BLUE REVERIE -Photomicrograph of crystalline acetaminophen found in Tylenol. -NEW!
View from the Vashon Studio/Lab:
Atmospheric rivers notwithstanding, Vashon Island is fully dressed for the holidays and happily leaning into the season. Last weekend brought the annual holiday parade and tree lighting downtown. High winds had other ideas, taking out about half the lights—making it slightly less illuminating but still great fun.
One thing not dimmed was the artwork on view during the VIVA Holiday Studio Tour. The first weekend was a big success—thank you to everyone who stopped by my studio and spent time with the work. If you missed it, or are up for a second look, the final weekend is December 13–14, from 10–4 pm. You’ll find me in Studio 28, same location as last year, right next to the VIVA Info Center at 17816 Vashon Hwy SW. Come say hello.
A quick note of thanks as well to the Gateway Camera Club of Framingham, Massachusetts for hosting my recent presentation on my winding journey into crystal photomicrography. It was a pleasure to meet such an engaged and talented group of photographers.
Back in the studio, I continue to work on my crystal movie-making skills, and this newsletter includes a new video clip featuring acetaminophen crystals in action—growing, shifting, and quietly doing what crystals do best.
Wishing you peace, joy, and a beautiful holiday season.
Thanks for reading—and for supporting this strange and wonderful intersection of art and science.
Lee
Vashon Island — December 2025
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SWOOSH -Photomicrograph of crystalline acetaminophen -NEW!
ART AND SCIENCE: And the Winner Is…
Each year, Pantone bravely steps forward to do what none of us asked for but everyone somehow receives: naming the Color of the Year. For 2026, the honor goes to Cloud Dancer (PANTONE 11-4201), described—without a hint of irony—as “a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection.”
It is also said to “encourage true relaxation and focus, while allowing the mind to wander.” That’s a lot of responsibility for what most of us would casually identify as… off-white.
The accompanying prose continues at length, offering an impressive cascade of accolades for this billowy, serene, emotionally supportive shade. This is, apparently, very important news. Adjust your interiors accordingly. Reconsider your wardrobe. If you followed Pantone’s guidance last year, your home may still be recovering from Mocha Mousse (2025). And who could forget Peach Fuzz (2024)? A color that sounded more like a seasonal allergy than a design directive.
To further embed Cloud Dancer into our collective psyche, Pantone has partnered with artists and companies to produce a wide range of Cloud Dancer–themed products. These include furniture, fashion, Post-it Notes—and, delightfully, Cloud Dancer Play-Doh, “purposefully designed to reduce noise, restore balance, and create space to simply be.”
Play-Doh. For mindfulness.
As an artist, I find this fascinating. And inspiring. In fact, I’m considering photographing nothing at all under my microscope and hanging it on the wall. It will be the perfect complement to my new Cloud Dancer décor.
Meanwhile, back in the microscopic world, color behaves very differently. Under polarized light, crystals generate their own palettes—not from branding meetings or poetic mission statements, but from structure, physics, and the way light interacts with matter. No slogans required. No Play-Doh necessary.
Sometimes color just shows up and does beautiful, extraordinary things.
“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” -Annie Dillard
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