One of my favorite words, and a theme in my life.

From Wikipedia: Elegance is the attribute of being unusually effective and simple. It is frequently used as a standard of tastefulness, particularly in the areas of visual design and decoration. Elegant things exhibit refined grace and dignified propriety.

Some definitions of the elegant, and many of it’s common uses, imply oppulence or luxuriousness. Consider these from dictionary.reference.com:
1. tastefully fine or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc.: elegant furnishings.
2. gracefully refined and dignified, as in tastes, habits, or literary style: an elegant young gentleman; an elegant prosodist.
3. graceful in form or movement: an elegant wave of the hand.
4. appropriate to refined taste: a man devoted to elegant pursuits.
5. excellent; fine; superior: an absolutely elegant wine.
6. (of scientific, technical, or mathematical theories, solutions, etc.) gracefully concise and simple; admirably succinct.

I use it as a substitute for “less is more”, focusing on the mathematical/scientific meaning - and I think that’s a theme many of us are working on. Less stuff, less time spent earning a living, less effort, less struggle, less mind clutter - and more meaning and beauty and simplicity. Getting the most impact from the least effort. Streamlining everything to it’s real core, and finding the beauty within the clutter.

It’s easy to explain something in a paragraph, or spend a week painting a scene. Real elegance is being able to convey that thought in a word or a phrase - or just a few brush strokes.

Let’s see, what else can I make elegant today?