Friday, October 5, 2007

First Friday Color Block - 2007.10.05

What do we think of when fall hits: back to school, Halloween, sweaters and sipping a hot chocolate (or hot buttered rum) with your loved-one. Anyway, I love this time of year. It conjures up images and colors of harvest moons, Firebirds across the evening sky, with pinks, reds, oranges and dark purples. Don't we all have memories of running through piles of leaves and the smell of wood burning in the fireplace?

Every October I am reminded of the beautiful drives we would take, in Bellingham, Washington, down Chuckanut Drive this time of year with the leaves turning to autumn vibrancy. We would also have fantastic visits with my Grandfather, Keith A. Murray. I love the fact that his birthday was on Halloween. I miss him...

So, with this months color block I decided to give you all the "Harvest" colors in my collection: oranges, yellows, golds, much like those beautiful October evenings and memories sitting on the stoop, watching that harvest moonrise.

Colors here clockwise starting with strands: marigold, sunflower, tangerine, daffodil, honey, lemonade, duckling.

- Pink

Art in the Burbs - October 26, 27, & 28


I know that I told a few of you that I wasn't going to do any more shows until the Holiday Season. Well, the women running "Art in the Burbs" asked that I participate in their show this October and I couldn't refuse. I am a sucker for the arts, art education and especially anything that would benefit public school art programs.

So, you will see me, if you can make it out to the show: The Alberta Rider Elementary School, 14850 SW 132nd Terrace in Tigard , or you can call for directions at 503.431.4900. 20% of my sales will benefit the 14 Tigard-Tualatin Schools (elementary through high school), specifically distributed to their arts programs.

Event Hours:

Friday, October 26 7pm - 9pm (Friends & Family night)
Saturday, October 27 10am - 5pm
Sunday, October 28 11am - 3pm

Along with me, they will also have at the show:
Original artwork featuring over 100 juried Northwest artists.

Garden Art, Pottery, Painted Furniture, Jewelry, Fused Glass, Fiber Arts, Watercolors, Calligraphy, Pastels and Oils, and much more!

I also understand that the food at the even is provided by Rick Anderson of Typhoon Catering.

It sounds like you won't want to miss this event. And besides, you can help out a great cause and the kids as well. Art education and participation is so important for a well-rounded education.

You'll also want to see my set up - they are providing a 10x10 space and I don't often get that, so I will have quite a nice set-up and selection with all the added space and extra table.

Thank you to all my loyal customer - and I hope to see you there!

Monday, October 1, 2007

Extended Color Coverage - A Color Junkie Run Amuck

Hello, my name is Lisa and I am a color-aholic. I say screw the 10 steps and embrace your addiction. This is what I do: I make color samples, over and over, until I come up with exactly what I want. I love the process of naming my color themes. What can I say, my gimmick has to be theme centered! So, over the course of the Summer I came up with a number of new color combinations for the Fall/Winter Seasons:

First off, check out "500 Miles". For me it is reminiscent of driving I-5 through southern Oregon into California during the late Summer/early Fall. All the grass has turned blonde, and the fall wild flowers are blooming in muted shades, while the leaves start to change form green to shades of yellow, orange and red. (The colors here from top to bottom: crimson, tangerine, dijon, sangria, sweet pea, bone)

Also, the farthest southern destination you can drive in a day and still make it to a hotel at a descent hour: Ukiah, California (571 miles from Portland, OR). For those of you unfamiliar with this lovely little town - it really is quite centrally located to San Francisco, the Mendocino Coast and California wine country, and not too expensive.

The next combination I created is called "City Centre". I just loved the new colors I bought and had to use them again in another combo... to me it's a reminder of the sidewalks we stroll down (or run down because as city folk we seem to be in a hurry), and the softness of the periphery: the color of the autumn sky with its pinks, caramels and reds. Or, maybe its the leaf letting oxygenators, with the softness of their turning leaves and the hardness of the bark. At any rate, its a reminder that living in the city is beautiful in the fall... (The colors here from top to bottom: nude, pewter, mushroom, cinnamon, poppy, rootbeer)

Additionally, I had to create a combination with blue... I can't make a new combo with out some blue so "Water's Edge" is what a came up with. It includes a new green called "pine" that has a smooth, matte finish... quite lustrous, also included is another new color "bark". I love how the dark, dark brown sets off the rich mulberry. It really is the only purple bead I love, and use regularly. Lately, I have found it difficult to love purple beads. Most of the shades are hard to work with and want to fight with other colors - but not mulberry... sweet mulberry! (The colors here from top to bottom: faded denim, ocean, peacock, pine, bark, mulberry)

This combo so reminds me of when I lived in Seattle and when I would bike around Lake Washington. Such a gorgeous spot. And every now and then I would spot a grey heron taking a break in the grass on the shore. Really, if you haven't been to Seattle - PLEASE... make a stop. You won't be disappointed.

Lastly, I created "Betty's Apron" (colors include from top to bottom: duckling, tangerine, cinnamon mushroom, cilantro, chartreuse). Now, my mother came of age in the 50's & 60's, so Betty Crocker was very much a part of her young life. She still has my grandmother's old Betty Crocker Cookbook from the 40's! If you've never read though one of these old cookbooks, well... it hilarious! It has all kinds of advise on how to "look" for your husband... you get the idea - hilarious! At any rate... my mother loves aprons, and though her name isn't Betty, she was very much like Betty when I was growing up. She was always baking goodies and making home-cooked dishes with love. My absolute favorite were my mother's home made cinnamon rolls. That's the inspiration behind this color combination: I remember the cheerful greens and oranges in my mother's 70's kitchen, along with the warmth of the oven and the gorgeous smell of the cinnamon, butter and frosting filled dough... yummm...

So, I hope that color allows you to relive a beautiful or happy memory - it does for me every day, and please feel free to comment on your favorite color combinations I have created this fall. And, if you have any favorite colors - I'd love to see them..

- Pink