Another Year of Coloring Outside the Lines—Successfully
Katie Sokoler-Color Me Katie
This is the second time in the history of my blogs that I am featuring a non food recipe for my What My Friends are Cooking section. On both occasions I have made exceptions for remarkably creative women who inspire me and motivate me more than words can describe. Their recipes are simply for creativity. The real essence of my blog is not food but, Sustenance….which at its core, is something that gives us strength and nourishment. Katie Sokolor, also known as Color Me Katie, offers the perfect recipe for this as she feeds people a special sustenance through her creative genius. She is somewhat of a magical enigma really and I have never before seen or experienced anyone like her and I find her to be one of those people who you know touches everyone she encounters as she breathes creativity into their blood by her inspiring work and her massively exotic and magical creative energy she exudes in her physical presence.
This sweet, almost fairy like creature is a person you must know and her work must be a part of your life, it is really that simple. I first came to know Katie while looking for a photographer a few years back. We use quite a few photographers, most of which are food photographers or photographers who have been practicing food photography or aim to be food photographers. Katie was not a food photographer, but when I viewed her work I knew she would be perfect for the food world and especially my food world. Her ability to “color outside the lines” and see things that the average food photographer can’t see let alone photograph on a plate or in a glass. She sees things in a way that the others hadn’t thought of and she has truly been exhilarating for me to witness as well as prideful for me to be a part of working with her. What I saw most profoundly in the work that Katie did for us specifically was the vibrancy and energy she captured in the people and the colors. Color Me Katie had a way of extracting all vibrancy from her subjects as a chef would from a tomato in his or her dish. Her energy gives a special life to her art. And her subjects whatever they may be come to life. Katie, still art has nothing still about it.
So of course for our Herbalicious Birthday Bash this year, there was no real thought of who we wanted to document this special day. And just when I thought I couldn’t be more in love with Katie and her vibrancy and creativity, WHAM, it happened. First I should state that I haven’t even seen the pictures that Katie took on this magical night, so my awe is of the experience all of the party goers had with this magical fairy, myself included!
She arrived in what some would say costume, but for Katie those were simply her clothes. Black Sequin shorts, black tights, a white ruffle shirt and suspenders and a lovely bow in her hair, as is pretty customary for Katie. Her amazingly large smile and laugh glided around the room, evoking happiness and smiles from all. Her vivaciousness and detailed attention to all patrons of the party mesmerized all of us. The positive energy was easy for Katie to absorb through her lens. There is an exceptional quality about a photographer who can not only make a room light up but exude the happiness you want all your guests to exude on an event like this.
The amount of endearing fans she gathered that night made me smile and take a deeper notice into her magical creativity she possesses. She truly was one of the reasons the party was a success. There is no doubt in my mind that the photos will all capture the true and real happiness that was present on that unforgettable epic night of April 10th, 2012.
I don’t get to see Katie much but am touched and moved by her exponentially each time I do or each time I run across her on facebook or her blog or in a magazine. I have learned a lot from her creatively and she will continue to inspire me and my own creativity and push my own limits of color and vibrancy in all I do.
If you do not know Katie, you are missing out!
