Colors that whisper softly

Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask ‘how’, while others of a more curious nature will ask ‘why’. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.
/Man Ray

Most of the time I’m drawn to things with several strong colors. Bright shiny colors that sparkle. What I create seldom concentrate on only one color, but is a mix from the color wheel. I like to combine many different colors together and in my photography I tend to shoot things that make me think of rainbows! But during August I’ve been drawn to more subtle colors of beige, brown and light yellow.

These colors with their vintage feel, mixed in with pastels and gray, seem so tender and fragile to me. They are like whispers that one might be seduced or comforted by. Soft whispers that talk about stillness in nature and piece of mind.

I’m finding this mindset within myself these days and maybe this is why I’m attracted to the subtle colors right now. My Own photos reflect this mindset too. I’m sneaking close close to these colors, with my camera and with my mind. Taking still life photos can be like listening to the silence. Focusing on what might be. Not expecting anything but giving as much as you can. I don’t know, maybe I’m just writing nonsense? But sometimes that is good too. If you let your mind wander free while writing you might find gems of gold within your text when you re-read it later. At least that is what Nathalie Goldberg told me last week as I finally finished reading her book Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within. Talk about subtle in a confusing way. Her book has a bit of a diary feel to it, as she talks about her own life and writing quite a lot. I didn’t like it when I got it three years ago, but I’ve been determined to finish it and nearing the end I found it inspiring.

It’s a book about writing with chapter titles like “The Ordinary and Extraordinary”, “Use Loneliness” and “The Power of Detail”. I love titles and names that have underlaying meaning. I love words that are not information but word play. Smilla agrees and says “Purrfect!” to that. I always try to create poetic and nice-sounding titles for my post even though it’s not always very SEO of me. One of the quotes in her book is about self-asteem and how we often put ourself down. She does not suggest that we all should become “braggarts” but says:

I mean we should recognize that we are good inside and emanate our goodness and create something good outside us. That connection between our inner richness, our self-concept, and our work will give us a quiet peace and confidence that are hard for most artists to find. […]

We are good and therefore we are capable of shining forth through our resistance to write well and claim it as our own.

My left shoulder feel like a bruise (I don’t know why) and I think I have a fever. I’m drinking water and thinking of all the things I wish I could do today but don’t think I will do. At least I wanted to do a post to my blog, because these photos have been whispering to me about that. My favorite flickr photos during August reflect my interest in subtle as I have been collecting photos with this calm palette in mind, and so does this week (5) Crowabout collage in my Art Journal which is very much not-like-me-at-all! White? Beige? Hmm… But it felt fitting and I’m happy with the page.

Here are some more photos that might help you notice the invisible:

As writers we are always seeking support. Fist we should notice that we are already supported every moment. There is the earth below our feet and there is the air, filling our lungs and emptying them. We should being from this when we need support. There is the sunlight coming through the window and the silence of the morning. Begin from these.
/Nathalie Goldberg, Writing down the bones, page 63.

Thinking of Goldberg’s book and Lynn’s book Writing and being I also want to post this link to a article by Diana Raab: Use journaling to spark your writing (it’s a pdf)! So maybe we should all go watch some nature and bring our journals today?!

Flickr favorites from August 2008. View it large here!

Smillis sleeping in my bed, trying to sleep while I try to get my camera to accept the little light there is and still take this image of her nose that I want to capture and keep. Her whole body is a whisper as she is sleeping. Her soft fur is like poetry, strokes of hair in all directions that come together in harmony at the end of the day. This is a cat in deep sleep after a long and satisfying day.

Cat whiskers that whispers.

Word play and paw waving.

Colors that speak and subtle words that color you in.

Have a lovely weekend!