Did you know that you partially see with your ears? Your inner ear gives you a sense of balance. When that sense is adversely affected everything you see seems to be spinning even though you know that it isn't.
Did you know that there are less than 20 words in English that have no rhyming words? Four of them are names of colors; orange, purple, silver and olive.
Did you know that color additive E120 is a red coloring that is made from the crushed bodies of the cochineal beetle? This same red coloring is used in Cherry Coke.
Did you ever think about how color is used descriptively in our everyday conversation? We might say we have the blues, refer to something rare as happening once in a blue moon, experience a blue Monday, know someone with blue blood, and be the winner of a blue ribbon. How about red-hot, red-handed, painting the town red, calling someone a redneck or being so mad you see red? You could be green with envy or have a green thumb or be a greenhorn.
How does color affect you? Are you in a bad mood on a gloomy day? Do you feel upbeat on a bright sunny day? Do warm colors make you happy or do you feel serene when you are surrounded by cool colors?Are you like me in thinking that you see color differently than most other people? I'm convinced that I see more colors in the blue/purple spectrum that many others.
It makes me sad that my one true talent is unnecessary in a world of computerized color match and mixing. Since my early teenage years I have been able to successfully mix paint to match almost any color I'm given. The only colors that I have difficulty with are purple and orange. I'm sure this is because the red and blue I am working with are not the pure primary color needed to mix these hues.
I imagine that I would have been in demand for this kind of work if only I'd been born 100 years ago.
Great post. I'm drawn to colourful things. I probably have one too many colours in my house, but not enough in my wardrobe. I'll keep those Pantones in mind for this spring. :)
ReplyDeleteWell I for one am glad you were not born a hundred years ago, in the pre-blogging era. But that's just selfish of me. You might have done the world a world of good with your colour matching ability. There is a family up here that run a paint store that is famous for matching paint to anything, absolutely anything that you bring in to them. No matter what the object is. I remember reading about them in the newspaper.
ReplyDeleteLavinia, I covet that job! Really.
ReplyDeletewhat a fab post, yes i love 'vibrant' colours as you have seen, and into pink which i never was before, not wishy washy pink, vibrant of course, used to love yellow, but as i age, my skin gets sallow so can't wear it at my face...great post.
ReplyDeleteI love colours; my clothes are always colorful, even though I like black, I wear almost any colour imaginable.;)
ReplyDeleteDo not think your talent in mixing colours is in vain; I still think that no computer in the world can create the different colour nuances as well as a human mind (and imagination) can.;))
Maybe you did mix colors in another life. Perhaps that is why you are so good at it now.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell the difference between purple, green, blue, and grey.. It is all a unicolour somehow. That is why I love red! It so dramatic and my colour blind eyes just eat up it's flair. It's the only colour that really pops out at me.. But what's weird is that my imagination will actually adjust how I see a colour. I have a backpack that I thought was dark green for ages. Francois asked me where the blue backpack was and I thought...huh? It's blue? ... but know that I KNOW that it's blue I actually see and register it differently and the colour even looks blue to me know.. oooops.. sorry about the long comment!
ReplyDeleteWow..this was so interesting! I do know that I look best in navy, black and white. And I look like I have the flu if I wear yellow or orange!
ReplyDeleteColors? To me, it provides the meaning of life. In my wardrobe, there is no any black! This black is the onliest one I do never feel sympathy. Plus, there's no more brown or grays. However I have a few black heels for night/dinner out, that's all.
ReplyDeleteAll other colors are very welcome in my life. I'm mostly in love w/ yellow, gold, red, blue, green and white.
I should add one thing, I can't read blogs if it's got a black background. It gives me very negative energy:(
And the bloggers give me hints about their personality when I wander on their pages because it trains the mind thru the eye, and the eye thru the mind: their color selection. Believe in colors, then you'd not get wrong:)
I love your posts, because at the very least, they're interesting!
ReplyDeleteBeetle blood? Gross! :)
The color information will be our dinner conversation tonight----so thanks for that!
Sarah
I enjoyed this post, Stevie. I am convinced that my husband can see colors that I can't! Seriously, like you, he is a whiz at matching, and he can look at any color and immediately know how it will look in a room or painted on a wall. He see hues and shades and essences with ease, details that my brain doesn't seem trained to notice.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note... did you read the article about the old mural in Woodlawn High School's auditorium that is being restored?! Very cool mural and a neat story. Check out the B'ham news or al.com.
Very vibrant and colorful post! I think hand matching colors would be preferable to computorized matching. It needs the human touch to get the proper amount of warmth in the color. I wear a lot of black and white and neutral colors. I feel more comfortable in them. Thanks for a lovely and interesting post!
ReplyDeleteModGirl, I hears about the restoration this morning on the TV while I brushed my teeth in the other room...I would like to see it. I'll check out that article. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have a Surprise for the colorful and creative author of this post! Who doesn't love surprises;) If so, pop over my page when you can.
ReplyDeleteI love red, red and oh, did I mention red? And a few other colors, lol. Actually our house looks like a big Easter basket, every room is a different color theme. I know a place where color mixing and matching is essential - hair coloring! I've heard it is very hard to do. My hubby is a graphic artist and he's very good with color, on the computer or off. You could be a home decorator!
ReplyDeleteI love black because it is slimming -- a chubby womans best friend --lol-- and it is also known as NYC chic color because everyone wears it, but we know that black and white are not true colors anyway.
ReplyDeleteI seem to like green a lot because it compliments my green eyes but my daughter would never wear it as she has an Italian olive tone complextion and it clashes, whereas my pink skin looks horrible if I wear pink!
I know the hosptial I worked in tried to paint all the walls in psychological pleasing colors based on scientific study and the psychiatric wards were pink! LOL It was supposed to promote non violent behavior and be soothing. It was horrible!
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI learn a lot about 'colour' from you today.
Did you know you can now get sneakers in vintage Pantone colors? http://seavees.com/index.cfm?event=pantone
ReplyDeleteThey cost $125!
Guess what came in my mailbox today?! YEEEEEEEEES! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It's PROUDLY displayed too. (sigh)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you weren't born 100 years ago! I for one don't appreciate computer art nor computer news. It saddens me to think the daily newspaper is going away and that art that you can touch and feel is fading as well. Keep it up my sweet friend, for you were born for such a time as this!
Have a great day!
Janeen, I'm glad your pleased with it! Thank you for the compliment.
ReplyDelete