by Laura Bernardeschi Nelson
Welcome back to my sanctuary! If you’ve been following my journey, you’ll know that for me, art isn’t just something you hang on a wall—it’s something you live inside of. Lately, my garden in Newcastle has been transforming into a living art installation, a colorful rebellion against the monochromatic standards of the outside world.
The Garage Door: A Portal for my husband
Back in 2024, I painted my garage door, but as I’ve grown as an artist, my vision has evolved.
In 2026, I see things with a new clarity. I’m moving deeper into mixed media and recycled magic.
I took my old acrylic markers and retraced the memories of those earlier paintings, but with a new depth. I’ve turned the door into a Portal to Another Dimension. Now, when my husband—my resident “practical scientist”—walks through that door to enter his “Man Cave” (the garage), he isn’t just going to brew beer or work with wood. He is stepping through a psychedelic gateway. He might enter as a scientist, but in my world, he’s travelling through space and time!
The Secret of the Boiling CDs
How did I get that ethereal shine? Here is a little “Laura secret”:
- I took a stack of old, forgotten CDs.
- I soaked them in boiling water for 20/30 minutes to soften the plastic.
- While they were still pliable, I cut them with my garden shears.
The result? Shards of rainbow light that I’ve scattered across the garden. You can see them dancing on the ivy netting, catching the shy Newcastle sun.
Golden Records & Water Bubbles
Near the pond, I found some abandoned tree trunks. Most people see dead wood; I saw a canvas. I took my old vinyl records, gave them a luxurious coat of gold spray paint, and glued a seashell right in the center of the hole—also painted gold, of course.
The Artist’s Trick: While the gold paint was still slightly tacky, I sprayed them with the garden hose. The water reacted with the fresh paint to create these curious, organic bubbles. It looks like treasure recovered from a mermaid’s grotto.
The “Personality” Pot
Today, I couldn’t stand looking at the “personality-less” black plastic pot where my weeping willow lives. It was too… standard. So, back to the kitchen for 20 more CDs!
I cut them and used heavy-duty exterior glue (this is fundamental, or your art will run away the moment it rains!) to create a mosaic. I only decorated the parts of the pot that are visible to the eye—because an artist knows how to save both time and resources! Now, even the willow has a disco to wake up to.
Art as My Sanctuary
This garden is more than just a hobby. It is my shield. I struggle with severe anxiety, and creating this world of colour is my way of healing. It is my personal rebellion against a world that often feels too rigid and monochromatic.
When life tries to pull me into a “standard” or “grey” box, I fight back with mosaics and gold spray paint. Here, I am not defined by struggles or bureaucracy; I am defined by the light I create. My cat, Panna, finds her peace among the messy tulip leaves, and I find mine in the reflection of a recycled CD.
Next time you see something “standard” in your life, ask yourself: Does this need boiling water, garden shears, and a bit of gold spray?
The answer is usually yes.
With love and rainbows, Laura Bernardeschi Nelson