camera, binoculars, and paintbrushes, but the sense of childlike wonder has never faded. Birds, bighorn sheep, and even her father’s hand-reared bison find their way into her paintings, each one emerging as if by its own choice.

Inspired by poet Mary Oliver’s words—”Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”—Lori approaches her art as both an observer and a storyteller. She listens to the natural world, allowing intuition to guide her process, shaping form and color until each painting reveals its own narrative.

Through her work, Lori creates for the wildlife lovers, the daydreamers, and those who hold onto hope. Her paintings are a celebration of nature’s beauty, encouraging us all to pause, observe, and reconnect with the wonder that surrounds us.

Her latest collection of original pieces will be unveiled at our next virtual art show “Momentum“, which opens on February 20th at 10am MT. The show will close on February 22nd at 4pm MT. Be sure to create your free Collector Account early so you are prepared for the show open!

You can see more of her work at her official website.

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