Life as Art: My Art Wall is Born

Me: {pad, pad, pad to the local hardware store with a new creative idea}.

Middle-aged man in hardware store {Jay}: “Can I help you?”

Me: “Do you sell paint samples?”

Jay {excitedly}: “Oh yes! Any color swatch you see can be made into a small sample.”

Me: “Ooh, ok, please hold, I’ll be back.”

I picked three colors that felt like they were pulling me towards them with a magnetic force.

Brave and Bold red, Under the Stars blue & Cactus pink.

Me: “Ok, Jay—I’m ready to roll with samples on these three.”

Jay: “Ok, do you want to see something fun?”

Me: “Always.”

Jay: “Come over here and look at what colors come out when I add the name of the color you mentioned. This machine has 12 cylinders that all work together to create this color.”

Let me just tell you that this was indeed the most fun to watch.

Jay: “How they come up with these color names is fascinating to me.”

Me: “Yeah, like nail polish! That probably doesn’t really apply to you, but same thing – such interesting names for color.”

Jay: “You know back when I was in high school, long before any kind of social media, my friends painted my nails one time. You know where that photo ended up?”

Me: “In your yearbook?”

Jay: “Yes! How did you know?!”

Me: “I was the high school yearbook editor. I know how it goes.”

{Two samples later, as Jay is working on the third one}.

Me: “Jay, do you know what I’m going to do with these?”

Jay: “Sure don’t. Tell me.”

Me: “I’m going to start an art wall in my house.”

Jay: “Ooh, ok. Come back and show me pictures. I work on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

I had a vision this week of beautiful spaces and color-popping murals. And I decided – why can’t I do this in my house? Who says we must live inside of sterile walls?

I will keep adding to it as life goes on and inspiration strikes. Maybe it will grow to more walls of the house. Maybe when friends and family visit, I’ll have them add to it. The thought of a community art wall in my home makes me very happy!

Life is short. Paint the wall, wear the purple eyeshadow, start a book club.

DO THE DAMN THING. Experience, express, expand.

I need some more colors, but that will have to wait until next Thursday when Jay is back at work.  

Xoxo,

Em