Blog

The idea of minimalism in our homes and lives has been around for quite a while. I’ve read several books and bought into the philosophy of having less. I’ve followed minimalist suggestions for managing clothing, home, and even  busy-ness. As each layer of “stuff” is peeled away, life became easier to manage. 

This was especially noticeable when my kids were young and toy control was out of control. By limiting toys to a choice of three specific categories, with a box for each category, putting them away became significantly easier.

For example, my daughter chose Barbie, Playmobil, and an American Girl Doll with accessories; the boys liked Legos, Matchbox cars, and Playmobil. Even with only three categories we had a lot of pieces to deal with. But I began to see the possibilities for harmony as we at least consolidated things.

Over the years I began taking on my own categories: Christmas decor, collections, books, even kitchen utensils. I experienced a new level of peace with each area of life I minimized. The biggest challenge has been clothes. Thanks to the concepts behind Project 333, a clothing-management system developed by Courtney Carver, I discovered that having fewer garments gave me peace:

less “decision fatigue”, 

less laundry, 

less closest space needed, 

fewer minutes spent putting clothes away, 

less money spent on clothes that don’t work. 

Through all the years I’ve been learning to live with less, I’ve never really considered painting with less. Color — lots of it —has been my artistic passion. I have four or five watercolor palettes, each with different brands of watercolor pigments. My acrylic box is full of options: several reds, a variety of yellows, more blues than I’ll ever use up, miscellaneous neutrals. I have heavy body acrylics, liquid acrylics and student-grade acrylics for myart lessons. 

I have a drawer full of dozens of pastels, a jar of watercolor pencils, acrylic inks, watercolor inks, and even small pots of house paint. 

This may be the dark side to having a studio with lots of space. The more space available, the more space we fill. And of course, I DO paint — a lot! 

Painting has also been my teacher. One lesson it has taught me is the grace and beauty of space. Well-orchestrated space arrangement — composition —  is more important in a painting than perfect drawing or realistic subject matter. Even in my whimsical work, composition is more important than an endearing critter.

Simplicity is powerful.

This winter, I’m taking minimalism into my art practice by experimenting with a new-to-me art lesson: using a limited palette. That’s another way of saying I am using a limited color line-up on my palette. A limited palette is usually made up of a yellow, a red, and a blue plus white and black. What makes it challenging is knowing — or discovering — which yellow, red and blue to use. Without dragging you into a lesson on color theory, I’ll let you know that it can be complicated.

The result of using a limited palette is color harmony: Every color works together beautifully because they have been mixed from the same few pigments. Each color counts and its lovey presence makes a difference. It’s kind of like a quintet of singers versus an entire choir. Both are breathtaking when done well, but the harmonies of the smaller group are more noticeable. 

My last few paintings are made from the same limited palette of six pigments:

Naples yellow

Naphthol Red

Cadmium Orange, 

Phthalo Turquoise

Titanium White

Mars Black

I’m amazed by the variety of hue and mood this little group has given me. The colors are rich; whether smokey or vivid, deep or pastel, there is a peaceful blending that gives a sense of ahhhh. Even when I’m pleased with it, I don’t always feel that sense when I finish a painting.

A limited palette won’t give me all the realistic colors I’d need to copy aphoto or still-life or landscape. But it has taught me to think differently, more imaginatively — and that’s what creating is all about.

I’ve become aware of what gets lost when I have so much:

The enjoyment of a favorite garment, 

The sight of a meaningful keepsake, 

Light spilling from a window onto an empty space of wall, 

Using a favorite coffee mug every day,

Things  in your home that make you stop and smile,

Being surrounded by onlyyour absolute favorites. 

The ahhh!