November Newsletter from My Website

Money problems and the bad economy are dominating headlines and entering most everyone's conversations (mine included) at some point during the day. It's almost impossible to be around people or connect to media and not hear something said about some aspect of money.

Our country's current financial instability is something that I can't obviously change, and that stresses me out. For stress relief I turn to something linear and controllable - exercise. I'm an active person, but in times of uncertainty I ramp up my exercise program. Maybe this doesn't seem very artsy or creative, but how I think about exercise is my creative approach to stress. Here's why: Targeted exercise creates measurable positive change in strength and power while relaxing the mind. And that equals control. Most of the control we think we have in life is often an illusion -- except for exercise.

Until I realized this, I often thought of exercise as something I fit around the days I was having fun in a sport like skiing or paddling my SUP board. Creating art is a very non-linear type of activity and I can spend days or weeks on a canvas and not be able to get at what I'm envisioning. Not only does exercise make me healthier, I can experience some linear measure of success with as little as an hour or so a day of minor discomfort.

Whatever the ups and downs may be in my day, not only does the success I feel translate into the rest of my day, I can eat more! Just in time for the holidays I wrote down my Pumpkin Sweet Potato Custard recipe so you can try one of my family's favorite desserts. It's like pumpkin pie without the crust.

The holiday season began this month with Dia de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) and now we're heading into Thanksgiving. The election is over and the work of change is all of our responsibility. I am very grateful to live in our great country. May we all take a moment to count our blessings, not only our cash.

Happy Holidays,

Cristina

Exhibit Info November 2008:

• Gottshalks department store obtained 2 images from my Spanish Rose Series for their entry foyer in the new Gottshalks in Bend, Oregon.
• ASU Arizona State University Museum of Anthropology is exhibiting my 16'6" charcoal drawing, Love Always (Siempre Amor) for their 9th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival exhibit, Oct. 28, 2008 - Jan. 29, 2009.
• Central Oregon, High Desert Gallery Sisters, Oregon, is exhibiting my series of Madonna retablos (altars) in their gallery.
• Onda Gallery in Lake Oswego, Oregon (a suburb of Portland) included my acrylic painting, Two to Tango in their Tango exhibit .

Along with painting, I continue to write design articles regularly for Latina Style magazine, and offer color consulting services to home and business owners choosing paint colors in Bend, Oregon. I like sharing home design ideas with clients, it's a satisfying way to share my creative skills when I'm not painting or writing.

All artwork under copyright protection by Cristina Acosta.

Winter White -- Article in Latina Style magazine

White is a year 'round color in home decor. I wrote an interior design article for Latina Style magazine about the color white titled, Painting Your Home with Style, Turning White into Wow! For a couple of years I've been regularly writing a design column called Su Casa (Your Home) that answers decor questions. It's fun and interesting work, and I always learn something new with each article. The next issue of Latina Style will include my article about interior lighting.

This issue is all about white (just in time for snow in the northern climes). Though white is not on the color wheel, when it's used in home decor and interior design, white functions as a color, (which is as good as being a color).

Here are some of my tips about using the wall paint color white from the home decor article:

Mix up the sheens (texture).
Choose a basic eggshell sheen for the majority of surfaces. Mix in other whites in matte and glossy finishes. Play with this idea, using gloss as the basic sheen and matte sheen as the accent (or vice versa).

Layer whites from bright to creamy.
Here’s an example of layering three colors of white: Semi-gloss bright-white trim (cool); matte sheen creamy-white though slightly darker ceilings (warm); with eggshell sheen creamy-white (warm) walls that are slightly darker than the ceiling.

Keep your whites in line with your décor.
Bright whites are a stylish boost in stark modern home designs. Enhance a traditional home with warm whites.

White walls don’t have to be boring when you play tonalities and textures of white together. Try some of these ideas and send me your photos to share on my Web site.

Sources:
www.BenjaminMoore.com
www.Sherwin-Williams.com
www.VoiceofColor.com
photo courtesy of Benjamin Moore

You can read more about design (and other things) on my website at www.CristinaAcosta.com

See examples of my color consulting portfolio and articles on my website.

www.CristinaAcosta.com Call me to schedule a color consulting appointment in Bend, Oregon or a phone appointment if you don't live in Oregon.

Read more of my Choosing Colors blog entries.

ASU Exhibit - Love Always - Siempre Amor

Bones are one of my enduring motifs. I began collecting bones from the rangeland around my Bend, Oregon, home in the early 1980's. Since then, whenever I'm on a hike, if I see an interesting bone, I pick it up and bring it home to draw.

This image is part of the Ofrenda for the ASU Arizona State University, Museum of Anthropology 9th Annual Dia de los Muertos exhibit, Oct 28, 2008 - Jan. 29, 2008.

Love eternal, renewable and cyclical binds together the bones of life. Vertebrae spiral like strands of DNA as they fly from the past into the future. Arteries from the heart bloom into evergreen pine branches. Feathers, like the shed-horns of the deer and elk renew with the seasons. Elements move through the space of the drawing, the dirt of charcoal stains a counterpoint to their beauty.

Each element in the drawing has multiple layers of meaning. The embracing couple is framed with feathers, implying the presence of angels. The pelvis rendering has the feel of a Kachina mask, the hands coming together play on a popular pregnancy photo pose.

You can see more of my Hispanic Heritage art series on my site. I like the elements in this design and am interested in licensing this art. If you know of anyone that would like to license this design or elements in it for home decor or clothing, please pass on this post to them. Here's my contact info: phone (541)388-5157 email: Cristina@CristinaAcosta.com

www.CristinaAcosta.com

Inside Design Internet Radio Talk this Friday!

I'm excited to tell you that this Friday morning (Nov. 14th, 10:30 EST) I'll be talking to the co-hosts of Inside Design internet radio show about art and design and sharing my inspirations with listeners.

Listen to Inside Design internet radio show to hear the latest interior design trends, news, and ideas, brought to you by co-hosts Susan Featherstone-Schemm and Sherry Burton Ways. Listen every other Friday, 10:30 am -12:00 noon, EST to the Inside Design Internet Radio Show on IM4RADIODC.COM"

To listen to the show you MUST login to www.im4radiodc.com at 10:30 am EST or 7:30 am Pacific Time on Friday, November 21st. Once you go into the website click listen now to hear the show.

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS IS A LIVE INTERNET RADIO SHOW NOT A RECORDING!

The show will begin promptly at 10:30 am EST (7:30 am Pacific Time). The interview will last approximately 30 minutes.

Ask Cristina: Which Wall Should be an Accent Wall?

Dear Cristina, (via my website www.CristinaAcosta.com)

I was wondering, how do you know which wall to use as an accent wall? I have an oblong living room and I am having it professionally painted soon. I am trying to decide which wall would be best. I was told to use the first wall you see when you come in the room as the accent wall. I was also told that I should not make the wall behind my TV the accent wall. (This is the first wall you see). I am so confused now. Please help. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Much thanks!!
Michele M.

Dear Michele,
A focal (or focus) point is an area of a room that catches your eye. A focal point area could be a wall, window, item of furniture (like a piano or TV), an architectural accent (such as -- ornate trims, a niche, fireplace, a unique ceiling) or fixture (such as lighting or appliances). A room will have a primary focal point, secondary focal point, etc.

How those focal points come to be is a combination of architecture and interior design. And, it sounds as though in your home the architecture makes the TV wall the focal point of the living room.

A painted accent wall can enhance or create a focal point. Because your living room is also your entertainment area I recommend you work with the TV. Put in cabinets and shelving that are attractive and cover or minimize the appearance of the TV. The cabinetry should include shelves to display art, memorabilia and decor items that enrich the focal area so that the TV is not visually dominant - an important factor when the TV is not on. The idea is to reinforce the natural visual dominance of the TV wall but at the same time, subordinate the visual importance of the TV.

With the above concepts in mind here's what to consider when you choose which wall to accent with paint:

• A colored accent wall would look great behind built-in shelves. The accent wall color would reinforce the focal point created by the cabinetry.
• OR, if the TV wall is also the longest wall in the room, AND after you have the cabinetry designed, IF that wall is too dominant you'll want to consider emphasizing a secondary focal point to create a little asymmetrical balance.**
  
• You could choose to accent a secondary focal point, consider a wall behind the seating area or a wall that frames a visually significant window.

Read more about accent walls on my website, www.CristinaAcosta.com.
When you're done with your room, I'd love to see photos.

Warm Regards,
Cristina

**Yes, this is a conditional answer, but it's the best I can do with the information I have. You'll need to consider these concepts when you make your decision.

See examples of my color consulting portfolio and articles on my website.

www.CristinaAcosta.com Call me to schedule a color consulting appointment in Bend, Oregon or a phone appointment if you don't live in Oregon.

Read more of my Choosing Colors blog entries.

Exhibit: Tango at Onda Oswego Gallery

Put on your dancing shoes, or just watch the show at the Onda Gallery in Lake Oswego, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. This exciting exhibit of images of the sensuous tango is accompanied opening night by live tango dancing and music. Proceeds of the sales that night benefit The Miracle Theatre in Portland, Oregon.

Put this exciting event on your calendar!

Tango a new exhibit at Onda Gallery in Lake Oswego, Oregon.
November 7 – November 30, 2008
Paintings, Drawings, Mixed Media Original Art

• WHEN: November 7 - 6-9 pm Artists Reception and Exhibit Opening
• FREE ADMISSION
  
• Live Argentine Tango Dancing and Music by Dick Suanders & Justin Franzino
• WHERE: 240 A Street Suite 104, Lake Oswego, Oregon 503-496-3922
  oswego@ondagallery.com www.ondagallery.com

Exhibiting Artists: Amy Erickson, Willow Bader, Christina Sells, Carolina Martinez, Karen Landey, Kate Venerso, Claude Werner-Laviano, John Graeter, Judy Maxon, Alan Rose, Colleen Flanigan, Micheal Fisher, Amber Marie Oxford, Frank Engel, Cristina Acosta

My painting in the exhibit is titled Two to Tango. It is acrylic and hard pastel on 100% rag paper.