While I truly enjoy the juicy flavors of Starburst, their new website revamp is something that really hits the spot. The design, and the depth of the images and animation as well as the juicy little videos are great. Check them out at: http://starburst.com/

The screen shot above is one from the "juicy videos" and is very well written and executed. Click on the orange candy and then look for "Roomies" in the sharing video. 

So, as I was listening to an audiobook recently, I don't recall which one, I heard something that resonated with me. The quote was to "Make each day your masterpiece" and it really struck me, we HAVE that ability. Each morning as your alarm sounds, you get your wake-up call, the call to start your masterpiece. Do you hit the snooze button (guilty) or do you bound out of bed, feet hitting the floor with the excitement and fervor of a new puppy who has just spotted the little sunshine-yellow tennis ball. Leaping and bounding, tail wagging and ready follow where that ball may lead, no matter which direction it flies. Or, do you sloth out of bed, reluctantly dragging your feet from the warm and cozy covers?

 Once you have risen, it is time to plan your masterpiece! Oh, the options that lie before you. The medium, the texture, style, etc. Think about your medium for the day. Do you work in Acrylic, needing quick results? Or do you prefer Oils, taking longer to come to fruition, but perhaps more valuable in the long run? And your canvas, are you working on a 4"x5" canvas (living small and in fear), or are you shooting for the largest canvas available to you, something closer to 10'x20' (living in love and abundance)? Are you painting (speaking) with bright and vibrant colors, or dull muted tones? Or do you not even feel confined by a canvas? Breaking into more dimensional, and hands-on mediums of clay, or sculpture? Perhaps something that can be molded and then each day coming back to tweak a little more, something that will evolve with you?

Tomorrow as you rise from your slumber, step back, and look at your day differently, through new eyes.  What is your masterpiece for the day going to look like, and at the end of each day, when you look back, is your masterpiece worthy of the Louvre? Or are you not even proud enough to hang it in your closet?

Now realistically, not every day can be master quality, and if it isn't, can you look back at the day and know that you have mastered a new skill, learned a new technique which will make you an even more accomplished artist in the days to come?

The image above is one that I think illustrates this point well, and also is one cool site and deserves some recognition, perhaps the Louvre? OK, well maybe not, but quite impressive. Rendered images in clay, sometimes adds depth to the concept being relayed. The incorporation of the human hand into the art that gives it a different kind of breath of life. Deplastilina offers up some beautifully sculpted clay images that are truly one of a kind. Abstract and yet meaningful, I found several of them to be quite beautiful. Browse them and perhaps they will inspire your next masterpiece!

One of the trends I see more and more of on the web is the incorporation of photographic elements into overall web design. The photos add texture and depth to a site which would typically be very flat. One of my favorite sites that I use to illustrate this is the Stemilt Winery site. The depth, texture and overlapping elements just make this a beautiful site.

Check it out at: http://stemilt.squarespace.com/