On The Couch
Posted on April 24, 2016
with Sasha
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
I dreamed that I was the understudy for Aaron Burr in Hamilton and I had to perform that night. In my dream I was trying to remember the lyrics to the entire musical…I think I did a pretty good job.
What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of keys in the door when it means someone I love is coming home.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
I haven’t been able to eat my favorite pizza in a few months…I’d like to think I’m growing from this experience.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Anytime I hear a song that brings me back to a place and time from my past.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
Learn how to cook as well as my mom.
What are you grateful for?
This life that I am so lucky enough to have.
*
This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
On The Couch
Posted on March 27, 2016
with Tonieh
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
I usually don’t remember my dreams, so I was really excited a couple of weeks ago when I was on my way to work, hours after waking up, and I still remembered the dream I had had the night before. Sadly, I don’t remember it now…
What sound or noise do you love?
There’s a computer game that I play where every time you hit the spacebar on your keyboard your view is pulled out to this all-encompassing strategic view of the map you are playing on. Whenever that happens there is a low-pass bass noise that is used to punctuate the movement, like an electronic “woosh.” I wish I could hear that in my every day life.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
Learning to downhill ski in my 30s. It made me realize that we only know what we know through willingness to practice and we only get good at what we know through a willingness to fail repeatedly.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Music (specifically either very percussive or very thematic music).
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
Get a pilot’s license. Live and work outside of the United States. Re-certify my SCUBA license.
What are you grateful for?
My mother and health. As my mother says, “As long as you have your health, you can do anything.”
*
This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
On The Couch
Posted on February 21, 2016
with Julie
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
I’ve been reading Ender’s Game and dreaming about the fantasy game he plays. I can’t get past the giant’s drink challenge even though I know how Ender did.
What sound or noise do you love?
There are many, but the first one that comes to mind is slide guitar (listening to Ben Harper).
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
Finding a way to be there for my sister when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Small details and intricate craftsmanship. I’ll see something interesting and it will spark my design tendencies.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
Try rock climbing. I’ve always been the first to climb on top of things…like a goat.
What are you grateful for?
Any day I can get out of my bed without assistance. There was a time when I wasn’t able to do that and every day that I can is a wonderful day.
*
This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
On The Couch
Posted on January 18, 2016
with Melissa
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
I rarely remember my dreams. There was a time I thought I didn’t dream. Maybe knowing I had to answer this question helped. The other night I dreamt I was in a kayak/canoe and I had to go over this waterfall backwards. Once the drop came, the water disappeared and it was a steep grassy hill I had to climb down on my hands and knees. Right after that one I dreamt my friend, James, came back east for a surprise visit and wanted to say hi.
What sound or noise do you love?
I love my mother’s laugh, especially when I have caused it. Also, I’ve realized my playlist is full of string instruments. Once a guitar, mandolin, cello or violin is introduced in a song, I’m instantly in love.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
I’ve been lucky these last few years where everything has been steady. So I think the last experience that made me a stronger person would be moving into my studio on my own. Surviving the stress and anxiety taught me a lot about myself.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Music, alone time, spending a day in a museum/gallery/cemetery/nature/a show or musical or opera or shared time with a friend, when you’re both open to hearing each other.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
Travel. I’ve wanted to go on a trip with my family to the sequoias and they’ve surprised me with plans for a trip next year for my birthday! The other trips would be to venture with my camera to Monument Valley in Utah and to explore cemeteries of Europe.
What are you grateful for?
I am tremendously grateful for my mother, my family and my friends. They are truly my life force.
*
This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
On The Couch
Posted on December 19, 2015
with Kyle
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
The last dream I remember was about visiting Washington state – skiing with a group of my friends and eating a massive amount of seafood with family.
What sound or noise do you love?
I love the sound of someone laughing hysterically.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
I like to think that every experience I have is one that I learn from and helps make me a stronger, better person. But the last significant experience that comes to mind was counseling and being there for a friend who had a very sick relative.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Intelligence and comfort level. I love being able to have random, interesting conversations about a broad range of topics and having someone add interesting ideas or a different perspective from mine that adds insight. I also love being comfortable with someone to the point where we can sleep in and spend an afternoon together relaxing reading books, without worrying about entertaining each other – doing our own thing but in the other’s company and having it be more enjoyable because we are together.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
I want to visit South America…Argentina and Chile are at the top of my list of places to visit. Trekking through Patagonia would be incredible. Diving in the Galapagos is right up there too.
What are you grateful for?
Friends and family. I have some truly incredible friends and amazing family and am constantly grateful for them.
*
This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
On The Couch
Posted on November 22, 2015
with Erica
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
Well…I’m currently taking malerone, it’s an anti-malarial drug. It makes your dreams quite vivid and easy to remember, so I remember most of them lately. Anything I’ve thought about or discussed during the day will pop up in one way or another in my dreams!
What sound or noise do you love?
The sound of rain, thunder and lightning. Especially at night. It has a very relaxing, soothing lull to it that is very peaceful. It also means that water is plentiful, which is something we should not take for granted.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
I recently climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, physically and mentally. It definitely pushed me to my limits, and nearly to my breaking point a few times. But I kept reminding myself that every situation-no matter how good or bad-is temporary, and that the hard parts would eventually end. One step at a time, I made it to the top!
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Traveling. Traveling pushes my limits to places I didn’t know existed and makes me feel alive. It pushes me out of my comfort zone and forces me to figure out what I am capable of. It’s when I feel most alive and most appreciative of the life I lead.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
I’d really like to visit Antarctica. I’d like to do it in a way that is compliant with environmental tourism standards, so as not to further damage an already weakening area. Although I don’t love being cold, I do love seeing all of the beautiful landscapes that our earth has to offer, and this would be the 7th continent that I would see the sun rise over (although I’d go in their summer, so I’m not sure the sun even sets, let alone rises…;) )
What are you grateful for?
Everything. I just got back from a beautiful country riddled with corruption and a huge lack of infrastructure. It makes you appreciate how much we have and use and take for granted-water, toilets, showers, the FDA, health and hygiene standards, medicine, schools, paved roads, stop lights and crosswalks…All things that contribute to the safety and success of ourselves and the people we love, and while our government is far from perfect, we live in a place where the upkeep of these “basic” things is ensured and taken for granted. I’m grateful for all of it.
*
This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
On The Couch
Posted on October 18, 2015
with Lisa
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
I rarely remember my dreams. Probably the last dream I remember was not a good one. It involved me getting stuck in hallways I couldn’t get out of.
What sound or noise do you love?
I love the sound of a gentle brook or water in a controlled situation like lapping water.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
Making the decision to retire and move on.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Making music.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
Study jazz violin.
What are you grateful for?
So many things! My family, my career, my health, my really good friends.
Nati Art Photography 