I was talking with some friends the other day in a book discussion and mentioned that I could remember the dress my mother wore to my oldest sister’s wedding. That was about 36 years ago! Come to think of it, I think I can remember the dress my mother wore in each of my 4 sister’s weddings. Isn’t that strange. The power of the visual! I am a very visual person, which is a great asset in my business and can be a real asset in life. I think it is why I have an innate sense of what looks good, thus why I have enjoyed some success in a design profession. It also allows me to visualize and imagine things which motives the creative process and makes my work really fun. Although, I must admit that fantasy liturature does not bring this ability out in me. I got totally lost once in one of C.S. Lewis’ science fiction novels, Perelandra. I could not imagine that world!
A high sense of the visual can also be a detriment or a burden at times. I can’t forget anything I see. This can cause me to be critical in my mind at times or prejudge by what appears to be. The other day it was a blessing though as I visited the Holocaust Memorial in Washington D.C. I don’t think I will ever forget the shoes or the hair. I will certainly pause at times when I put my shoes on again, when I am not rushing to get out the door. The visual impression in my brain has changed me.
I had an interesting phone call the other day from a contractor who built one of the houses I designed a couple of years back. He had saved a Christmas card that I put together 2 years ago because of the image. It is the night shot you can see on my home page gallery. I found that intrigueing, that those cards are still floating around out there. I think the photograph really captures what I try to create in my work, drama that is inviting. The picture really makes you want to go there and experience it. That is what a home should be: inviting. It should speak through the visual, ”Come all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
