Line.Point.Shape.

So here I sit after finding, taking, uploading, and editing 50 pictures that illustrate all of the various points, lines, and shapes that surround me and I am both surprised and not surprised at what I found. Some of these were extremely easy to identify--others, not so much! But alas, I've attempted to express the shapes that surround me both here in athens and abroad!

POINT

the cross pictured at the top demonstrates a point in that it provides the focal viewing point of the picture.

The lamps shot form underneath demonstrates the effect that  positioning has on providing a focal point(s).

The spread hand  provides a perfect backdrop for the two pigeon eggs placed in his palms, their color and shape pulling your eye in.

the light at the end of the tunnel is the focal point of this picture, the contrast in lighting providing great differentiation in the different planes represented in this picture.

the  mason jar lamps are each individual points, but when put together create one larger point that represents a neat-o light fixture.

the two dangling stars create the focal points of this picture as they suspend in space. The digital effect of blurring out the background helps to draw focus to these sparkling stars!

VERTICAL LINES

vertical lines represent strength and power which are definitely associated with the images above. Church steeples, cathedrals, towers, and long pathways all demonstrate vertical lines that imply strength on a grand scale. 

DIAGONAL LINES

the diagonal lines show above represent a dynamic energy present in each photo. For example, the Ferris Wheel (which could also be categorized as structural) shows these lines projecting outward, representing  the fun and whimsical feeling of riding on it. The wine glasses pictured could be categorized as a horizontal line but the angle that I photographed them in presents them on a diagonal, giving the picture a little more of a casual, laid back feel.

HORIZONTAL

the horizons repented above are all perfect examples of a horizontal line. Each image taken in Cape Town provokes a sense of calm stability, provided both by the horizontal line itself and the photos of a serene sea. The fact that all these pictures are of the ocean reiterates that the horizon is an ideal example of a horizontal line and what it represents.

ORGANIC

Organic lines are thought to add whimsy and movement to images which all of these certainly possess. The bubble, moving leisurely through the air as if impermeable, to me represents the ideal example of an organic line. The pictures of the doors offer freely moving and twisting lines providing added motion to the images. This cross that I painted shows the movement of organic lines as well...I needed to show this one because I realized the picture of the tunnel above is not a correct example of this type of line. 

STRUCTURAL
These photos suggest that if the lines were not present, the structure pictured would crumble without their support. The masts of the ship, lines contracting the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower as well as the columns of a wet bar in a house are all examples of structural lines. 

IMPLIED: these lines all show how a specific line may be present but not be shown as one cohesive line--it can be dashed or broken like the brick flooring, the flag poles, the beach chairs, and the vineyards pictured below. 

GEOMETRIC

Geometric shapes are present EVERYWHERE! Circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, you name it--they are present around every corner. The coffee cups sitting out at a Parisian cafe demonstrate circles, the table they're sitting on, a rectangle. The window shutters and panes represent squares and rectangles of varying widths and heigths. The sink highlights squares and circles, and the light fixture shows ovals and circles in varying patterns.


NATURAL

Natural shapes are another ever-present shape because they are found naturally all throughout the world. Some shapes I found to be examples of these are trees, animals such as the pigeon, dog, and turkey (?) pictured above. The Alps form Lake Como demonstrate natural shapes as well. The idea is the non of the images pictured above are man-made.

A B S T R A C T

these images showcase a harder type of shape to identify and find and that is because it represents shapes that are altered in some way. The fabrics pictured below show some type of shapes that are manipulated to look like something else. The shadows are elongated versions of the human bodies forming them, showing their altered state. The pumpkin's mouth does use certain lines/shapes but it isn't one definable shape we could easily name, making it abstract in nature.

NON-REPRESENTATIONAL
these types of shapes are unrecognizable without an explanation. The pictures below each represent something that is otherwise unbeknownst to the viewer.

Urban Grace

Erika Powell, the head designer of "Urban Grace" is by far my favorite designer. She works out of Santa Rosa Beach, so her style is a beachy laid-back, fresh, and comfortable one. She works with builders which is probably my favorite thing about her-that she implements design from the get go of the creation of the building itself instead of just focusing on working with a preconceived space. She uses a lot of muted, natural, and rich colors which are my favorite and she also implements different building materials, my favorite being wood. I first found out about her from reading an article about her in Southern Living, so she is gaining a lot of recognition and respect for her amazing work!

The Eye of the Beholder

I think the general worldwide population would agree that the Eiffel Tower is one of the most beautiful landmarks ever created. People travel across the globe to lay eyes on this gorgeous structure and when they do, are mesmerized by its stature, symmetry, and extravagance. When I first saw this tower my heart quickened and my mouth dropped, obviously for it's physical beauty, but for other underlying meanings as well. I had finally made it to PARIS! The fact that I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go financially and logistically and was actually standing in front of this beautiful tower in this beautiful city was an incredible feeling. So for me, that was a beautiful moment, as I'm sure it has been for the millions of other people in the same situation as me. This tower is also beautiful because of what it symbolizes--a city, its people, their culture, and the pride the French have for their country. It's also a destination that represents adventure, love, and a carefree vibe to those who make the (probably long awaited) journey. So whether you're from Paris or have gone to visit, I have no doubt that you have seen the Eiffel Tower and when you did, felt the power and strength of its beauty and what it represents in your own life. If you haven't seen it in person, I'm sure that you would still describe it as being beautiful and will hopefully have the opportunity to behold it with you own eyes one day!

Raise Your Hand, If You’re Sure - passioncitychurch blog

When I first saw "The Hand" I was extremely confused on the meaning, context, and message that it was supposed to represent. I thought it was kind of scary/creepy looking and its mix-matched patchwork type appearance wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing design I'd ever seen. But upon learning more about it what it symbolizes, its beauty not only became more and more apparent--it became extremely emotional and thought-provoking as well. 

. The goal of the Passion City Conference this past January was to raise money and awareness for the obscenely prevalent issue of Sex Trafficking that is occurring on a global scale. There are actually more people in slavery today than there have ever been in history, whether they are slaves to sex, other people, or the land they live on. The hand represents the efforts being made by millions of people to help put an end to this. The fact that it's a hand represents us extending our hands to them in an effort to pull them out of this misery. This hand was actually built outside of the Passion City Church in Atlanta, standing tall enough for those driving by to witness and wonder about its meaning. It also stands as a beacon of hope, standing tall above the buildings around it, symbolizing the passion of a generation that will refuse to ignore the injustice that is going on in not only its own city, but the rest of the world as well. This hand, overall, represents freedom, which is beautiful.

The unexpected beauty about this structure is that if you just looked at it, you would have no idea what it really stood for. It's eye-catching for its sheer size and for its "out-loud" design, not because its physically appealing. But it is beautiful to those who are involved with the movement it represents and for those it has helped rescue from the bonds of slavery. 

Reason to my Rhyme

All of the links I have posted on my blog give me something to get lost in every time I visit each page.  From The beautiful clothing and aesthetically pleasing website of anthropologie to the  captured-in-the-moment  photography of Allison Cottrill, to my favorite interior designer's  (Erika Powell) pinterest...each time i visit these sites I get to pick the brain of the person who created it. This makes me feel as though I am somewhat (although very indirectly) connected to them in some way shape or form. As far as choosing whose brain to pick goes, my criteria for doing so falls on a very wide spectrum. Some sites are very professional looking, others are informal blogs, and others are globally recognized websites.  Some have to do with solely food, others solely fashion, others solely interiors, and others a healthy mix. Whatever each site offers, I  sincerely enjoy looking at them to see how others think , what inspires them, and just how creative so many people in this world can be! Seeing so many world views through so many different lenses allows me to study and learn on a larger scale, rather than solely focusing my attention on one limiting topic. Food certainly affects kitchen design and layout, fashion has important influence on textile design, color, and shape, photography brings life to a standstill no matter what the picture is of....etc etc etc etc.. So in a nutshell, the blogs I picked represent little pieces of what I hope represent me, my hopes, my interests, and hopefully my future design ideals. My favorite one is hard to choose because they all are so different, but being the pinterest fanatic that I am.. it's gotta be Erika Powell's pinterest. It includes all my favorite things in one place , hand-chosen by one very talented eye that I admire very much.   

Happy Re-Pinning!

Style Me Pretty

style is still evolving, and will hopefully continue to evolve over time based on my experiences, and maturity. Right now, my style is one that emphasizes comfort, emits a certain "homey" warmth, and uses a variety of textures to make a room come to life. I adore exposed brick and hardwood, warm/neutral color palettes and pieces of furniture that can speak for themselves! Artwork, windows, mirrors, fabric and light fixtures should  be seriously thought about as they will make all the difference in the character of the room--

a room that has character has my heart! Here are some examples of my friend's home that is my kind of style...you'll want to move right in!

The hardwoods, and green cabinet stain paired with wooden beams, and the copper stove awning/vent make for an inviting kitchen

the wooden walls (versus paint/wallpaper) paired with the brick chimmny and warm colors make for a perfect relaxing area!

The wooden ceiling paired with this cool blue paint and cream bedding make for a calming bedroom

What a fun entry way! The brick flooring, carved wooden door and playful wallpaper make you happy you stepped in the door!

this dining room is sophisticated yet comfortable. Its a very open area, opening up to the sitting room versus being set apart in a separate room. 

this sitting room is again, sophisticated, yet extremely comfortable due to the many seating options and fabric choices. 

As far as my style goes in arenas other than interior design, I'm all over the place. My pinterest would be a great place to look for an assortment of takes on my personal style...ranging from food, clothing, travel, crafts, photography and life in general. here is the link and here are a few pins that you could find on any given day that exemplify my taste and style.:

Emily Gregory (emilygregory) on Pinterest

from dogs, to love, to bikes, food, art, quotes, and apparel, my pinterest says it all and gives you a little idea of what I have my eye on these days. I love color, character, and images that provoke some sort of feeling/emotion--these are the most memorable. My style focus is obviously very wide, but in a nutshell, I would say is one that is very approachable. Every picture in some way makes me feel happy and at ease which is what I hope to accomplish when designing homes in the future. 

What is Interior Design Exactly?

Interior Design: 

the art or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building. 

As valid as this statement is, it doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what interior design does. Interior design, to me, is all about how a space, room, or envrionment makes you feel. This has a very powerful effect on those who enter, occupy, or visit a particular place, because every space, from a jail cell to a palace, emits a tangible vibe that makes you feel something. This vibe is responsible for making us feel comfortable or uncomfortable, happy or sad, mellow or uppity, clean or dirty, welcome or unwanted, overwhelmed or at peace and the list goes on and on. This is accomplished through elements of design such a color, texture, rhythm, unity, lines, contrast, cohesiveness, etc that are dictated by the style and tastes of the creator of the space itself. 

So to me, interior design isn't so much of the actual process of designing, but of the end result and how that effects those who occupy that space. Specifically narrowing my focus to residential interior design, I have chosen the blog name N E S T to reflect my thoughts, inspirations, and opinions that a home should be a livable, comfortable, and nurturing place to live, work, and play in. It should promote growth, love, and closeness through facilitating a family with a place they can specifically call their own, the design of which representing who they are individually as well as a collective whole. This "nest" should make people feel at home rather than just be at home, and to me, that is what interior design is about accomplishing. 

One of my favorite designers that i think does an exceptional job of this is Erika McPherson Powell- her design firm is called "Urban Grace." She blogs, pins, posts updates of her latest projects, and displays her portfolio! Check it out--

Urban Grace Interiors {the blog} | :: everyday life as a designer