Celebrate Summer Joys: Color, Week 1 of a Month of Gratitude Practice

Did you end up writing a Gratitude List after my post last week?

Are you ready for today’s prompt to help open your eyes to the beauties and joys of summer*?

a dahlia planted from seed and a self-seeded dill plant create a beautiful contrast

This week I want you to focus on COLOR.

the petals of a calendula flower unfold against a backdrop of oregano flowers

Color has been on my mind a lot lately. I’ve been putting together a lesson for an online summit I’m participating in that’s all about color (I’ll share more about that next month). I’ve been working on a series of paintings for a fun commission and delighting in mixing colors for each painting.

a wild bergamot painting and a the collection of mixed watercolor paints

And I was so inspired by Dana Barbieri’s recent blog posts about color. First this one on the colors in her garden and then this one on the power of color.

borage and nasturtiums a contrast in colors and textures and shapes

As an artist color is often on my mind,

dill flowers and a sunflower bud

whether I’m gathering flowers for a painting and deciding which colors will work best in a composition, or I’m mixing paint to recreate an exact color.

orange butterfly weed against a backdrop of lime green and purple creates a beautiful juxtaposition

Even if you’re not an artist, color is such a source of joy. And an opportunity for creativity.

greens and yellows in the garden

Deciding which colors to wear when you’re getting dressed.

Orange Pixie tomatoes ripening from green to orange

Or which colors to use as you decorate your home.

the beauty fo colorful leaves and a bright red geranium flower

And if you’re a gardener, which colors to plant in your garden.

variations in color in the Queen Lime Zinnia mix

But also, I find joy in the simple fact of color. Noticing interesting colors and color juxtapositions. In nature. In my garden. In the salads I create from garden bounty.

Color is everywhere. There are so many ways to celebrate and savor the colors around us.

I hope this week you’ll take some time to pay attention to color. Here are a few ideas:

  • Put together a bouquet of beautiful colors.

  • Mix some watercolor paint and swatch it in your sketchbook.

  • Take some photographs of colors that catch your eye.

  • Choose a pretty colored yarn (or fabric) for a new project.

  • Pull together a salad composed of a rainbow of ingredients.

  • Or simply look around you and see how many colors you can pick out.

Whichever ways you choose to celebrate COLOR, I hope it brings you joy!

 

*Southern Hemisphere Friends, each week’s prompt can easily be used to discover the joys of winter, too!

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