Corky Lorenz

Professional Background & Services

• Photography Services: Lorenz offers branding photography for local businesses, providing tailored image galleries to enhance their online presence. She also covers local events and documents vendors.

• Historical Documentation: She maintains a collection of historical photos of Elkhart landmarks, such as the Elkhart Rubber Works and vintage RV interiors.

• Creative Interests: Outside of professional photography, she is a tie-dye enthusiast and shares sewing and color-related tutorials.

Content & Local Guides

Through her website and social media, she provides detailed visual guides and information for Elkhart, Indiana:

• Cultural Sites: Detailed information on the Lerner Theatre and the RV/MH Hall of Fame.

• Local Landmarks: Documentation of sites like the Johnson Street Dam and various downtown intersections.

• Events: Updates on local happenings, including downtown concert series and the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival.

Creative Work & Techniques

Lorenz describes herself as "obsessed with color," an interest that extends to dyeing yarn, sewing clothes, and photography. Her artistic process frequently involves:

• Ice Dyeing: A method where powdered fiber-reactive dye is sprinkled over ice, allowing it to melt slowly through fabric to create complex, gravity-defying designs.

• Geode Tie Dye: Using thick, waxy thread called artificial sinew to tie fabric tightly, resulting in crisp, banded patterns reminiscent of natural geodes.

• Experimental Methods: She is known for "tinkering" with her process, such as using poly fleece to achieve flowy lines on thin fabrics or using a cold mist method to layer color into dry shirts.

• Food-Inspired Fashion: She gained attention for creating custom shirts using high-resolution images of unexpected subjects, such as an Orange Chicken dinner from Panda Express.

Educational & Online Presence

Lorenz is a prolific content creator who shares tutorials and process notes to help others learn the craft:

• Social Media: She maintains a strong presence on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares "behind-the-scenes" reels and short-form demonstrations.

• YouTube: Her YouTube channel features longer-form tutorials, including popular videos on achieving intense color and tying "crisp lines" in geode styles.

• Official Website: On corkylorenz.com, she provides detailed Dye FAQs and curated lists of dye supplies, such as specific dyes from Dharma Trading Co. and Jacquard.