It’s interesting the way colour and shape can be used to draw your eyes in. What makes it so facinating is that this almost outside of our will, we can’t resist.
Tonight the eyes have it. The windows of our soul; they can detect 10 million hues but not infrared or ultraviolet light. How much can you tell about the eyes of this mother and daughter and two cats?
Fire in the sky - The Monadhliath by Nick Livesey Mountain Images on Flickr.
Isn’t the rich coloured sky made extraordinary by the clean white backdrop? I love colour, wear it and use it unapologetically. I appreciate many colours and hues but I prefer the shades of purple - send me a message with a colour you wouldn’t like to live without, and I’ll post something in that colour.
As an addendum to yesterday’s Skye posts, this is a bit of colour for those already in the grips of Autumn-Winter blues. Enjoy the colour on the Isle of Skye and dream of Spring…
(For photo source click here.)
Today I’m on the Isle of Skye, in spirit. This is typical and takes patience, waiting for the light which is ever changing to produce this beautiful contrast. Skye is an island of stunning contrasts.
(For photo source, click here.)
I woke to the rain on the roof, quite loud since a burst pipe last winter necessitated a hatch being cut in the ceiling. The sound of the heavy rainfall, more than many other sounds, transports me back to Skye. The west coast of Scotland has some startlingly beautiful, clear days but oddly, it’s the rain one remembers. The first photo is taken in Plockton, known as the jewel of the Highlands and it is - with the warmer gulf stream, a palm tree lined street, rugged hills, groups of Scots pine and land sheltering water, Plockton sparkles with charm. (Photo source here.)
The funny thing about darker, rainy days is that you appreciate what light there is, so much more. Today, though the sky is dull, the colours around me are in sharp and beautiful contrast; the green of the evergreens, the soft orange, red and claret of the leaves turning, even the table lamps in the house are casting a pleasing warmth. This photo of the breaking dawn on the west coast of Scotland is a good example - less light but what a gorgeous show. (Photo source here, read what the photographer who took this has to say about light, it’s interesting.)
A little book created today with my four-year old in a spare moment. I drew the markers, and wrote the colors in the upper corner so he could see the spellings. Gavin colored the markers, and wrote the names of the colors below. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating:
I love the proto-writing. It’s interesting to someone curious about learning and brain developement, but more importantly it’s incredibly endearing!
These pictures formed a book by folding a single sheet of paper and cutting it in an ingenious way so the pages all open, but do not fall apart. I stole the method from some mini-comics ordered from the excellent tumblr artist demophon. Thanks!
I salute you “Gavin and ‘Dad,” great book idea and I love the colours.
I have always wanted to take to the road with something like this. I think we’ve forgotten with our concrete and chrome modernity how much we long for rest for our eyes, the glow of gentle light and the warmth of wood. Simple things soothe; nature all around, a nice meal, a good book, a chat with a friend. This caravan seems to belong to those things, to a less complicated life that’s in stark contrast to how most of us live now.
These lovely photos come from a revelation of a blog, what a surprise it was. It’s the work of Christine Alvarado, maker of quirky, beautiful dolls. Her skill is exceptional and the dolls can easily be described as art. She references a book called, “Les Roulottes,” by Jeane Bayol, a French interior designer that provided inspiration for Christine. Jeane sells and reconstructs gypsy caravans in the heart of Provence and the photos are credited to Jeane’s gorgeous book.
For more information:
Christine Alvarado’s blog is called Du Buh Designs:
http://dubuhdudesigns.typepad.com/du_buh_du_designs/2009/07/gyspy-caravan-inspiration.html
Jeane Bayol’s website: http://www.les-verdines.com/index.htm
An invitation to be bold, to seek colour and light in your experiences or simply to surround yourself with it.
(For the ultimate gypsy caravan post, click on the link provided)
Purple is a magnificent colour, combining red fire and stimulation and the calm of blue. It’s a colour long associated with creative and eccentric types.
In Thailand it’s the colour of mourning, in Egypt it denotes virtue and faith. It was the colour worn by the Ceasars and has historically been connected to royalty. Leonardo Da Vinci was of the belief that the effects of meditation increased 10 times if done in a purple light, such as under a stained glass window.
Not all love this colour, the Rev. Jerry Falwell being one. In 1999 he ‘came out’ against a much beloved purple figure from the Teletubbies, ‘Tinky Winky.’ He accused Tinky Winky of being homosexual as he is purple, the colour of gay pride. T.W., who never came out to anyone also sports a triangle atop his head, similarly associated with gay pride.
I am an unrepentant lover of purple, particularly violet, ever my favourite crayon in the box.
(Credit to Kate on Squidoo for her cool purple facts and to the Bluegrass Special.com for the drawing.)
