Art in Interesting Places

On my drive home tonight I heard a very interesting story on NPR about art in hospitals, where critical-care rooms like bone marrow transplant and MRIs are painted with decorative art to ease their patients.  The interviewees said that the art has become trans-formative; taking the patients away from a stressful, hard situation to being able to relax their minds as they enjoy the art-scape.  I am intrigued by the notion that there is a such tangible value to the softer calming effect of beautiful art.  I am impressed that hospitals are willing to spend thousands of dollars to help create some psychological calm in this seemingly esoteric way.  What a statement about the essential need for visual escapism.

This makes me wonder where I've seen art in my surroundings in unusual places, helping to make something stark and utilitarian seem not quite so bad.  Graffiti comes to mind, so does public sculpture, murals at public transit stops and even the poster of underwater fish that my dentist puts on the ceiling above his patient's chair.  My favorite local example were the fire hydrants painted like famous works of art.  I realize there's a fine line between fun and kitschy, calming and annoying, and by no means do these pieces compare with the hospital commissions in emotional effect.  But isn't it nice to see some effort, some societal recognition that plainness doesn't always have to be the norm? - l.o.d.

Setting Sun

Today was an exceptional day.  This morning, the sun rose and warmed the cool, crisp autumn air and caused fog to roll in the low lying fields and valleys on my drive to work.  The most wonderful sight was driving onto campus and seeing the fog roll ethereally down a grassy knoll to the street, like dry ice rolls off a stage at a play.  It was really something to encounter first thing in the morning.  A woman had stopped on her bicycle commute to snap a photo.  I wish I had done the same but it was fleeting and elusive.

Tonight the setting sun's angle caused some really dramatic highlights and lowlights on the scenery of my bike ride in the country.  It reminded me of Edward Hopper's way of making a sunset feel completely familiar yet totally desolate, like homes on the waterfront shuttered for the winter.  I've already spoken about feeling the change of the season but tonight I saw it.  Here's what it looks like. - l.o.d.

Animals

So there I am, sweating to Lady Gaga on my ipod at the gym, and I look out the window wall and see a young teenage deer fawn munching the grass, strolling around quite contentedly.  There was no danger for her; the valley of the building backs up to the forest behind a hospital where no one will disturb her.  It was such a peaceful sight to see and yet a jarring reminder that I was the one behaving unnaturally.  An elliptical machine?  Climate control?  iPod? 

But tonight's post isn't about man vs. nature.  It's about the beauty, peaceful symmetry of animals.  I am the proud owner of two fine cats and I often admire the way they stretch, fold and use their bodies as acrobats.  I've owned dogs too, and envy the power in their legs to run and the expression of their faces.  This close-up look at this fawn made me realize how lithe and graceful they are.  Her legs were so long and thin yet built exactly the way she needed to use them - to run through thick forests.  In honor of all the colors and beauty in the animal kingdom, here are a few of my favorite animal snaps. - l.o.d.

Military

I've noticed a fall fashion trend lately that piqued my interest in a visual way.  I don't think it represents the image that I'm going for personally, but I do appreciate some of its aesthetics.  The military look is very now.  I've seen it in fashion rags, store shelves and even on Dancing with the Stars tonight.  It was bound to happen - a war-weary culture that is trying to find some beauty and relevance in our everyday lives outside of the news reel.  Quite a story if you think about it.  I can appreciate the squared cuts, the shiny brass hardware, the inherent practicality of multiple pockets (even of the superficial kind.) Although the muted, camouflaged colors are astoundingly boring, there's something very autumnal about them too.  Whatever the reason, the military look is the hot look for fall.  Among the contenders, here are a few of my favorite pieces.  - l.o.d.

Fossil Kenya Crossbody $148

Nine West Donley $129

Gryphon jacket $565

Aryn K jacket $108

Fall bike ride

Weekends are bike riding times for me.  I'm extremely lucky to have an inspirational and patient coach/partner who showed me the joys of cycling.  I never thought I'd be one of those pesky riders in loud spandex, I mean come on, spandex?  But it's true, I'm hooked.  Bikes are beautiful.  The geometry can be simple or complex, the materials are engineering marvels and the fluid motion of the gears and wheels are a continuous song.  And the fabulous paint jobs!  The way I see it, I'm just the rider, the bike is the machine.  Together we go far - 900 miles this year!

The season is waning.  Rides are becoming crisper and shorter.  The foliage is turning ever so slightly.  There's a spot on my ride that I've called mine, although in reality it belongs to mother nature.  It's a great spot; lush wetlands where birds, frogs and a few deer call home.  I'm going to document all four seasons of it for my Monet project.  The first picture is a small bit of that spot.  And just for kicks, thanks to Photoshop, I stylized it to appear how it would if I painted it.  And for more kicks, the last picture is how it would be if I designed it.  Which one appeals to you - original and raw, artistically painted or highly stylized?  Or are you like me and see the beauty of all three?  - l.o.d.

Warm up

I've been thinking about those lovely Orla Kiely flower designs posted earlier this week, they're striking a chord with me right now.  I wanted a warm up exercise in Illustrator since it's been far too long and my memory is rusty.  I gave myself a theme; orange, cheerful and simple.  This is the result for tonight although I will be working on variations of this again.  It will be fun to watch this progress.  I think this would make for great stationery.  Or the background for this blog? - l.o.d.

Zumba

Tonight's post is a brief, written one because I don't have audio or video to supplement my thoughts. I need to post something about dance, a type of art that in my opinion is under-appreciated by most people.  And I don't mean Dancing with the Stars dancing, although I love to watch that show, because it's show business. I'm talking about getting up and dancing on your own, no mirrors, no inhibitions. I danced for 15 years and love the energy of moving all limbs and expressing my body in motion. I'll never fully know why I chose to give it up, although maybe being 5'3" had something to do with it. I also have developed a passion for global music, especially Latin and South American beats. So when I saw a Zumba class I knew it would be perfect for me. I LOVE this class. Tonight we danced to some great latin grooves and electronica songs, some familiar some not.  It was so much fun. If I could put a color to it, it would be bright orange (of course!) This is inspiration of an energetic nature, a great start to the weekend. - l.o.d.

Blue Umbrella

This post falls squarely under the theme of appreciating small pieces of beauty in the everyday, such as a patterned umbrella.  Somehow, rainy days aren't so dreary when this cheery pattern is over head.  What I like about the graphic flower pattern that is so obvious yet subtle that you don't see it right away.  And the colors work perfectly together; complementary blues, greens, pinks and yellows.  I'm almost disappointed that the sun has been shining all afternoon!

Speaking of graphic flower patterns, in my humble opinion no one does it better than Orla Kiely.  I discovered her patterns adorning handbags that were way out of my budget but absolutely obsession-worthy. The vivid simplicity stirs up some childhood primary color emotions for me.  I just love every bit of them. The flower pattern has been a theme in my own artwork many times and I'm sure it will appear in future posts here. In fact, I feel inspired already... - l.o.d.

Fall in Petoskey

Happy autumnal equinox!  There's nothing quite like being up north in the fall.  The crisp air, beautiful sunsets and a palpable exhalation of the locals and shoulder-season tourists who enjoy having a little more elbow room after the summer crowds go away. A northern fall is the perfect season to revel in the light and color of my favorite time of day - dusk.  Something magical happens at this time, do you notice?  It's elusive to photograph though I won't stop trying.  The royal blue glow of these lights contrast nicely with the bright and linear interior of this cafe.  Had I noticed the composition at the time, I would've shifted slightly to the left to capture the young woman sweeping the floors in her apron.  Regardless, I can sense the closing of a day, a season, and the preparation for the next chapter: winter. - l.o.d.

Prelude

This week begins the first installment of what I'll call the Everyday Art project.  This is going to be quite an adventure for me.  To start, I'm not one to comfortably show my creations to an audience, in fact I would be more than happy to store them in a box and have them discovered 100 years from now.  Plus, I'm no writer.  I'm sure you'll figure that out quickly.  I also suffer from the fear of the dreaded white page; I'm terribly immobilized by it.  For these reasons and many more this blog is completely out of my comfort zone.  But I feel that drastic measures need to be taken.  I have completely lost myself in my daily grind, my days pass by without a single thought to creating something, weeks pass without taking a photo, months pass without turning a page in my sketchbook.  It's time.  I created this project to motivate, inspire and capture the beauty that's around me.  My hope is that my paradigm shifts and artistic endeavors become more than just a past hobby.  I also hope that you enjoy a glimpse of something that inspires you too.  - l.o.d.