color inspiration. i need to paint some rooms.

color study lillibridge dakota 1966farmhouse color study march twenty third lillibridgebeach color study lillibridge dakota 1966

Your own photographs are a treasure trove of images for color inspiration.  Often it’s subject matter you’re drawn to (like my daughter Lucy’s hair flying) but often it’s color.  The way the colors are perceived next to each other, the saturation & depth can create unexpected combinations that work beautifully in a lot of different applications—interior design, fashion, make-up and graphic design. I wanted to show how full saturation of the colors can look pretty intense—however, move a few steps up the color sample and unlikely colors can really work together.  I had my living room painted a few years ago and it was sooooo wrong—it made me sick to my stomach.  Often with color it’s a process of elimination which is a pain, but when we get it right.  We know it’s right.

Is there a right amount of navel gazing?

I heard an interview with Jessica Lamb-Shapiro who wrote: “PROMISE LAND My Journey Through America’s Self-Help Culture” on NPR that re-aired recently and it really struck me that we spend so much time trying to figure ourselves out…is it working?  I don’t want to sound preachy.  I am very much all in with the personal discovery stuff.  ALL IN.  I have just decided to read fewer books of the self-help ilk and dive into more fiction and storytelling this year. Erica Jong’s “Fear of Flying” in on my bedside table right now. A great start to a year of fiction.

Slide1

Here’s the link to Jessica Lamb-Shapiro’s interview:

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264878772/skeptic-takes-a-tour-of-self-helps-promise-land

promise-land_custom-ad9843baa2fb6644f8d91440a08d943da78603f4-s300-c85

In Jessica’s interview she quotes the philosopher Marcus Aurelius Roman Emperor and Philosopher as having as good of information as anyone about life.  I found this quote that really resonated me.

“You have power over your mind—not outside events.

Realize this, and you will find strength.”

—Marcus Aurelius

Trying to directly quote anyone based on 4th Century scholars has some challenges—these words are attributed to him anyway. Thank you Mr. Aurelius.

marcusaureliusbust