It’s always been a mystery to me where our taste comes from. Like, why am I so obsessed with earth tones? Or wide-legged pants? Or cityscapes?
The best I can figure is that it is some form of imprinting. Like the baby geese that will forever follow the first thing they set their eyes on (usually their mother), I keep repeating the colors and shapes I first saw my mother wear. This would explain why I like burnt orange so much. And also my love for late 70′s silhouettes.
The more I think about it, the more I think my taste for all sorts of things comes from my mother. Her fascination with archeology and layers. Her love of drawing and japanese prints.
I guess my hope is that I can bring a little something of my own to the vision I got from her. That I can take it in a new direction, but one she will still recognize.
Where does your taste come from? Do you share it with your family?
Myrna | 01-Aug-11 at 4:56 pm | Permalink
That’s interesting. My taste is nothing at all like my mother’s. In fact, I don’t really fit in at all in my family – a black sheep.
Yvonne | 07-Aug-11 at 3:37 pm | Permalink
Hi Kathy,
I think you give me more credit than I deserve! You have certainly influenced me as much as (or more) than I have you. I am so proud of my daughters, both of whom have far exceeded anything I have accomplished!
I look forward to seeing the new things you are creating.
Mommy
icebug | 11-Aug-11 at 5:50 pm | Permalink
Interesting question. For me, I think there were certain 1-2 year periods of intense aesthetic development, when I would look closely at many things (nature, art), or shop a lot, do a lot of experimenting — followed by less receptive phases when I was too busy to notice much about the physical world. Punctuated equilibrium, maybe? I’d guess the high development periods fall in early childhood, early adolescence, and late adolescence… then off and on throughout adulthood. So the early childhood stuff would tie in closer with family patterns than the late adolescent would. E.g., walls of house all painted cool colors => lifelong preference for cool colors. But I don’t know what the magic is that makes us attach certain aesthetic experiences to our own identities. If you figure it out, do post more!
By the way, the catalog these people — http://www.hessnatur.com — just sent me made me think of you and your earth tones & layers, even though the really luscious stuff is mostly wool. And costs a mint. I especially love the sweaters made of wool from different-colored yaks.