Anyone who has been to Lake Tahoe in the summer can attest to the magical qualities in all that you see; the sheer abundance of green offered by all of the trees and generous dusting of intense yellow pollen covering anything that remains in one place for even a brief period of time. This summer my “family” vacation brought with it the added bonus of my first experience in this wonderful environment, which resulted in a refreshed perspective on my ocular experience of the everyday. So much so that a yellow wall is taking shape in our showroom. Still in process and composed of integral yellow Venetian plaster, this happy pronouncement of summer will brighten up our everyday and hopefully prompt the wake up call that became such a welcome friend to me while I was in Tahoe.

My experience with light and color in Tahoe reminded me of the time I spent in Italy driving from Florence to Rome early in the morning. The rays of the sun transcended the conventional effects of light and cast a magical glow onto all that my eyes perceived. While in Italy I viewed many of the great masters’ works and, based on my new understanding of light, interpreted them in what was for me a new way. For example, in a particular painting I understood a spotlight depicted on a hillside town to not necessarily be the stroke of an overzealous faith holder but rather a reinterpretation of a daily event. Although Tahoe was not exactly the same experience, to be reminded of the spectacular qualities of natural light was a welcome reminiscence.