Hi Reader,

In CJ Hauser's essay The Crane Wife, she tells the story of how, days after breaking off her engagement with a man who cheated on her, she went on a scientific expedition to study the whooping crane on the gulf coast of Texas. This moment is one that plays over and over in my head.

How many times do we bet low in life because it's all we think we can have? All we think we deserve?

In hard times, in bad relationships, in seasons of lack — we shrink our desires so as to make them fit within the sphere of plausible outcomes. We tell ourselves we don't really need weekends off, or to be told I love you. After awhile, we almost believe it.

​Keep reading on the blog​

And in the rest of this edition: a dose of medicine for your chromophobia and a study that shows artworks featuring this one particular color sell for higher prices at auction.

Joyfully,
Ingrid
​

One Thing

​
How do you know what you really want? Well, when was the last time you asked?

Get a clean sheet of paper or a fresh journal page and give yourself 5 minutes to free-write an answer to the following prompt: I want ___________.

Let the answers flow without judgment. If a critical thought arises ("I shouldn't want that." or "I'll never have that.") notice it, and just let it go for the moment. When you get stuck, just come back to the prompt and keep exploring what's at the other end of the sentence.

Excerpted from this workshop, which is available on demand.

​

Mood: Spells to ward off chromophobia

​
As I mentioned last week, we are finally getting ready to bring a little joy to our home, and that starts with color. But even the most devout color-lovers aren't immune from the occasional bout of chromophobia.

I've spent the past two weeks painting big swatches of colors and putting them up on the wall where we can walk by them multiple times a day. Sometimes I feel my heart leap! At others, a little fearful voice: "Uh, that's a LOT of color!"

So, I'm trying to conjure up some bravery by soaking in images of fearlessly colorful spaces. Find more on my instagram here.

Images top to bottom, left to right: Aller Dorset cottages; Laure Joliet; North Farm Durham; Paul Massey.

​

Research Highlight

​
What color artworks are most expensive? A recent, cross-cultural study aimed to find out. Researchers looked at art auction prices and uncovered that paintings featuring the color blue, and to a slightly lesser extent, red, command a significant price premium (10.63% for blue, 4.2%) over the average.

Why do these colors command higher prices? In laboratory studies, the researchers tested a range of variables and found that it's simple: artworks with these colors bring joy! Pleasure drives people to bid more and ultimately pay more for these works.

My biggest takeaway? We pay more for art we love, not because we think someone else finds it valuable. And isn't that how it should be?

​Source​

​

Quote of the Week

​
“To be different is a negative motive, and no creative thought or created thing grows out of a negative impulse. A negative impulse is always frustrating… No negative impulse can work, can produce any happy creation. Only a positive one.”

— Eva Zeisel

​

Note: This newsletter may contain affiliate links to products mentioned, which means that if you choose to purchase an item, we receive a small percentage of the proceeds. We only reference books or items that we have specifically chosen out of personal interest, and there is no pressure whatsoever to purchase. We never include paid or sponsored links.