Earth at Home III
It’s Earth Day!
I’ve been going on a color journey since January, sharing my perception on the energy of colors and how they impact my art creations. In celebration of Earth Day, here’s a recap of the colors I’ve explored to date.
Blue, the way you soothe…
I’ve loved the beach since I was a little girl. I can remember summer days when the sun was so hot, that it was too hot to stay inside and too hot to play outside on my block, so my mom would ask some of the parents of the kids my street if she could take them with us to the beach. There’d be a group of us walking to the train station with our beach toys and bathing suits under our clothes. We’d take the A train to the F train, and ride from Bed-Stuy to Coney Island.
My favorite part about the F train was knowing it would eventually leave underground and ride on the tracks outside, and I’d become fascinated with gazing out the window as it whizzed through the stations. My sisters and friends would all be talking to each other, and I’d sit or stand quietly gazing out the window, anticipating that first glimpse of the Wonder Wheel. At that point, I’d begin to get a whiff of the salt water as soon as the doors opened. My excitement would increase the closer we got to the beach. The closer we got, the cooler the summer day would feel, and the freer I felt in all of that open space.
I didn’t learn how to swim as a child, so I’d only stand at the shore and play in the shallow water. I’ve always been intrigued by the water, but would never stray too far into the deeper parts. I think subconsciously, the water has also inspired me to “go with the flow” and “ride the wave” of life.
I loved everything about the beach, and at that young age, I didn’t think about how dirty the water actually was, until I began to travel later in life. The first beach I went to after many trips to Coney Island beach, was South Beach in Miami, then to the beaches of Montego Bay in Jamaica. At that point, I learned just how truly beautiful beaches could be, and I became fascinated with the idea of visiting as many beaches around the world as possible. They became more stunning with time and location. White sand and turquoise waters is what I visualize when I think of peaceful places. Water is in my energy. It inspires my movements in life. It inspires my art.
I always say that my favorite color is green, but deep down inside, it’s really the colors of light that pass through water. The many shades of blue offer a sense of healing, peace, and serenity. It’s all so soothing. Now that I work with epoxy resin, it offers an added effect of water to my art, with its glossy appearance. I use the fluid art technique to create, because of the energy of water. It’s all about flow.
Pink, so sweet…
I did not grow up liking the color pink. I think it’s because I didn’t like how it was pre-positioned to represent girls, women, and femininity, even love. Maybe all of those years, I’ve been silently rebelling against the color because I felt as though it was placing me in a “girly” box. I knew from childhood that it didn’t seem appropriate to categorize genders by color.
Fast-forward to current day, there’s a trending “soft girl era” rippling through social media, inspiring women to indulge in a life of ease and self-care, unapologetically. A lot of the marketing for these messages include color palettes with tones of pink. I’m a big advocate for self love, but I’ve been able to express love for myself in many ways that didn’t include anything pink, until now.
I have been shifting into a mental space of accepting pink as a color that represents softness. These days, I don’t mind pink roses. I’m appreciating the color pink on my own terms, and at my own pace.
Pink is a bold color that creates an energy of romance. It’s pretty, playful, sweet, and depending on the deepening shades of pink - it can be funky!
I am moving on from society’s oversaturated use of the color pink as being a color for girls and women. It’s not. It’s for whomever chooses it, for whatever reason. This doesn’t mean that I’m shopping for pink clothes, but when it comes to painting, I often find myself reaching for pink now. And it feels pretty good to be embracing this newfound connection.
What do you think about the color pink?
Green, So Serene.
Now this one is my favorite. I have always been drawn to the color green. The color of plants and trees, the color that makes me feel the most at home. The color of my birth stone (peridot). The color of the heart chakra. Green represents growth and love. Green is a color of abundance. It’s the color that symbolizes “go” and “charged”! Sometimes, when I am low on energy, I turn to nature - especially during summer months when the trees are in full bloom. Green is serene. Green is everything! Every shade of green brings me the warmth of joy. Simply put, the color green makes me smile. It makes my spirit happy. It makes me feel replenished and healthy. It’s a reminder that, where there’s green, there’s growth, and there’s opportunity for more to surface and evolve. We eat greens. Green is power! Green is a sign that all is well. We are one with green. Green is the color that makes the most sense. Our planet is mostly blue, white, and green. Green is rich. A color that commands attention. A color that puts your senses at ease. Green is strength - the mother of all colors.
When a customer reaches out to place an order for a bespoke painting, they highlight 3-4 colors they want to dominate the artwork. Oftentimes, green is in the top 5 chosen colors (with gold in the lead). My customers and I connect over the shared excitement of nature’s flowing colors. We also share an interest in traveling to places where nature is lush and abundant, and that’s what they want to see in the art I create for them. If they are unable to get on a flight to Costa Rica, where the richness of nature runs wild, then at least they can place original art in their homes that remind them of why they love such places.
Where there’s green, there’s life.
There’s peace.
There’s tranquility.
Purple with a Purpose
Have you ever driven by a field of lavender and it suddenly felt as if time slowed down? Or become inspired to pause in your tracks, just to admire an army of purple tulips. Have you ever felt lucky when spotting purple carrots at a grocery store or farmers market, then blissfully purchasing them, even though they weren’t on your shopping list? The color purple does something for us. Its powerful reign of beautifully balanced blues mixed with reds, creates an energy that helps us release endorphins, signaling us to embrace a sense of calm.
I love lavender. I love its soothing properties - that pleasant visual of a soft, pale-shaded purple, and the softness of the aroma that relaxes all tension. Purple carries abundant spiritual energy. Purple offers a sense of majestic power. If it’s purple, it’s not easy to come by. I find myself taking an extra moment to appreciate anything that is the color purple - birds, butterflies, a purple jacket, purple hair.
The history of the color purple is tied to royalty, because finding anything purple in nature was rare. In ancient times, blending dyes to create the color purple for fabrics was difficult to produce, and it therefore became a luxury: expensive and only available to the wealthy. The extra effort that has been put into developing shades of purple is what makes this color so intriguing.
When I paint with purples, I’m seeking to tap into a calming, yet powerful energy. Purple is subtle, yet commands attention. It’s gentle, all while making you feel rich in spirit. Purple is inviting, welcoming, soft, and strong. Purple inspires confidence. In the presence of anything purple, I sometimes may find myself correcting my posture. Often when I’m painting with other colors, and I feel something is missing, I add in a pop of purple, and it somehow becomes complete. Purple, the secret sauce.
Consider painting a wall at home purple. It’s an ambitious color that can spark a sense of confidence and creativity. Find the shade that’s right for you! Depending on your space, use purple to design an accent wall, or throw in purple accessories - pillows, rugs, artwork. Click here for inspiration.
Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” symbolizes a spiritual transformation of a woman finding her way to her own power. Have you ever listened to Cynthia Erivo sing “I’m here” in the musical? Click to listen.
If purple were a mineral, it would be associated with gold. Their equally high value is recognized universally. If purple is your favorite color, I understand why.
Whether it’s The Color Purple, Purple Rain, purple grapes, a purple candle, purple gemstones, or meditating on your purple chakras, I invite you to tap deeply into the power of purple, and become creatively stimulated. Embrace purple with a purpose.
Which pops of color do you use to decorate your home? How does it affect your mood?
I am inspired by nature’s beauty and imperfections, and part of that inspiration leads me to do my part in caring for the health of our planet.
Reduce, re-use, recycle.