The Three Primaries

Canoe Trip Buffalo River, 2009

Color is visual language. The basics of color theory gives us an understanding of how colors interact with one another. 

The three primary colors in the pigment spectrum are RED, YELLOW and BLUE. All other colors are made up of primary colors, but the primary colors cannot be made from any of the other colors in the spectrum. 

They are first and powerful and the color wheel is designed around RED, YELLOW and BLUE. 

The primary colors can be found in unlikely places with subtle proportions and accents.

Blue Hill, Maine, 2009

Blue Hill storefront, Maine, 2009

Gloucester, Massachusetts, 2009

Homer, Alaska, 2009

New Mexico, 2009

Andrew's Boat, 2009

Energyscape Series, Chicago, 2009

The Blues

Water, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2009

Blue is the universal color for water and sky. It is the calm and wonderous color of the three primaries. With Water as its element, Blue is in constant flow. It is represented by the circle symbolizing spirit. The throat chakra is light blue and considered part of the spiritual body. The throat is associated with creativity, communication and expression (Stein, 19). Blue is all things flexible, moving and cyclical.

Blue is elusive and mysterious. Some Blue minerals include lapis lazure, cobalt and turquoise. Cultures around the world discovered Indigo during similar times in history. It is the only botanical blue pigment used in dyeing. The indican is found in several species of plants and has been cultivated and processed for textile dyeing. The process of extracting and fermenting indigo varies with cultural tradition. More information about indigo will be presented at another time. It is an ancient blue that has great importance to the history of textiles, economics, agriculture and art.

Indigo dyed wools, 2009

descriptive words for blue:

classic, spirit, denim, turquoise, cobalt, azure, prussian blue, ink, shade, ultramarine, royal blue, baby blue, cold, contracted, introverted, free flowing, liberated, uplifting

Cathedral Rock, Sedona, Arizona, 2009

Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2009


blue inspirations:

ocean, sea, water, clouds, sky, blue eggs, ice, grape hyacinth, iris, wisteria, delphinium, larkspur, cornflowers, pansies, blueberries and forget-me-nots


blue represents:

motion, peace, magic, spirit, calm, understanding, stillness, serenity, mystery, heaven, rest, melancholy, knowledge, creativity, emotion, expression, tranquility, transcendental, depth

natural color sources:

lapis, cobalt, indigo, woad

Energyscape Series, Chicago, 2009

 Turquoise Door, 2009   

4th Ave. Anchorage, Alaska, 2009

Earth and Sky, Albuquerque, 2009

Saki Cup Collection, 2009

Wood and Sky, Taos, New Mexico, 2009

Good Day Sunshine

Beech leaves, 2009

Although its Element is Earth, Yellow is our star, our sunshine. It is the brightest and the most cheerful of the three primary colors. It can be melancholy, but rarely sad. The triangle represents the color Yellow and its Thought provoking qualities. It stimulates but in another kind of way than Red. Yellows are derived from countless local plant resources, making it quite abundant in various regions. This wonderous color can be found in ochres and sienna earths. Arsenic trisulfide and lead chromate are also Yellow but they are extremely toxic compounds. Yellow represents the solar plexus chakra, located above the naval, which works with nutrition, energy and the rational mind. 

We are able to observe this color from the earliest Spring blooms of daffodils, crocus and winter honeysuckles, into Summer marigolds, Rudbeckias, goldenrod and many vegetables, then closing out the year in a stunning display of eye candy as the Autumn leaves begin to change. Even when our days are gloomy, this vibrant color adds bits of joy, even in unsuspecting places, hence the sayings "light at the end of the tunnel", "see the light" and "good day sunshine" from the famous Beatles song. And oh, you can't forget butter!

Snakeweed and Indigo, 2009

Lalana Wools, Gathering Flowers of the Field Workshop

Irish Eyes Rudbeckia, 2008

Honey Hive, Ponca Avenue, 2009

descriptive words for yellow:

bright, glow, light, vibrant, fresh, vital, harvest, sunshine, harmony, well being, cadmium yellow, chrome yellow

Energyscape Series, I-40 Eastbound, 2009

Collected Color Series, Cotton Sateen, 2009

yellow inspirations:

daffodils, sunflowers, lemons, turmeric, sandy beaches, sunsets, corn, yellow squash, yellow bell peppers, bananas and banana peppers, egg yolks, dandelion, osage bark, fustic, mulberry innerwood, saffron, mustard, buttenut, beeswax, honey, yellow onions, ochres, deserts, lemon tart, taxi cabs, schools buses, bumblebees, yellow cake, electricity

Chalet Garden Daffodil, 2009

Rudbeckias on The High Line, New York City, 2009

Russian Orthadox Burial, Alaska, 2009

feelings:

uplifting, happy, rising spirits, joy, positive, focus, hope, courage

Energyscape Series, Daffodil, 2009

Cornell Botanical Gardens, 2009

represents:

concentration, thought, wisdom, enlightenment, truth, knowledge, mourning, nourishment, imagination

natural color sources:

goldenrod, marigold, osage orange, fustic, pomegranate rinds, weld, cosmos, almost endless  local yellow botanical sources, ochre earth

Sunset on Lake Erie, 2009

New York City Construction Debris, 2009

Red Hot Baby!

Bonfire, 2008

RED has the longest wavelength on the prism. Its Element is Fire. RED is one of the three primary colors. Its shape is square which represents Matter. Its direction is East. The color is derived from iron oxides (earth), kermes (insects), alizarin (plants), vermilion (mercuric sulfide). Scarlet, crimson and carmine are classic words describing RED and they also hint to the source of the color. For example, carmine is used to indicate red from cochineal insects (family Coccidae). RED demands our attention and provokes sexual energy. It represents the Root Chakra at the base of the spine, physical energy and vitality. RED is both life threatening and life sustaining.

Red Sedona Earth, 2009

Zinnias, Ponca Garden, 2009

descriptive words for red:

brave, bold, daring, demanding, passionate, extrovert, exciting, energetic, sexy, aggresive, strong, vigorous, bordeaux, cabernet, mauve, turkey red

red inspirations:

textiles, spices, dirt, oxides, embers, sunsets, salmon, terra cotta, cedar, wine, hearth, volcanoes and lava, pomegranates, strawberries, apples, cherries, cranberries, tomatoes, chilis and berries, roses, red sage, red peonies and primroses, garnets, rubies, bloodstone, red quartz, agate

Dianthus and Bumble, 2009

feelings:

provocative, energetic, active, warm, embarrassing, flushed, powerful, angry, stimulating

represents:

earth, blood, fire, love and passion, heart, evil, republican, vitality, appetite, warning, menstration, fertility and circulation, survival, safety

Amaryllis, Chalet Garden 2009

natural color sources:

madder, lac, cochineal, brazilwood, iron oxides, Thelesperma sp.

Red Lantern, Jerome, Arizona, 2009

Quick, give yourself a couple minutes....what do you think of RED?