Spring is here already! Although in Phoenix, it feels like it already came and went before we knew it; our temperatures have already been hitting triple digits! Regardless, it’s still springtime for most people who don’t live in a desert climate. This makes it a perfect time share pages 4 and 5 of my Gel Print Journal.
The color scheme on page 4 takes me back to my middle and high school days when spring break rolled around, and everyone was getting ready for pool time and gearing up for summer break. Warm enough to play outside, but not yet searing for the bolder fluorescent colors seen on the beach during a coastal vacation. It also channels that time in the late 80s when dark brown panel walls in home interiors were being replaced (or painted over) in lighter tones. Mauve, anyone?
In addition to mauve, the era of dusty, muted tones, as shown on page 5, rolled in. These swatches bring back memories from when my parents remodeled our family home in the late 80s. Our house was built in 1971. During that time most home interiors were decked out in hideous shades of yellow, avocado green, and brown paneling. But not ours. The flooring, kitchen counters, and walls were all various shades of blue. At one point my parents put the house on the market. Several would-be buyers turned away the moment they walked inside, whispering “too much blue” as they hurriedly moved on to the next available home. During the remodel, the walls were painted white and the flooring was changed to gray and white tones. My mom began to add mauve accents, and eventually shades of gray and muted purple were integrated. The new living room couches were black with a peacock feather like print in shades of gray, green, pink, and a subtle hint of blue.
Spring of 1989 definitely brought renewal – both inside and outside the home. Whenever I flip through this journal and land on these pages, I am instantly transported back to the latter of half of my freshman year in high school. I can still clearly remember the vibe that year brought, as well as the smells and sounds experienced as our house was transformed a couple of eras forward.
