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My Best Sunsets of 2017

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The Pearl Resort, Fiji, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Sunset at The Pearl Resort, Fiji, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Catalina Island, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Sunset at Catalina Island, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Pacific Northwest, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Sunset in the Pacific Northwest, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Laguna Beach, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Sunset at Laguna Beach, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Malibu 2017, Photo Skyler Campbell
Sunset over Malibu,  2017, Photo Skyler Campbell
Malibu, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Sunset over Malibu, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier
Moon Festival, Chinatown, LA, Photo Romi Cortier
Sunset at the Moon Festival, Chinatown, LA, 2017, Photo Romi Cortier

My best sunsets of 2017   takes a look back at some of my favorite moments throughout the year. Any sunset that makes you stop and take notice is a great day in my book, and if it happens to take place on a special occasion, then it’s a an added bonus. With a year full of Breaking News alerts 24/7, it’s nice to take a moment and focus on what was beautiful and right in the world.

The Fiji sunset on January 2nd,  was one of the most serenely colorful sunsets I’ve ever seen. There was  the finest mist of rain coming down on that 80 degree evening, adding a little extra moisture and magic to the reflected light of the sunset. I’d forgotten  that I’d  started 2017 in Fiji, so this image is a beautiful reminder of one of the best vacations I’ve ever had.

Sunset on Catalina Island was  an amazing day for two reasons. I’d surprised my fiancé with a Helicopter ride to the island, which was fantastic because he’d made friends with the pilot while taking this photo below, who then invited him to sit up front on our trek across the channel. This made his first chopper ride an experience that kept him grinning for hours afterwards. The chopper flew at  about 300 feet above the ocean, making the 11 minute journey both quick and thrilling.

Recio and Romi, Helicopter transport from Catalina Express, Longbeach, Ca. 2017
Recio and Romi, Helicopter transport from Catalina Express, Longbeach, Ca. 2017

Part two of July 4th in Catalina was getting  the news about the surprise early birth of my great nephew Cannon, as the fireworks began over the bay.   Someone randomly played the Dynasty theme song on the beach as the fireworks exploded overhead…. magic!! Who could’ve ask for a better day.

Sunset in the Pacific Northwest was taken a few weeks later when I went to visit Cannon, the newly born little nugget. It’s hard to believe that I have three great nieces and nephews at my age…. who knows, at this rate I might get to see some great great nieces and nephews before my days are done here on planet earth. What makes me most happy about this news, is that both of my sisters are now enjoying being grandmothers at such early age.

Sunset at Laguna Beach was a day set aside to celebrate my fiances birthday by doing what he loves most, hanging out on the beach. This was  his first time visiting Laguna, which has always been a special place for me  because of its fantastic  art gallery scene.  Sue Greenwood Fine Art at 330 N. Coast Highway  is worth the drive down from L.A., and is a must see.

Sunset over Malibu Beach was a very special day, as it included one of the most beautiful beach parties I’ve ever attended, with a very small and special group of people.

Sunset at the Moon Festival in Chinatown was a happy accident. I went there to capture a few beautiful Chinoiserie buildings for my Artful Living archives and voila… celebration! It was magical,  fun, and incredibly colorful. I felt like I’d opened a beautiful fortune cookie giving me an unexpected gift.

I thank you for reading Where Art Inspires Beauty, and I hope you’re able to make some of your own magic in the coming year. May 2018 bring you riches beyond your wildest dreams, and most importantly, beautiful sunsets.

 

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Blue Skies in the Pacific Northwest

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Manchester State Park, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Manchester State Park, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Manchester State Park, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Manchester State Park, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Manchester State Park, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Manchester State Park, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
The PIer at Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
The Pier at Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
The Pier at Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
The Pier at Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Bald Eagle, Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier
Bald Eagle, Annapolis, Washington, Photo Romi Cortier

If you’re a native of the Pacific Northwest, than you know what a thrill it is to have blue skies such as these. In a place where it’s gray and cloudy the majority of the year, a stellar day like this makes you truly appreciate the glory of a cloudless day.

I was lucky enough to encounter such gorgeous weather just last weekend when I went home to visit my family and attend my nephews graduation from high school. Usually June can be a little sketchy when it comes to the weather, and you’re not usually guaranteed a sunny day until after the 4th of July. Our family made great use of the weekend, spending time driving around the Sinclair Inlet where we grew up. And who knew the Manchester State Park was so beautiful. I’ll be sharing some great photos of an abandoned military bunker, a torpedo warehouse and a mining casement, all located at the park, in my next design diary entry.

If you’re not familiar with this part of the  northwest, you’re not alone. This remote inlet shown above is remarkably deep, which is why it leads to the Bremerton Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Growing up it was quite common to see aircraft carriers and other battleships making their way through the harbor, along with the washington state ferries. Yes, looking out the window of my high school I would see the USS Missouri or USS Enterprise mothballed across the bay at the shipyard. It seemed so normal back then.

One of my biggest thrills of the weekend, besides meeting my great niece and see my nephew graduate, was seeing my first bald eagle. It’s hard to take a snapshot of something so majestic with an iphone, but I did my best. We watched it take flight from this tree, circle the bay, and make it’s way back to the nest, all in a matter of minutes.  Even though I currently live in Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, I still appreciate seeing the soaring yellow tail hawks, owls and ravens that are a part of our wildlife corridor here in the Santa Monica Mountains. Watching a magnificent bird take flight never gets old, no matter what state you’re living in. Maybe it’s one of those primal things we all dream about… taking flight. After all, aren’t those some of the best dreams you’ve ever had?  Oh, and how many of you remember this show from the early 70’s… thank you Bobby Sherman.

 

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Welcome to Where Art Inspires Beauty!

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Romi Cortier, Photo by Michael Sanville
Romi Cortier, Photo by Michael Sanville

Welcome to Where Art Inspires Beauty! After a 7 year hiatus from blogging, I feel inspired to return to the blogosphere and contribute to the world of Art,  Architecture and Design.  My intention is to focus on what’s right in our world, and help celebrate those less obvious things we might overlook. Sometimes it’s as simple as the way the light reflects off a corrugated metal fence, lighting up an agave plant. Sometimes it’s a building we’ve all driven by a hundred times on our way to work, missing it’s beautiful Art Deco silhouette, or sleek Mid-Century lines. We’re all a tad bit obsessed with our devices, myself included. So I intend to keep my head up and eyes open, as I look for beauty in the mundane. It’s a subtle shift, but once you’re on that path, it becomes easier and easier to spot it.

I hope you’ll enjoy sharing this journey with me as I sift through my archive of images that I’ve been fortunate to capture on architectural tours, vacations, and quiet moments here in Los Angeles.  I also look forward to weighing in on the current building boom here in LA, as well as the burgeoning art scene. Rest assured, I’m carrying my camera with me everywhere I go, waiting for inspiration to strike.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing from you!