31.12.09

Diary of an Interesting Year

 

Patricia Gray living room by Michelle Morelan

A Rendering of my Living Room given to me as a Christmas gift by Michelle Morelan.

2009 is a great year to reflect back on, now that it is almost over. Whew, what a turbulent year - full of challenges. I am not one to buy into the doom and gloom of the economic climate (I have weathered others through the years: early 80's, early 90's, late 90's), but this year was a year of an down economic climate that has seemed to have escaped no one in the 'world.'  There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. It is hard to see when you are in the midst of chaos, until you have come through it.....hopefully we are through it!!! One of the benefits for me was that I kept busy and was continually looking for ways to recharge and re-inspire. I was fortunate to have four wonderful trips this year to do just that. It is very important when you are working in a creative field to be continually evolving and expanding your horizons, and travel helps me to do that. I also full filled a life long dream this year and went back to school and took two Art classes in Mixed Media Painting. I subsequently turned my garage into an Art Studio and have spent many glorious days there immersed in painting.

A trip to Palm Springs in the early Spring - where I became fascinated with and wrote a Blog posting on the Mid-Century Post Modern resurgence of 'screen block.'

Palm Springs Modern Architecture and the Use of Screen Block
Palm Springs Modern Architecture and the Use of Screen Block

A trip to the Okanagan with my Dad and a visit to the The Nk'Mip Winery and Resort in Osoyoss where I was inspired by the use of Rammed Earth in Modern Architecture.

 Rammed Earth Wall NK'MIP Winery Osoyoos
Rammed Earth Wall NK'MIP Winery Osoyoos

A trip to New York in September and another in December.  What can I say about New York, other than that it is one of the most exciting and visually stimulating cities in the world.  Being able to see the artwork of great masters at the MOMA, Georgia O'Keeffe at The Whitney, and Kandinsky at the Guggenheim - it just doesn't get better than that. I shopped for clients at the D & D Building, A & D Building, and the New York Design Center, explored Soho, Tribeca, the Meat Packing District, Canal Street, walked Central Park, 5th Avenue, tried the Subway, enjoyed live theatre, ate at wonderful restaurants, enjoyed the lights and shop windows all decorated for Christmas, met new friends, and connected with old friends.

image 2009 Dec NYC 008
Kandinsky at the Guggenheim / The Meatpacking district and Highline / South Pacific at The Lincoln Center 


Mixed Media Painting Classes
at Emily Carr University of Art

Frottage 1  24" x 36" Mixed Media: Pastel, Acrylic, Gesso on Glassine

NYC Dec 005 NYC Dec 007
Experimenting with Mono Prints

Emily Carr 065 
Acrylic on Canvas

image
The Salton Sea 23" x 36" Mixed Media on Paper

Sept27 2009
West Coast Landscape 24" x 48" Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas  

Emily Carr 012
Triptych in My Living Room: Be Still My Bleeding Heart 72" x 36"'
Chinese Ink on Bronze & Silver Metallic

Emily Carr 006 
Diptych in My Living Room: Koi Pond 16" x 16" Gold & Pearl Opalescence (right)

Emily Carr 024 2009 Sept NYC 011
My painting companion - Nicole
image image
I am very honored to be on the 'Board of Experts' for LoftLife Magazine in 2009, and to have an article published in BC Home Magazine

I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2010 and may all your dreams come true!!

Patricia Gray is an award winning Interior Designer in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT  in the world of Interior Design.
2010 © Patricia Gray | Interior Design Blog™

18 comments:

  1. Anonymous31/12/09

    The best is yet to come. Your talents expand to all parts of your life and ours. Thank you for sharing them with us, your blog friends.
    Happy and healthy new year to you Patricia.

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  2. It looks like you had a very interesting year, full of excitement. It is also so true that traveling inspire ideas and recharge the mind. Taking new challenges keeps us curious of life. Your paintings are beautiful. I wish you (and Nicole) a fantastic New Year!

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  3. An exciting, adventurous year for you Patricia! I know 2010 will bring us even more meaning and joy in our lives!

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  4. Anonymous1/1/10

    Cara Patricia,

    I say... thank you for this post - the kind of posts needed these days. No day dreams. It is making dreams come true.Being "offensive" and making use of energy is the best way of staying above surface. The world will soon start spinning thanks to you and all your creative colleagues!

    And look where your creativity took you... cultural trips and inspiration for your artistry. Lovely prints and canvases! Un brindisi, cara! A toast to you and a fantastic next year. Hugs to your darling companion! Bacione, Ingrid in Umbria

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  5. I realized that interior design has great scope it's not limited really I pleased by getting here myself.

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  6. Given the year that most of us are more than happy to leave behind us, it sounds like you were blessed to have some pretty awesome adventures. May 2010 be even better and may you continue to expand your horizons. The art work is all A.M.A.Z.I.I.N.G! :) and Nicole is just too adorable.
    Happy New Year.
    xo

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  7. Barbara1/1/10

    While I don't comment on everything, I just want you to know how much I look forward to getting your posts. It helps me keep me on the path to both widen and focus in on my own creativity. Or maybe I just like looking at beautiful things! Best wishes to you and fellow readers for a Happy New Year!

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  8. I enjoyed this year in review! Your paintings are beautiful. My grandfather paints acrylics on canvas and I just adore them. The rendering of your living room is amazing and so peaceful. Thanks for sharing these details with so much thought. It's clear the best is yet to come for you and your talents are vast!

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  9. It looks like you had a wonderful year, Patricia! (By the way, I agree with much of what you said about our economic climate.)

    Kelly

    p.s. Having lived in South Florida for a decade, the type of block in your Palm Beach photograph has long been a favorite of mine; especially when it's enveloping an entrance courtyard. These never went out of style to me! Great post.

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  10. Your art work is lovely - what a wonder way to explore a different side of your creative nature. Best wishes for a wonderful 2010!

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  11. The picture of the Palm Spring home reminds me of the Parker hotel.

    Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

    -Max

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  12. I enjoyed this year in review. It looks like you had a wonderful year

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  13. What a year! Love the art. Reminiscent of JMW Turner. Happy New Year!

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  14. Happy New Year Patricia! It was fun reading about your journey to different places this year- you've been busy! :)

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  15. Thanks to everyone of you for taking the time to comment....it it so good to hear from you!
    I didn’t realize what a good year 2009 was (all bitching aside about the terrible economy) until I did a recap of it....proving that hindsight is 20/20 vision.
    Take care and all the very best for 2010.
    Regards
    Patricia

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  16. I love your paintings! WOW... what talent you have, Patricia!! All the very best to you in 2010!!
    Victoria @ DesignTies

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  17. I love the "Be Still My Bleeding Heart". It is graphic, elegant and dynamic at the same time. You inspired me to go on and venture in to creating my own expressive art. Also, I love the Palm Springs screen block. This one in the picture resembles a Coptic cross pattern. Very famous in Coptic Christian art.

    Thank you. Happy and prosperous year to you too.

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  18. very inspiring...am taking a few classes also, and thoroughly agree that a re-cap illustrates an awful lot more goodness in 2009 than I realized...

    all in all, it was a very good year. who woulda thought?

    hope your 2010 is off to an excellent start. best wishes! vt

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