Art Walk on High Street!
It’s October!
That means it’s time for the return of
the Everything Beautiful Art Walk
on Saturday, October 9th
from 5pm until 9pm.
It’s a fantastic venue and the event
is a Phoenix favorite.
I am so excited that I will be participating in this wonderful event. High Street is a vibrant venue full of fantastic restaurants, clubs, galleries, and so much more! Bring your friends and spend the evening shopping, eating, drinking, and catching a fun vibe.
I will have framed watercolor art, note cards printed from my original paintings, and my newest venture - watercolor art jewelry! There are many styles and lots of gorgeous colors and designs. I hope you have a chance to stop by, chat, and take a look.
My other exciting news is that I am collaborating on a project with R. D. Hathaway, a local author whose novels are available from Amazon. His books are beautifully written and full of endearing characters, a wonderful plot, and plenty of suspense. Click on the image below to visit his author page on Amazon. More information about our collaborative venture will follow soon!
It’s a colorful life!
Yes, those are pumpkins!
And the napkins say football and turkey.
Oh, my! Ha ha!
Read on to find out why those
are in a July post!
Did the title “It’s a colorful life!” get you thinking of winter holidays? Yes, I’m just a bit early, at least for the northern hemisphere. But since we have oppressive heat affecting so many people, it’s nice to think of cooler times.
And, if you are wondering about how this is all connected, it’s because of the classic feel-good movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Its theme of gratitude for the good in our lives and appreciation for the kindness and care we receive from others is relevant any time of year. It also inspired me to realize that when you stay connected with others, not only is it a wonderful life, life just seems more colorful, thus, it’s a colorful life!
Speaking of gratitude and the not-too-distant holiday season (and other holidays and birthdays and even ‘I miss you and appreciate you’ days), note cards make great gifts! Nothing sends love and good cheer or says “Thank you!” like a gift basket.
Bundle our unique note cards into a creative package with some special snacks, napkins, and seasonal hand soaps (as seen above in the thank you basket I gave to my lovely and very caring neighbors last fall). You could also include special edition stamps from the Post Office, a unique pen or fine marker, a book of poems or sentiments, a small picture frame or framed painting, etc.
Another idea is to include a special mug or teapot along with some specialty coffee or tea. After all, who doesn’t love a great cup of their favorite beverage when writing all those notes and cards? Anything that makes it easier and more relaxing to write notes while snuggled on the sofa or in a favorite cozy chair (Especially if it’s a beach chair!) will do!
Coming soon to the store - framed original watercolor paintings and watercolor jewelry!
Watch for my announcement!
Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
The Complexity of Colors
A sampling of the colors I have painted.
The color cards I use to set up my palettes.
There is so much to know and understand about color. ‘Color’ may seem like a simple, easily defined word or concept, but the characteristics, associations, and connotations of it are certainly complex!
Naming colors is one of the first things we learn in our childhood acquisition of language and as kids choosing colors from a crayon box (if we are fortunate, a box of 64 or better yet the 128) we start recognizing which ones appeal to us. Usually, unless we have someone guiding our exploration and understanding, the true complexities of color become apparent much later.
I knew the basic concepts of primary colors and secondary colors, and perhaps the moods associated with certain colors, but hadn’t really thought about color much beyond my crayon-choosing experiences.
I have always admired the variety of hues so gloriously found in nature. I enjoy painting natural landscapes and flowers. In addition, the names I give to my abstract paintings are usually based on something the image reminds me of in nature — from Shady Glades and Desert Tempests, to Agate and Molten Lava, and even Oceans, Lagoons, and Cosmic Blooms.
Some of the many concepts related to working with color are: hue, tint, saturation, value, warm vs. cool, masstone vs. gradient, primary and complimentary colors, and so much more. I had no clue about many of these and so I set out to learn. After developing a good understanding, I created a set of color cards showing various characteristics of each paint that I use and even bought a color wheel to help me further understand these color concepts. If you are interested in learning about colors, there is plenty of information available online to get you started.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, it’s Midnight Blue. You know — my favorite crayon in the entire box. To this day. What’s your favorite color? Tell me in the comments! And if you want to see Crayola’s current colors, check here: https://www.crayola.com/explore-colors/
Enjoy the colors in your world!
Together is Better
“When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you’re making a commitment and difference in that person’s life. Encouragement really does make a difference.”
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?”
In many conversations, the topic of our limited options of being with those we know and care about ultimately comes up. We lament that the kids aren’t able to go back to in-person school, analyze how fewer hugs and personal interactions affect our mood, or muse about the family and friends we long to appreciate close up rather than via a device screen. Even our ability to enjoy the rewards of being with others as we serve those in need has been drastically restricted.
Everyone is affected to some degree by these current disruptions but an unbelievably humbling reality is that essential workers of all types daily put themselves at risk for our safety and convenience and many families are struggling both financially and emotionally. The need for supporting others has perhaps never been greater. I know we can do it! There are good things just waiting for us to be ready again if we all stick together and care about one another.
Start by caring for yourself. If you find you are missing someone, tell them! Make a phone call, send a text or an email, write a note and place it at their door or send it in the mail. Let them know they crossed your mind, that they visited in your memories, that you care about them and miss them. It always buoys my spirits when I “visit” with a family member, friend, or acquaintance.
Then, keep it going! Look for ways to support others in your community and beyond. While opportunities for in-person volunteering are extremely limited right now, there are so many ways to help from home. Countless charitable organizations and community groups are seeking help and providing information about how you can assist them. One of our local charities focuses on giving a hand up, not a handout. Everyone needs a hand up at some point in their lives, I know I sure have. I will forever be grateful for those who were there to reach out. If you are able to be that hand up right now, it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
Another great way to reach out is by supporting those who are safe and secure, but experiencing isolation and loneliness. Sending notes to folks who may not otherwise have contact from someone who cares can have a huge impact on their lives and yours. A quick online search discovered a plethora of resources. Options include making small pieces of art with a note to share, writing notes or letters of encouragement, or sending a donation to cover the cost of postage for those who have time to write or create but not the funds to get them to their destination.
A memory from my days teaching in elementary school comes from the seven habits and is perfect to wrap up my thoughts for today. It brings me right back to where I started: “Together is Better!”
Appreciating the Rain
Stormy Skies 1 © Cathy L. Rae.
Stormy Skies 2 © Cathy L. Rae.
Microburst!
Sometimes, despite their reputation otherwise, stormy skies are a welcome gift. Summer can feel like a series of unrelenting, hot, dry days and after a significant dry spell, people typically hope for rain. My dad’s blueberries and green beans, a friend’s flowers, my succulents and cacti, and many things in general could sure use a downpour or at least a steady bit of rain right about now.
When I chose to paint some stormy skies, I gathered paint colors in preparation for all the shades of grey. The various not-so-boring greys - diluted Lamp Black, blue-tinged Payne’s grey, and violet-hued Moonglow. When I started creating and really observing, I noticed there is a whole lot more going on in those grey skies than you first imagine.
While turbulent, rain-filled skies often seem overwhelmingly grey, pewter, and charcoal, there are actually myriad other colors intermingling in the brew. I especially love when small areas of bright, rosy-golden sunlight or clear, soothing blue come peeking through. It’s also beautiful to see the top layers of clouds glowing with light once the heavier rainwater has fallen either to the cloud layer below, partway to earth as virga, or to the ground as a welcome summer shower.
We use stormy skies to describe our mood and emotions. No wonder! Skies can be gloomy, and so can we. The better news is we have hope after a rain. Here are some thought-inspiring quotes about the beauty and unquestioned value of rain.
True, the sun and the wind inspire. But rain has an edge. Who, after all, dreams of dancing in dust? Or kissing in the bright sun?
~ Cynthia Barnett (award-winning
environmental journalist and author of
Rain: A Natural and Cultural History)
Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
~ Langston Hughes
Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul.
~ Emily Logan Decens
