While browsing in a Bar Harbor bookstore in August, I came across the book Local Color: Seeing Place Through Watercolor by designer Mimi Robinson.

The theory behind the book is that the colors of a place leave a lasting impression of that locale, especially somewhere we haven’t been before. She elaborates by demonstrating how she creates watercolor grids as a means of  journaling about the places she’s visited in order to retain a sense of that location.

That idea has stuck with me since.

Vancouver, BC  September 2015

While we wandered around Vancouver last week, I was paying attention to the colors that were representative of what we were experiencing, and making a point to think about it in my sketching as well as in what we photographed.

What most interested me here was the tangle of chair and table legs, but the room had an orange chair and table runner that created a striking contrast.

While I think it’s fair to say that most of us are attracted to and influenced by color, it’s a worthwhile exercise to be mindfully aware of it as a way of defining a location. I encourage you to give it a try.

Autumn colors beginning to pick up steam

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t give a nod to my adopted state of Vermont in any discussion of local color. There is such a strong sense of color identity here, especially at this time of year.

Bonus: In my research before we left for Canada, I found and planned a visit to Maiwa Supply. It is a wonderland of books and materials. Happily you can also check it out by visiting and shopping online!