These past few weeks, returning to being a primary caregiver, has given me lots of sitting time while Stella naps. I’ve been cruising the hi-ways ‘n’ bi-ways of the internets as I am prone to do and discovering and rediscovering new sites, and yes, sights!
from decor8 blog
I keep being drawn to the Scandinavian aesthetic … that clean, bright white look with bare floors and pastel shades … particularly the graphics. Stark. Clean. SO not where I’m at artistically. Bizarre!
What is it then that draws me to these clean lines? This spare design?
from decor8 - Elle Interior
I know another blogger – Penny aka Little Brown Sparrow - has been struggling on the opposite side, changing from “pretty” to dark, charcoal dust. But by any other name, a rose is still a rose or, wanting to change one’s style, is still a huge upheaval. It requires deep thought and conscious creation. Something I haven’t done. At. All.
I’m a by-the-seat-of-the-pants kind of creationist. I just shove my brain into neutral and “DO”. True I’m often excited and sometimes, even pleased with the outcome and when I don’t have any pre-conceived notion of final product I can hardly be disappointed. However. When I set out to make something spare, something clean lined and it ends up looking like my normal stuff – textured and painted within an inch of its life – I can’t help feel that there needs to be another way, another path that I can take.
I want to create this:
Agenda by James Michael Starr
But end up with this:
Fembot Queen
Ya know?
There’s an intention with simplicity. There’s a mindset. There’s a conscious decision NOT to add. To pare down. To wait for the right item. Patience. And Gord knows I am not strong on patience!
Paraphrasing that smart Little Prince, it’s all about “Seeing Rightly”.
In the meantime, I will continue to visit and drink up simplicity.
Swarm - http://swarmhome.com/index.html
Simply Photo – http://simplyphoto.blogspot.com/
Twelve22 – http://www.twelve22.org/
Camilla Engman - http://camillaengman.blogspot.com/
Decor8 – http://decor8blog.com
*sigh*
I think it takes awareness and baby steps. How many years did it take for you to get to this point in your life artistically?
Nice pics and thanks for sharing!
I agree Carla. The awareness part is where I fall apart. I get so excited about the “doing” I forget to breathe, to chill, to not force the path, let the path come to me. All in good time!
I immediately noticed the contrast between the images and your artwork. But we are all made up of so many parts — i am not surprised. Thanks for the links!
Yup. Textured and painted within an inch of its life, that’s me! lol
I look forward to some R&R time (Rediscovery & Re-creation) in the New Year. I’m determined to nail this simplicity thing!
I love the clean Scandinavian form of design also, the warmth of the polished floorboards stop the rooms from being too stark and girly
Your Fem Queen is amazing. Simple can be difficult, especially if you are used to adding many details to your work. I have difficulty with simple, the urge to add more is just too strong!
I agree Sonya. LOVE that clean design. White/bright/light makes so much sense in the northern hemisphere where we are sun deprived for such a long time! Thanks for your kind words. As always! I’ll continue to work on the simplicity thing.
How’s your puppy??