San Francisco Color Comes Back To Life

I'm just back from San Francisco.  What a treat for the senses!  Thank goodness I had some great experiences while I was there to offset the bitterness of not receiving my luggage when I landed...I'm still waiting for it. 

 

A fine artist paints away street side in Sausalito

Back to San Francisco!  The light is so amazing there.  I know we've all experienced the beauty of the way light seems uninhibited on the West Coast, almost as if it's wrapping itself around every detail along the horizon. 

 

Colorful architecture abounds with confidence!

Architectural color is pronounced, nature seems to be a bit crisper and more pungent in color, and color in food and fashion provide a palette of unique combinations softened by the light.

I was most excited by the integration of recycled content into everyday gifts and accessories.  The styling may be nostalgic, international, or modern, but the ideas are all  ingenious in their use of everything from food wrappers and bike reflectors to license plates and drinking bottles.  Here are a few examples I found.

 Recycled Robot timepeices from Boss Brown.

 

Fair Trade bowls and baskets made from recycled food wrappers by artisans in Nepal with Spiral Foundation.

 

Recycled drinking bottles create this fabulous necklace by Kathleen Plate at Out Of Hand.

 

An art installation that uses rrecycled license plates from every state.

I love these ideas!  It makes me wonder about where new colors come from, too.  If we're recycling old objects, are the colors of yester-year simply being recycled, too?