Color My World

This video is an absolutely hilarious scene from the film "Mr. Blandings Builds his Dream House". Myrna Loy goes to great lengths to describe to the workmen the exact hues and shades she envisions for each room.

I want it to be a soft green. Not as blue-green as a robin's egg. But not as yellow-green as daffodil buds. Now, the only sample I could get is a little too yellow. But don't let whoever does it get it too blue.

I love the guy's remark to his fellow worker - "You got that, Charlie? Red, green, blue, yellow, white".

Oh, if only it were that simple. I can attest that choosing paint is one of the most difficult tasks you will ever face. No paint chip is ever labeled "blue", for instance. It will be named "Cloudy Morning" or "Icy Stream" or "Montana Sky" but never, ever will the paint manufacturer admit that this color is quite simply, blue. In fact, if you were left with only the names of the colors, you might not be able to determine what color they are meant to be.

After much deliberation, we had decided on Marzipan, but ended up with Dusted Bronze which actually looks quite green. I didn't think Marzipan was supposed to be green and Dusted Bronze is only one shade darker. When bronze turns green, doesn't that mean it's old and dirty? I certainly didn't think we needed any more dust.

Actually, the name Dusted Bronze is a wonderful stroke of luck. The very mention of the possibility of any color even hinting at green was decried by all and sundry. I was not allowed to even think about anything green. But Dusted Bronze is acceptable, it doesn't sound green so no one seems to see green.

So, as long as I don't tell them that the walls are actually a light celery, they like it just fine.

Chacun A Son Gout

One of my favorite phrases is the French "chacun à son goût" or basically, "each to his own taste". However, the good old American "there's no accounting for taste" better fits my current decor.

Each and every room is wallpapered except the bathrooms and the kitchen. I have nothing against any of these wallpapers, most are of excellent quality and the designs are tasteful and quiet. Very quiet. Inaudible. That's really the problem. They are all variations on a theme of white background with nearly invisible shades of blush, pink or more white with a hint of silver. Any and all of them would be lovely in a little girl's bedroom, or Barbie's bedroom. The wallpaper that graces the front hallway and stairway looks like Barbie's bridal shower wrapping paper.

All this quiet elegance has a sameness and understatement that is coma-inducing. These great walls leading to impossibly high ceilings are covered in bridal gift wrap.

So, when The Girl decided her room should be painted a garishly bright pink and the doors should have zebra striping, I agreed much more readily than I might normally. And I am glad I did.

The Girl's room is like an ice-cold energy drink after an exhausting workout. It's like jumping into the cold Atlantic on a hot summer day. It's refreshingly not shades of white and silver.

There's color. Lots of it. Teen girl color, admittedly, but color.

I now look forward with heightened anticipation to all the new coats of paint of whatever color that we manage to slap on any walls in whatever part of the house. My eyes, which were slipping into a state of ennui, will be grateful for the stimulation.

And as for the garish pink, well, chacun à son goût, I always say.

Student Art Online

From the time I was a young girl, I had aspirations in the area of art and drawing. I asked for and received an art kit for Christmas. I followed all the lessons, practiced all the techniques and worked with patience and diligence until I had experience enough to realize that I was not "gifted". Lacking the natural talent to be an artist however, was not a total failure - for I find often that having not quite enough talent is sometimes what is needed to recognize real talent when it does exist.

And my interest caused me to spur interest in my young nephew, who showed such a natural gift and ability, that he went on to art school. I realize that inspiring and encouraging talent is the second greatest ability to possessing that talent.

That's why I wanted to highlight an online gallery for the artwork of art students. Some among these students are tomorrow's art legends. There was a time when no one had heard of Picasso, after all. These works are from students at art schools, colleges and universities all over the country and they place their art for sale here.

Nearly every style, medium and genre is represented. If you want to support the arts and these students, go browse the gallery. You can search by artist, medium, genre, price and even color. I think it's wonderful that these new artists can display their work and have a chance to sell it. Think how exciting that must be! I can only liken it to the experience of a writer/blogger who has just received his first comment and realizes that someone is actually reading. For the artist, he knows someone sees what he sees, and believes it is of worth. This gallery is just another way the Internet is opening up avenues of expression for all creative artists.