Living In Shades Of Gray

A Way To See With More Clarity

Confluence, acrylic on canvas by artist Michelle Lindblom

Neutral colors, monochromatic palettes, and grays are calming and allow space to think and be without distractions. There are so many grays in the spectrum: warm grays, cool grays, green grays, blue grays, red grays, and so on. My wardrobe consists of grays, blacks, and neutral hues. This is part of my desire to draw attention away from visible adornments or the stereotypical appearance expectations plaguing us at all stages of our lives.

Being noticed for actions taken and words spoken is preferable after a lifetime of being dismissed or gawked at for my looks, being female, being too thin, being female, being too quiet, being female, being too opinionated, being female, being an artist, being female, now over 60, and again, being female.

I digress.

Back to grays—my current house interior also has monochromatic tendencies. Color is showcased in my artwork collection, which is displayed on any available wall—not cluttered, but tastefully hung.

I’ve never been a trend follower; I am an artist. I mention this because, apparently, grays are on the outs, and as usual, I’m bucking the popular wave and will continue to admire classic neutral hues, including my love of grays.

A preference for understated hues extends to the beauty and contrast of black-and-white photography, which has always attracted me. My sensibilities lean toward the concept that the fewer interruptions of hues, the more meaning I can gather from an image. The image takes precedence in its authentic and basic form, giving off an aura of the place or the psychology being revealed without all the extraneous details of color. It is the bare bones, a scene's essence, that connects and sparks my imagination.

An inclination for monochromatic palettes makes early spring a favorite season when all the trees begin to leaf out while the flowers are still in their bud stages, enjoying the range of greens before color explodes onto the scene.

I live among the Juniper and Ponderosa Pines of Central Oregon, where shades of green are all around. What I appreciate most is the contrast seen via the masses of green, which serve as a backdrop for those pops of color that don’t steal the scene but enhance it.

Too much color overloads my visual senses, just as too much sunshine gives me a whopping headache. I avoid big-box stores when possible because they have too much visual noise and too many unnecessary choices. I wear my sunglasses in overly lit stores and opt for small, local shops as my go-to.

Much of daily life is filled with a range of gray dimensions. There are few black-and-white answers, paths, or solutions to problems or obstacles. Navigating the gray involves problem-solving, adapting, allowing for change, swallowing pride, and admitting mistakes. This proves problematic for those set in their ways.

Gray areas allow for the consideration of alternative perspectives and an examination of what motivates certain beliefs or opinions. Unfortunately, and especially in our current climate, popular opinions and squeaky wheels make it difficult to fully consider all positions without a constant barrage of “my way or the highway” rhetoric or just plain lies. Lies become normalized as they are repeatedly reiterated, thus sinking us into a deep, dark hole from which we find it challenging to reemerge.

Recognizing that gray areas expose the essence of what is being viewed, contemplated, questioned, or experienced is something to ponder. For example, a neutral wall in a gallery gives the artwork a chance to breathe and radiate. I am not one for matching art to the room; instead, the art should be the primary focus.

Rainy, cloudy, gray days allow our bodies and brains to take a break from the bright, hot sun. Reading poetry or fiction contrasts with the daily noise and annoying stream of our news and social media. Walking in nature without headphones allows us to connect with the environment’s natural sounds. Moving away from the daily extremes may give us the clarity needed to see the broader picture.

So, appreciating that gray and neutral hues (both figuratively and visually) can create calm and reflection, contemplation and curiosity, luminosity and dullness, will help us consider our humanity and our role within the spectrum.