Several weeks ago a friend apologetically said that she could not join me and friends on our annual creative trek to Ghost Ranch Retreat Center in N. New Mexico this July. I started this tradition about 9 years ago when I felt I needed to escape my daily life and focus on just art – no other distractions. Since my initial trek, numerous pals have joined me in the fun.
This particular individual, who had not been there previously, remarked that she had too much work to do on her house, specifically remodeling a bathroom, to take up an artistic pastime at this point in time. I remarked to “Honey, your work on your house IS an artistic pastime and to recognize it as such! Your house is your canvas”.
Too many people separate ART from their daily lives ( I wrote more about this in my post There is “No Word for Art in Their Language”. It does not have to be a sanitized framed rectangle celebrated with appetizers and wine. Anytime a room is decorated, an outfit is planned, a garden designed, or a tasty meal is prepared, one has to think about combining different colors, shapes, textures, (and tastes in the realm of food), creativity is being expressed. There is art in all of those endeavors. I have to say that after remodeling two bathrooms, one kitchen and redecorating my living room, this is some of the work I am most proud of.
No Ideas? Simple…just go on Pinterest, Houzz, or similar websites and steal a few! Below are some of the touches I’ve added to my home “canvas”.
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By Alanna Pass 
Beautiful work. I can’t imagine how long it took to create the backsplash in your kitchen.
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Thanks! All in all, it took months from design to installation. It was a labor of love ( or maybe total insanity!) This was all while I was still teaching.
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