Livable Art: Sustainable Building Eco-Systems

The Bjarke Ingels Group has some of the coolest buildings that are truly works of art eco-systems. My favorites are the City Hall and Trash Incinerator Building/Ski Slope. (Yes you read that right) Watch the video for more awesome buildings or check out their website. Seriously, we are so far behind in American architecture!

Principles of Art: Rhythm

Rhythm: The movement or variation characterized by the regular recurrence or alternation of different quantities or conditions. The pattern to which we arrange elements in a piece of art, whether it be notes in a song, footwork in a dance, lines in a painting, or words in a poem.

In everything there is a rhythm, an ebb and flow. From the breathes we take to the cycle of life. From the patterns on our clothes to the way we walk. Rhythm is felt in our core (not necessarily in our feet - I know plenty of people whose feet can't seem to pick up the rhythm in a dance).

Bruce Barton put it best: "Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change - this is the rhythm of living".

There are 3 types or ways to make rhythm: repetition, alternation and progression.

Repetition - Structured, Organized Repeats
A good example of this would be my day - get up shower, get dressed, go to work, work, come home, eat, sleep, repeat in the morning. (Okay my life is not quite that boring but sometimes it feels like it.)
Recent examples in the textile world are the chevron and ikat patterns.

 

Alternation - Repetition just slightly more complex

System of design created by alternately changing the elements of the design. Think pinstripes and zebra stripes. I think of this like my full week: work, work, work, work, Weekend!!!!, work, work work, work, Weekend!!!!

 

Progression - Suggests movement and sequence
You know like progress... I like progress - sometimes not the effort it takes to get to progress but the progress itself is fantastic.

So hold onto your hats this month we'll be discussing the rhythm of life, possibly how each of the rhythms techniques relate to life but definitely examples of rhythm in everyday life and finding the music in you!

BTW I have spelled rhythm wrong almost every time I have typed it out. Not sure who decided to spell it so weirdly but I am not impressed!

Orange: Spontaneious, Optamistic, and Respect

Orange is a happy color, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow, it not only does evoke fun, cheeriness and warm exuberance but it also helps to relieve feelings of self-pity, lack of self-worth and unwillingness to forgive.

Orange brings spontaneity, stimulates the mind to find interest in life and brings a positive outlook on life.

Orange aids in the assimilation of new ideas and frees the spirit of its limitations, giving us the freedom to be ourselves. At the same time it encourages self-respect and respect of others.

Blue: Calm, Collective, Protected

Blue has a very cooling and soothing affect, often making us calmer and has been known to help lower  blood pressure, which is partially why blue scrubs are worn in the operating room.

Blue can also suppress the appetite, partially because food doesn't look good against blue. So putting a blue light in your refrigerator or eating off a blue plate can help control your appetite.

Blue has more of a mental and intellectual effect on us rather then physical. It stimulates clear thinking and aids in concentrations and memorization.

Although blue is the world's favorite color it is often perceived as cold, unemotional, uninviting and unfriendly.

Sunday in the Park with George

I have always loved this painting, the use of color and texture is breathtaking. A few weeks ago I was listening to the musical "Sunday in the Park with George" which is based off of this painting and was really struck by some of the lyrics of one of the songs: Chromolume #7/Putting it Together.

 

I wanted to share with you what struck me because it relates so much to life:

 

"Art isn't easy-
Any way you look at it."
...

"Bit by bit,
Putting it together...
Piece by Piece-
Only way to make a work of art.
Every moment makes a contribution,
Every little detail plays a part.
Having just a vision's no solution,
Everything depends on execution:
Putting it together-
That's what counts!"
...

"Small amounts,
Adding up to make a work of art.
First of all you need a good foundation,
Otherwise it's risky from the start."
...
"The art of making art
Is putting it together
Bit by bit..."
...

"Bit by bit,
Putting it together.
Piece by piece.
Working out the vision night and day.
All it takes is time and perseverance,
With a little luck along the way,"

...

"Till you have a balanced composition-
Everything depends on preparation-
Even if you do have the suspicion
That it's taking all your concentration-"

So if you remember anything from today I hope it is this: The art of making a life is putting it together bit by bit. Start with a good foundation, a vision and preparation, then everything depends on execution. Life isn't easy but taking it bit by bit moment by moment adds up and can make it easier.

Purple: Peace, Meditation, and Spirituality

Purple is often associated with the right side of the brain; stimulating intuition and imagination- encouraging deep contemplation and meditation it brings awareness to a higher level of thought, and is thus associated with spirituality and compassion.

Purple has a cleansing effect with emotional disturbances and is associated with bringing peace as it helps to balance the mind and transform obsessions and irrational fears. 

Because purple has been associated with royalty for centuries it usually communicates the finest possible quality. However, using the wrong tone will communicate cheapness.

Yellow: Cheerful, Creative, Stimulation

Yellow stimulates the brain make us more alert and decisive.  It also makes muscles more energetic. Maybe I should try wearing yellow during my workouts, it'll help me actually want to do them.

Yellow is a happy, cheerful, uplifting color. You know that just seeming yellow sometimes (especially in winter) makes you smile. You can admit it - it happens to us all.

Yellow is associated with intellectual thinking - discernment, memory, clear thinking, decision-making, creativity and good judgment.

Yellow builds self-confidence and encourages optimism. However, a warning, too much of it, or the wrong tone in relation to the other tones in a color scheme, can cause self-esteem to plummet, giving rise to fear and anxiety.

Artist Quote: Pablo Picasso

"Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone."

Green: Rest, Relaxation, Rejuvenation

Green is opposite red on the color wheel and has basically the opposite affect on us that red has. Go figure.

Ever wonder why a good hike through a green forest can be so relaxing? Physically the color green steadies the heart rate and brings balance to heart and mind while helping us breathe slower and deeper.

Being neither a warm or cool color (equally yellow -warm- and blue -cool), green has a restful effect and can create feelings of comfort and calmness.

Its the color of nature, fertility, life and balance.

Green symbolizes self-respect, well being, hope, learning, harmony, good luck and growth.

Negatively - various hues of
 green often bring decay and sickness to mind. And of course who could forget the ugly green monster of jealousy and envy.

The Art of Motherhood

Yesterday being Mother's Day I thought I'd defer from the regularly scheduled programing and do a tribute to mothers everywhere. Here are favorite short story, quote, and artwork about moms.

Painting by J. Kirk Richards you should really check out his work here
 he did a wonderful series on mothers and children a few years back that I absolutely love.

 

I hope you remembered to call and thank all the mothers in your life - if not repent and do so now :)

How do you see color?

A little fun for all today - Here's a test to see how well you see color/ hues.

http://www.colormunki.com/game/huetest_kiosk

I've taken it several times and depending on the time of day and computer I was at I have gotten multiple scores. This latest time I scored an 8 (0 = perfect). Apparently my eyes can't differentiate colors well on the blue/green and red/orange spectrums when I'm tired :) Oh well, at least I beat my high score of 15 (that was definitely an off day)!

Have a colorful weekend and I'd love to know your scores.

Red: Power, Passion and Strength

Red: a most dynamic color. It may be the longest (and therefore the slowest) of the visible wavelengths but it packs a punch.

Red is associated with our most powerful passions. Love on one side of the spectrum and anger and aggression on the other.

It energizes our systems and motives us to take action. It is the color of confidence, ambition and determination.

It stimulates the appetite, hence it's use in many restaurants (and you thought it was just for looks).

Red tends to appear nearer then it is and grabs our attention first. Caution is advised when using red in decorating or art: too much causes irritation and agitation, a little goes a long way.

Physically, the color red will elevate your blood pressure and stimulate the adrenal glands which helps us become strong and increases our stamina.

Elements of Art: Color

Color is a very important part of our everyday, after all it's all around us. Color fills our vision, it fills our souls.

What is color?

Scientifically, color is wavelengths of light and how our eyes perceive it.

Each of us perceive color slightly differently, which I find very interesting (more on that in another post).

Color also has a physical, emotional and psychological effect on each of us, therefore it can be used and is used as a manipulation tool. Don't laugh it's true I use it in my design all the time. There is a reason that one color is in every restaurants color scheme (it enlarges your appetite) or that certain colors are used in hospital rooms (it causes relaxation). You are manipulated everyday by the colors in your environment for good or bad. It's important to understand the effects color has on us so we can maximize the good effects and combat the bad effects.

So this series will focus on the effects of color as well as have some fun with color.

What I Learned Friday: A lesson from my headphones

I learned an interesting lesson from my headphones at work. (Please don't think I'm crazy) At work my CPU is behind my monitors and rather far away from well my ears so most headphones don't reach. I borrowed my boss' extender cord for a bit while I was looking for one and the most interesting thing happened. Unless I held my head in just the right position (leaning slightly forward and a little to the left- not exactly my idea of comfortable) I only heard music in my left ear, it was like I was deaf in my right ear - which worried me for a bit I'll admit. Except that every once in a while when I hit the magic (slightly uncomfortable) position I would get a sudden burst of music in the right ear as well. And, o boy, did it make the music so much better because I could hear it all!

Only hearing half the music 90% of the time because I didn't want to be uncomfortable made me think about what else in life I could be missing out on because I don't stretch outside my comfort zone. There's a whole range of notes I could be missing! Stretching is hard but I'm thinking it will be worth the effort.

Life is to glorious to only be living it half way.

As I'm typing this up I'm reminded of a talk I heard recently. Toward the end Dieter F. Uchtdorf says:

"In the great Composer’s symphony, you have your own particular part to play—your own notes to sing. Fail to perform them, and with certainty the symphony will go on. But if you rise up and join the chorus and allow the power of God to work through you, you will see “the windows of heaven” open, and He will “pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

 We each have are part to play and if I don't play mine or you don't play yours those around us won't get the full effect of the grand symphony God has created for us just as I wasn't receiving the full effect of the music through my headphones. While it will still be good, it won't be the best. Don't we all deserve the best?

What helps you live life to the fullest? - I can use all the help I can get convincing myself to stretch outside my comfort zone.

Designing the Process of Life

I'm an Interior Designer by trade so the design process is built into my everyday simply by going to work, however, I have discovered that applying the design process to my everyday decisions and goals works really well for me.

The process of design is a 2 phase - 8 step (give or take a few depending on how lazy I am).

The phases are:

Phase 1: Analysis Phase 2: Synthesis

Phase 1

There are 4 steps to analyzing a project (or goal/ problem/ whatever you happen to be thinking about) prior to actually beginning...

Step 1 - Commit

This is one of those Duh! steps. In order to be successful in obtaining a goal you must first commit yourself to obtaining it.

Step 2 - State

Write your goal down clearly and concisely and put it somewhere where you can see it! Define the issues you may have completely your goal - i.e. if I had a goal to loose 20 pounds one of my issues my be I love food and hate running. Being completely honest with yourself during this step will help you overcome those issues.

Step 3 - Collect Data

(Not my favorite step) Write down all you know about your goal and how to achieve it, research additional ways, write down time frame and anything else that might be helpful for you to be successful - Inspirational quotes, pictures, etc.

Step 4 - Analysis

I bet you were wondering when we'd get to the analysis portion of the analysis phase. This is the part when you take all the information you've gathered and written down and clarify your goals, break it down into steps, and further scrutinize and issues.

Phase 2

This is where the designing usually takes place and all the hard work of implementing strategies to obtain your goal. There are also, what do you know, 4 steps - go figure.

Step 1 - Ideate

Generate ideas on how to achieve the steps to your goal. I like multiple options in case one fails - i.e. for my weight lose goal I might come up with the strategies to eat less calories, eat healthier, and work out in the gym. 

Step 2 - Choose and Refine

You've decided on your possible strategies and you've decided the best way to proceed. Now it's time to refine those strategies. If I decide to eat healthier and go to the gym then, how many times a week and I going to the gym, what am I doing at the gym - cardio (yuck) or weights, etc.? What am I going to eat, am I just cutting out fast food or am I eating a salad for lunch everyday?

Step 3 - Implement and Construct

Put your plan into action and give form to your goal!

Step 4 - Evaluate

Follow up with yourself periodically and evaluate your progress. When you've reached your goal evaluate your process - did it work well for you? what would you do differently?

One Step Enough for Me

I was listening to the hymn 'Lead Kindly Light' a few weeks ago and one line seemed to jump put at me waving it's proverbial arms screaming "Notice me! Notice Me!" That line was:

This has become my mantra. I'm the type of person that likes to go at things at lightening speed and not really think things through from beginning to end. So now when I'm starting a new goal I have this hanging in my room to remind me to take it one step at a time, that is all I can do - one step is enough. And if I continue to take one step each day/week/month, whatever I have time for, I am that much closer to achieving my goal.

Does it frustrate me that I can't snap my fingers and have something completed. You betcha! But I am learning to be patient with myself and my limitations.

So my challenge to you is to write down a goal to achieve a more balanced life (just one goal-let's not get crazy), figure out small manageable steps that will bring you closer to that goal and let's make it happen.

You deserve it - No excuses.

Next time on Life in the Form of Art - Problem Solving the Creative Way.

What I Learned Friday: Wonderland

Disclaimer: I didn't get to see the play on Broadway before it closed it's doors :( but I absolutely love the music.

10 Things I've Learned from the music of Wonderland:

 

1. The definition of Home: (Love it!)

"Home is not place, an address you memorize... It's where you never feel lonely whenever you're alone. That's how you know you are home."

 

2. Who I am and who I'm not.

"Identity is a tricky trick business, you think your somebody till suddenly you're not. Your not your name and your not your address, cause the you who you remember is who you forgot."

 

3. You have to look past your own reflection to what can be.

"Through the looking glass we go risking everything for what might be. All the things you used to know when your heart was young enough to see. Through your own reflection past your imperfection."

 

4. "I am my own invention"

You have the power within you to create yourself through your thoughts and actions.

 

5. "Nothing can exist till you dream it first"

"not the way things are but how they should be, this is what is true, wish upon a star, close your eyes and see all that you can do"

 

6. "Together we're going to make it back home."

It takes us all to help each other find our way home.

 

7. Hold onto those you love

"The hours move the days go by we wait for heroes to fall from the sky. Don't wait to long to learn what's true. ... The future can't change the pas,t make every second last, for all we have is here and now"

 

8. Slow Down - Enjoy the moment

We move to fast. We miss so much. We seldom see all the miracles in front of us.

 

9. "Ordinary magic happens every single day"

 

10. "Wonderland is never far away"

"Finding Wonderland is taking time to see the child within whose always been there smiling back at me... Finding wonderland is finding who you are the child within has always been there like a shining star...Finding wonderland is going home again to feel the love another gives and giving back and then if you should lose your way reach out for someone's hand and you'll be finding Wonderland"

Moderation - The Key to Balance

I believe moderation is the key to a balanced life. Moderation is defined as "being within reasonable limits". I have learned to much (or to little) of anything can be a bad thing. Moderation applies to every aspect of our lives - from the food we eat to the clothes we wear to what we decide to do or not do with our time.

I have been taught:

"And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order." (Mosiah 4:27)

Who would even think to run faster then they physically had the capacity to (except while being chased by bears, lions or zombies). It seems crazy. But all to often we do just that in our day to day lives. We schedule to many meetings or activities. We have every minute of every day planned out without a break. Who do we think we are - Superman/woman?

Moderation helps us do things "in wisdom and order". It helps us not become obsessive over one particular aspect of our lives. It helps us focus on the bigger picture. It keeps us from ever getting to that dreadful place called 'burn-out' where there is no energy to do anything we love.

Next week I'll share a saying that has really helped me when it comes to goal setting and doing things in moderation and I believe it will help you as well.

Are you Juggling while Riding a Unicycle?

I think we've all had those times in our lives when it feels like we are juggling ten balls in the air while riding a unicycle. It looks something like this:

and feels like we are a circus act. No Bueno.

When I get in times such as that I am reminded of a lesson I learned while painting in college. I was working on a painting to represent discord (ironic huh). To clarify art isn't something that has ever come naturally to me, I've had to work hard at it and push myself and this project was definitely pushing myself because I tend to run away from anything that could be described using the word 'discord'. I was struggling to find the balance of the painting, I kept adding more layers to bring balance to the work as a whole. My professor looked at it and told me to get my mat cutting blade out (we all had a generous supply of them). He then went to work and taught me a valuable lesson in art and life. "Sometimes it's not about adding something - it's about taking away." As we thoughtfully scrapped layers of paint away the piece became balanced.

Sometimes life cannot be balanced by adding another ball to the mix.

Sometimes the answer is simply to get off the unicycle.

What can you drop from your life (at least temporarily) to make it more balanced?

What I Learned Friday: DreamWorks Rise of the Guardians

So on Friday's I've decided to add a bit of randomness to the blog. We can't be serious all the time, right? Friday's I will share things I've learned from works of art, be it music, paintings, sculpture, movies, plays anything goes really. I may add a few other random series in on specific Friday's to mix things up a bit I'm still working on the details of those, ideas are percolating just have to get them moving forward. Here it goes.

5 Things I Learned from: DreamWorks Rise of the Guardians

 

1. Just because you can't see something doesn't make it any less real/true.

 

2. Once you find your center (what makes you, well you) you can battle anything with confidence.

I'll admit every time I think of this the line from Disney's Mulan sings through my head:

"Once you find your center you are sure to win"

 

3. Be true to your nature.

 

4. The Answer is in your memories.

 

5. Hope overpowers fear.

Pattern for Balance

In the Gospel of Luke we find a pattern for balancing life. Luke records: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52)
Here we find 4 areas that need balancing and that if balance properly will bring us joy.
Wisdom. Stature. Favor with God. Favor with man. Or in other words:

Mental. Physical. Spiritual. Social

As I work on maintaining a balance between these four areas of my life I find I feel more fulfilled and whole - if that makes sense. I believe there is significance to the order that Luke recorded them in, at least in the specific pairings. While taking care of ourselves physically is important, taking care of ourselves mentally and continuing to stretch our brain power to gain knowledge, I believe, is infinitely more important. Likewise, while being accepted and favored by our peers is necessary to our sense of well being, finding favor with God is vital to our eternal happiness.

When you are setting goals and establishing priorities it is essential to not overlook and neglect any of the areas of our lives.

How do you take care of yourself mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially?

Balance Requires a Strong Core

First and foremost let me apologize for being MIA...Life got CRAZY! But I'm back!

If there is one thing I learned from working out with a personal trainer it is this: Planks hurt and planks on a Bosu Ball are evil! For those of you not familiar with the little torture device it looks like this:

 

Innocent enough, right? Wrong! To do anything with this little monster takes a great deal of balance which requires a great deal of strength in the core muscles. I hated this piece of equipment - my trainer loved it, planks on it, push-ups on it, crunches on it she made me do them all. (obviously my core needs a little - okay a lot - of strengthening! I once observed a man standing on one foot with 20 lbs in each hand doing knee bends. Craziness but cool to watch and someday aspire to or not.)

 

So what does this have to do with balancing our lives? I have found that balancing my life takes a strong core as well. A core of principles, purpose and priorities. The 3 P's. Why would this be important? I don't know about you but life likes to give me options - to many options - of how to occupy my time. Without a strong sense of purpose, and principles by which I govern my life I'm not sure I would ever get anything done (besides reading).

 

In order to maintain a balanced life we must first figure out what principles we hold dear, what purposes we want to achieve and prioritize our time accordingly.

 

Here are a few of my core principles and purposes:

• As I put God first, He puts me first.
• Education is key to opportunity
• Work to live, live to play
• A little gratitude goes a long way
• Look beyond yourself and help others achieve greatness

What are your core principles and purposes and how does it effect how you spend your time?

The Importance of Being Balanced

To an artist balance is arranging elements so that no one part of a work overpowers, or seems heavier than any other part.

Why would this be important in art and life?

When a part of a piece - or our lives -  overpowers the rest we tend to miss out on the beauty that surrounds it/us. And that is a sad situation - one no one is happy in.

The laws of physics come into play - for every action there is a equal and opposite reaction. If there is an excess in one area there will be a deficit in another area.

If we are too busy working we miss out on possible relationships with people. We miss a sunset. We miss the voices of our children at play. If we are too busy playing we miss out on the rewards of meaningful work - income, purpose and growth.

A balanced piece of art or life provides the most fulfillment and joy! Think of a see-saw, imagine an elephant on one side and a mouse on the other. Both are stuck - one on the ground, the other in the air. Both are not enjoying the experience of the see-saw to the fullest.

Balance is key to getting the most out of life.

Prinicples of Art: Balance

The more I study the priniciples and elements of art and design the more I find that they truly relate directly to my everyday life. Each month I'd like to take a principle or element and discuss how it relates to the everyday. This month:

Easily one of the most important principles in art and life.

 

The Dictionary defines balance as: stability produced by even distribution of weight on each side of the vertical axis; an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements; mental and emotional steadiness 

There are two types of balance: Physical and Visual, both equally important in life.

Physical Balance relies on natural principles such as gravity and equilibruim.

Visual Balance is determined by the psychological impact on an individual and often changes as the expereince is viewed from different perspectives.

This month we'll discuss why balance is important, how balance requires strength and a sense of humor and some techniques to find balance in the masterpiece you call life.

Why do you think balance in so important in art as well as life?

Elevated to Art

"The secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life, and in elevating them to art. " ~William Morris

From the first lazy stretch of morning when the alarm is buzzing (or singing) in your ear to the slow wind-down of getting ready to sleep to the vivid dreams that cross the stage of night every moment we are creating art.

The way you styled your hair this morning (or if your like me the way you didn't style your hair this morning). Your morning run/workout. The melody you hummed as you cooked breakfast. The food you prepared. The clothes you put on. Your shoes. The way you tied your shoes.

All art and we haven't even made it out the door for the day yet...

Each day is a masterpiece. Each moment a stroke on the canvas, a note in the symphony, a step in the dance.

Together let's elevate the everyday into a form of art.

Can you see the art that makes up your everyday? What details in your life do you elevate to art?
Me? I'm partial to the art of eating and in extension the art of working out (but not running - I hate running)