Art and ideas for creative living
It’s not a new concept. Plein Air painters have been sitting in gardens and painting them for centuries. However, using the shapes and colors of the garden as a jumping off point to assemble something entirely new is a different way of looking at them for inspiration. For me it all about shapes and colors.… Continue reading Painting from the garden
I once heard a “proper” gardening guru state that the color red does not belong in a garden. Huh? I understand that there are natural color relationships that would make a tomato red look out of place next to pale pink and lavender for example, but to rule it out all together? If you know my… Continue reading Gardening in Red
As the season and sunlight slips away, nature plays its visual tricks of on us. The chemistry of color takes hold and the natural world around us becomes neutralized. But we don't really notice the loss of color though, because when neutral is played against itself, subtle becomes vibrant and all the negative descriptions of… Continue reading The beauty of neutral
Breast cancer; in case you were afraid to ask. It was sixteen days of radiation after a successful surgery…just in case. During a season when I had little time to be in the art studio, I just had to do something artistically expressive so I turned my daily shoes and accessory choices into an art… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. RECAP: lessons in art and life
Confetti falling from the sky, the roar of cheering crowds, bands playing... Not really but that is what it felt like on my last day of treatment. All my techs—past and present—were there, the nurses, the office staff and my doctor were there. And so were my shoes. Walking in past the clerical station.... Office… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 16
Frisky feet. Feelin' a little Italian yesterday, like kicking up some heels. It was my second to the last treatment. A friend who had just visited Italy once told me how amazed she was that the women there could manage walking on cobblestone streets in really high-heeled shoes. I thought I would channel the likes of Sophia.… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 15
Bitter-sweet today. Excited about the 3-day week-end marking my third-to-the-last treatment and also finding out that this was the last time I would see one of my techs. I hadn't anticipated the feeling of loss...these gals have become comrades. Bonds have formed; like being in the trenches together at DSW. But back to the story....… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 14
I felt like I was getting a cat-scan. Flat on my back, all eyes moving up and down my body from head to toe and back again. Tech: You kind of have a metallic thing going on today. Me in my head: Oh, is that what it is? I was just playing off the texture… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 13
Not-so-casual work day for me seeing clients. Decided to pull out the dashing cruel shoes that make a statement despite the pinching of older toes. It was worth it. New tech: Those are AWESOME! Old tech: Wow, those are awesome! Feeling very satisfied and accomplished I was magnanimously able to change the subject steering the… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 12
A day on the run for me—figuratively not literally. Have you seen me running on the road? I think not. My version of running; up and down the freeway, up and down the stairs, standing for hours, bending, lifting... I thought for sure someone would comment on my ergonomic asymetrical sneakers but apparently most everyone else besides… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 11
Day off yesterday and raining. I had planned a trip to the seacoast to take a long walk in the down pour with Claire and then both of us out to lunch with Jane (the other one). I needed dual-duty shoes. Nothing screams rain-and-out-to-lunch than a pair of red rubber boots! While seated in the… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 10
Techs: Look at those shoes...(looking harder, bending down, inhaling)...the insides are a different print!!! Me to myself: I didn't even remember that the insides were different. Yes, breath taking—if I do say so myself—and how fortunate that I thought to choose that dark eyeshadow in exactly the same shade. One never knows when the inside… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 9
Tech 1: We can't stop now. We're in too deep! ....said to the observing Nurse Coordinator who had just received the explanation for our shoe antics. Tech 2: Do you always change your toe nail polish to match? Me: No, but for this game I am. Techs: Wow. Out to the lobby where Delightful Woman… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 8
Well summer hit here today—94 degrees!—so it required sandals and a celebratory color. Since all the daffodils faded in the heat and I was not yet done with their cheery countenance, I decided to mimic them instead. People are amazed that a "winter" type coloring can wear yellow but my skin is quite golden and when a… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 7
Well THESE created quite the reaction! Picture this; me in an extra-large johnnie—billowing, bunchy so my neck disappeared, no waist, down to my ankles, baby blue—with these shoes coming out the bottom! Techs: [Very studiously] I LIKE those shoes. Me: You challenged me yesterday so I had to try these high-heeled shoes out again. Techs:… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 6
Casual Friday today. Feeling like I need to be comfy and arty funky. YESTERDAY.... New tech: CUTE shoes! Old tech: Ha, ha, ha...snort, jiggle, fall over, grab belly, ha, ha, ha!! I purposely didn't tell her a THING!!! I wanted to see if she would notice! New tech: Yeah, but I already heard about your… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 4
Challenge accepted. I walked in yesterday and all eyes were on my feet. Techs: What shoes are you wearing today? An oxford WEDGE?! How cool. Me: I know. LL Bean many seasons ago. Who knew the Bean had cool in it. Here is today's look; I call it Pearl with a Twist. I will let you know tomorrow… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 3
Creativity happens when you least expect it. I have started some medical treatments that require me to be flat on my back wearing those adorable "johnnies" which initially leave only my feet and my face exposed. On the plus side of this, gravity works wonders on my face and conversation is sparked in the most… Continue reading 16 ways, sixteen days. DAY 2 Introduction
I have discovered while on holiday this week, that each hill village here in Provence has its own visual character. Yes, Provençal Style conjures up well known images but as an artist I have found the nuances fastinating. Each village based on orientation to the sun and the mineralized earth around it informs the personality… Continue reading The colours of Roussillon
Vivid red and evergreen against pure white; classic seasonal colors. Taken from snowy winter landscapes, the combination is uplifting and bright. We see it repeated and repeated this time of year so why not on festive toenails too?!! If you want your colors to pop, set them against a neutral background—like white—with proportions of approximately 2/3… Continue reading Color study; festivus digitus