Kat Eye Studio

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Creative Spirit

This photo gives me such a good feeling. I can remember the creative excitement I was feeling when I took it, this greenhouse at Castello di San Sebastiano da Po (Piedmont) was such a wonderful place to photograph. I was filled with an urge to capture as many images as possible, from all different points of view. How many ways can you photograph something? An infinite number. And what I’m finding is that the one I like best of series or place changes over time.

Reviewing the photos of this year since I started posting a photo a day has been enlightening for me, seeing what caught my eye at the time and what catches my eye now. Finding the little details I capture of the places we’ve visited. Picking out the specific ones that I like best, that show my unique creative spirit, my eye for a place has been interesting. This blog has truly become the “Kat Eye View” on the world more than I expected. Thanks for sharing it with me, I’d love to hear your comments!

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Quiet Night

This photo is one of my favorites from our first trip to Venice. A quiet evening along the canal, the day wrapping up. The boat is parked and the family is all snug inside the house. The light is welcoming, the reflections bring a sense of calm and peace to the evening.

This evening shot appeals to me at the moment, with its inviting warmth. I would love to curl up and go to sleep under a lovely warm comforter with a purring cat, but it’s 9:30am and I have a normal day ahead of me. The adjustment back to Italy time has been rough this trip, I think it’s more difficult going this direction. Either that or I just don’t have as much craziness to keep me going all day long. But, about 12 hours from now, that comforter has my name written all over it…

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Complementary Color

This picture has been popping up in my brain a lot to post, so I figure I just need to get it up here! This is from the back streets of Burano, one of the islands that is part of Venice, my favorite island of the ones I’ve visited. It’s all about the color here. The identical houses are all painted different bright colors, so that the fisherman could find their way home from a distance as they were coming in from the sea.

The color is fantastic. I like this photo because of the way the complementary color scheme just brings the eye right to the focal point of the laundry. It’s a sneak peek into the back streets and the every day lives of the people who live on this little island. I think they actually color coordinate the laundry they hang out, so that it is visually appealing.

I hope to someday see Burano in the sun. My two visits so far have been on overcast days and I just want to see the difference the sun makes. Someday…

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Quiet Evening

This photo is from Bergamo alta citta (high city), a beautiful town about 30 minutes away from here. The old part of the city, alta citta, is on a hill and goes back to Roman days. It has its own architecture and personality and it’s not very touristy, it’s one of my favorite cities in Italy so far. This was a rainy evening we visited with my Mom, sister and cousin when they first arrived. I loved all of the reflections of the window light on the paving stones, and the umbrellas.

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One Red Scooter

I’m home! This morning (night, depending on your time zone!) I flew through Amsterdam on my way home to Italy, so I decided to post this picture from Amsterdam. This is one of the images I created to decorate our living room. I love the red scooter! A line of scooters parked is sooooo European. Everywhere here, nowhere in the US (at least that I’ve seen, maybe someone from the big city can enlighten me). I want a scooter now. A red or orange or pink one. But I’ll probably just settle for taking pictures of them!

Now that I’m back in Italy I’ll get back up to speed on my photo a day. I was just waaaaaay too social in Corvallis! Almost every minute was scheduled between work and shopping and visits with friends. It was a ton of fun! More to come on thoughts about the visit when I’m lucid. Right now I just want to crawl into bed…

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Rising Sun

It felt too weird to be posting pics of Italy while I’m here in Corvallis, so I decided to post this picture of my most recent painting, Jenny’s Rising Sun. I hung out with Jenny here in Corvallis today and was finally able to give it to her, so I could also post it here without spoiling the gift!

My friend Jenny left the company we both worked for earlier this year to start her own business, Rising Sun Coaching, where she coaches people to help them find happy and fulfilling lives. I’m so inspired by her, she is one of the most amazing people I know!

I have had this painting rattling around in my head for a couple of months and finally committed it to canvas when I knew that I would be coming to Corvallis and could actually give it to her. It’s interesting, it’s the first painting I’ve ever done for someone else, and the first painting I’ve given away. I thought I would feel a little bit of loss when I gave it to her but I think I actually feel the opposite. It’s like there is a piece of me there with her wherever she decides to put it, hopefully providing positive energy and inspiration.

I’m enjoying my time here in Oregon so far, about ready to head out for dinner with some other friends. I’m fading fast but trying to make it through so that I’m functional for the next week. World travel is fabulous, except for the jet lag. Our bodies are just not made for this!