So, none of you asked for it, but here it is again… I once again need help making decisions about color! I fulfilled the previous votes on color and it was legitimately fun having that constraint, or rather, guidance. The cadmium green and chocolate brown pieces have been posted, they’re small works on paper and I’ll likely attempt them again to create more faithful adaptations of the colors.
However, I made the mistake of listing a color I absolutely use all the time, rose pink. Haha. I did start a small paper piece for that as well. But, I humbly ask you kind people that visit this page to assist me again. I still have another slew of pieces I need to produce for thesis next week and this is a nice way to bite the bullet and at least start something.
Thanks again to the folks that voted previously, I was surprised I got any response at all!
And thank you to the one person that responded to my previous poll on books! I know it’s a pain to answer questionnaires and surveys (it’s also dawning on me that it’s a task that’s probably increased ten fold if people are in school or doing most of their work through the net… yikes!)
This Gaston Bachelard fellow that was mentioned by ~ you ~ sounds incredibly interesting, the pyshcological impact of physical spaces is something I often think about (especially now) so I hope I’ll dig into that one day soon! Thank you!
And to share the tidbit of my own reading that I said I would… I’ve been most compelled by the Victoria Finlay book Color: A Natural History of the Palette. I mentioned it briefly in a prior post but after having started it I honestly am thrilled with it! It’s not just a history lesson on where certain pigments came from (though I’d honestly enjoy that too). There are incredibly thoughtful insights into how color feels and impacts people, the symbolic value attached, and the complicated physical components to produce these various colors in a usable form. So, yes, a history lesson with a delectable amount of context and content. The way Finlay writes about it all is so beautiful as well. Steeped in knowledge while adding prominent, glittering commentary of how it all fits together on a person level. I will attach a really gorgeous description that still has me thinking (highlighted below, but the whole page is great):
Isn’t that a magnificent tradition and notion?
While I’m familiar with the beauty of Orthodox religious icons, and truly adore them, I was not aware of this belief of inner light. But if you look at any of those paintings it becomes abundantly clear. The careful glazing, earthy tones while still incorporating real, jewel-like color that almost shines like stained glass… it makes sense. I think I was so struck by this because it’s something I try to achieve in my own work. On a visual level I try to add depth by emphasizing the contrast and dorms that arise out of particular light situations. But on an emotional and psychological level I try to capture certain moods and ambiences that arise from how light is handled.
Is this intimate? Is this frightening? Is this a room full of sunlight? Is this the light you find when making love under the moonlight?
I’d like to quote my professor Allison Miller in regards to all of this. She was discussing the kind of tones and lighting I seemed to be attempting in a particular painting: “It’s like a light you turn on when you fuck.” Mmm! I love that!
Remember, her words, not mine. Though I honestly wish I came up with that and had the ability to allow myself to curse, haha. And obviously that’s one aspect of things someone can feel but I still think about that quote fondly. It also makes me laugh despite it being a serious, though jovial, comment.
And, to get a little more personal, trying to find the light inside is important and also difficult. I struggle with that every day and obviously so do many others. Especially now! It might be why I resort to using such bright colors and glowing compositions. To find it outside of myself. But, the more I see it in other people the more I am able to look within and bring it out for myself.
So, that kind of derailed a bit but I wanted to sum up and say… read that book on color, thank you for taking the time to interact with me, I hope we all can continue to feel better, and… I’ll talk to you all again soon!