Colors of "Cuties"

Chicago Clementines, 2008.

Orange is synonymous with citrus fruits. In full hue Orange is loud. It reigns in our attention. Yet, more somber orange colors are sad and dull. Lighter values of Orange, although brilliant in hue, make lovely peaches and they are a very sweet color. The many earthy Orange colors, such as terra cotta, are associated with harvest and represent balanced, calm, stable environments.

Owen's Door, 2009.

Ludgate Farms, Ithaca, 2009.

Pine Bark Detail,

 Cemetery, Gloucester, MA, 2009.

Orange is the second longest wavelength in the light spectrum. Two primary colors, Red and Yellow are combined to make Orange, one of three secondary colors in the standard color wheel. The shape for Orange is the trapezoid; Red is a square, Yellow is a triangle, combined they form a trapezoid.

Energyscape #6959, 2009.

Orange is the color of the second chakra, the Sacral or Belly chakra, the center of the body that holds emotions. Activating the center, Orange sets the center into action. The belly chakra has layers of energy associated with stimulating emotions, impressions, sexuality and fertility. The Feng Shui element for Orange is fire.

Energyscape #1272, 2009.

In China vermilion, a bright red pigment, was produced by heating mercury and sulphur to form Mercuric sulphide. Although toxic to produce, natural cinnabar was even more expensive to obtain and less reliable as a color than vermilion (McCloud, p.36). Vermilion continued to be used throughout the Middle Ages but is no longer used in artist materials due to its toxicity. Arsenic trisulphide (yellow) is extremely poisonous but in ancient times these two compounds were combined, making Oranges hues.

Unidentified Mushroom, Cemetery, 

Gloucester, MA, 2009.

Traditional Orange pigments are various ochres and cadmiums. Orange-red can even be obtained by dyeing with Cortinarious species mushrooms (Rice, p.23). Other natural Orange colors are traditionally derived from Rubia tinctoria, madder root, and Thelesperma gracile, known as kota tea or Navajo tea, used by Native American natural dyers. Orange can also be achieved by the combination of other yellow and red natural dyes.

Lichens on Rock,

Buffalo River, Arkansas, 2009.

descriptive words for orange:

activity, radiant, proud, external, fun, whimsical, glowing, friendly, energizing, fruity, expansive, tangy, maximum, abundant, luscious, sexy, juicy, safety, hazardous, warning, playful.

Cooper-Hewitt

National Design Museum,

NYC, 2009.

Staten Island Ferry, 2009.

orange inspirations:

oranges, pumpkins, apricots, tangerines, mandarins, clementines, annatto, terra cotta pots, bricks, firelight, sunsets, harvest, peaches, nectarines, coral, mangoes, persimmons, butternut squash, nasturtiums, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), autumn leaves, rust, iron, sweet potatoes, marigolds, poisonous Amanitaceae family mushrooms, Northern Oriole (Icterus galbula), marmalade, Halloween, lava.

Iris, Chalet Garden, 2009.

orange represents:

Orange is the sacred color of Buddhist religion for their “saffron robes”,  representing fire and the burning of the ego and personal desire. Orange also represents cultural traditions, self assurance, self respect, safety or hazard, road signs, construction, happiness, vitality, heat, life force, strength, clear mind, sociability, liveliness, motivation, passion, and it is good for learning environments.

Clevia Blooms, 2009.

Bibliography/Oklahoma Tinctoria Library Thing:
Bryan, Nonabah G., Young, Stella. Navajo Native Dyes: Their Preparation and Use. Dover, Mineola, 2002 (originally published 1978).
McCloud, Kevin. Kevin McCloud's Complete Book of Paint and Decorative Techniques. Simon & Schuster, New York, 1996. 
Rice, Miriam. Mushrooms for Color. Mad River Press, Eureka, 1980.


Learn about Orioles: http://www.orioles.org/