Color

Color can be a powerful swizzle stick stirring up memories and feelings.  My mother’s red lipstick made me proud as she always tried to look her best.  The yellow school bus was both a happy, and sad, color when it drove off with our little boy.  The glorious lime green moss that lays in stark contrast to the dark green foliage in my forest -  sometimes making me stop and sigh.

 
I'm intrigued by how color effects people and why we make the choices we do for our art, cars, toenails, pets, luggage, coffee cups, toothbrushes, etc... Whatever it might be, we make color selections based on what?  So, I did a little digging and found a few TidBits that might give us some insights or, at the very least, will hopefully amuse.

Organized Chaos by Patty Franklin

First, here is a Global Color Survey.  Once you've entered your answers, it will offer you the results of over 130,000 people.  It doesn't tell you anything about what your answers mean, but as you try to select a color for the word "dependable" or "nausea" you get to analyze yourself.  (I have to admit that these are two colors I've never pondered.)

For more serious studies on color, check out Exploratorium where you can access 4 in-depth videos:

Making Color

Color Vision and Color Photography

Pigments and Paints

Oaxacan Dyes and Textiles 

If you have yet to check out Pinterest, try it - you'll love it!  It's like having a huge bulletin board of your favorite pictures/items saved and available to share with friends.  They now have "secret" boards so you can keep some things just to yourself or, for a select few.  One of my boards is dedicated to COLOR! where I place pictures that tend to be bold and bright (but of course).  If you need an invite to Pinterest, just send me an email. 







Want to add a splash of color to our grey Northwest days?  Winter is a perfect time to visit Art Spot in Edmonds, WA.  I stopped in last week and found a huge inventory of supplies, a calendar of fun classes and terrific artwork - perfect for Christmas presents.

Color Resources on the Web:

Colour Lovers  

Color Is Information

Complete Color FAQ 

Colored Glass Chemistry 

FAVORITE COLOR COMBINATIONS OF THE MASTERS

And Finally, Here Is A 
Thanksgiving Color TidBit 

STRESSED TURKEY COLORS 

You probably don't need to worry about this unless you do your own turkey hunting, but a turkey has several flaps of loose skin around the head and neck that turn color depending on its mood. The flaps are called the "wattle" (on the chin), the "snood" (on the head and over the beak) and the "caruncle" (on the throat).  Under calm conditions, these areas are pinkish-gray or blue; if the turkey is annoyed or mating, all these areas turn bright red.

I hope your wattle's all stay neutral this Thanksgiving.
Have a Happy Turkey Day,
Patty

Patty Franklin mosaics
patty@thefranklinhouse.com
206-310-8769