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

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?