Color Your World with Aliveness!

A client recently noted to me that he wants to see color "all of the time" at his home.  Any landscape architect or designer can tell you that request ranks right up there with the dreaded "no maintenance " request.  Unfortunately, there is this phenomenon in the universe called entropy - everything is always changing and seeking a new state of order (or disorder, depending upon your perspective and need for control) -which certainly precludes the possibility of a no-maintenance landscape.  Color on the other hand, is actually a function of the cycles and changes in our natural environment - and therefore, it stands to reason you can manage these cycles and have color - all of the time!

Before we resolve this situation, I'm curious why we are obsessed with color?  I love color as much as the next person.  Though I can honestly say I've never contemplated why.  I believe the reason is very likely the fact that color makes you aware of your 'aliveness.'   It engages your senses.  It reminds us to take some notice of life, the environment, and even who we are.

The more you notice and appreciate color, the more you respect it's nuances.  Artists will tell you that you don't have to be bombarded with color to enjoy its aliveness.  You can sometimes appreciate a palette that blends color in unique ways, using white to separate the softer pastels so they can be even further appreciated for what they are on their own.  In the same way, you can appreciate the subtleties of what's happening in your world - both in your your work and play.  You just have to take notice.

There is a quality of nature that makes you feel alive and aware of so many things in your life, including your purpose, your responsibilities to others, and a need to appreciate what you have right now.  Right now is where it's all happening - and color makes you aware of that.  Color stops you in your tracks and asks you to think about what's right.  Hopefully, we all eventually come to the realization that what's right with us is interconnected with everyone and everything in our lives.  So, take a color break and appreciate how your life has been colored and how you might want to see that picture evolve into something even more, well,  COLORFUL!:)