FUNDAY MONDAY March 24, 2014...# 1.COLOR

Jes Gordon

Since I'm known as the color girl... I thought I'd do our first DCP Monday Funday blog prompt - about color!!! 

Do you have a favorite color? How does that color influence your creative practice? Do you know when you first fell in love with that color? What feelings, emotions, imagery, etc does that color provoke for you? Have you ever looked up the personality description of your favorite color? If so, does it describe you? If you do not have a favorite color, describe why you don't..

I have been excitedly awaiting for our first prompt for this blog and when Jes Gordon posted it I was happy to be off on a new blog adventure. Since then I have been thinking and trying to figure out what my favorite color is and when did I decided it was.

Obviously I don't have only one favorite color since if I did it would not have been a chore to figure out which one was a favorite. I even went so far as to look up all the definitions of colors to see if maybe they might help me decide. They did. I decided I did not have a definite favorite color but I do have a color family that I favor though it has also changed over the years. 

When I was a young teen I loved all blues...every shade and hue of blue...from teals to navy blue. I also loved the parts of nature associated with blues...From the physical aspect I love to swim and always wanted to learn to fly. Emotionally  I was always shy and didn't mix well socially, preferring to spend my time alone doing what I wanted not what others wanted. I shied away from yellows and oranges and never cared for pinks or reds and browns were totally taboo and to this day pastels are not for me. I want my colors, any colors, to be strong, intense and vibrant. Pale and wishy washy is just not in my nature either physically or emotionally. I think in my subconscious I was preparing myself to grow into my adult colors because.....

Blue: Soft, soothing, compassionate and caring, Blue is the color of deliberation and introspection, conservatism and duty. Patient, persevering, conscientious, sensitive and self-controlled, Blues like to be admired for their steady character and wisdom. They are faithful, but are often worriers with somewhat inflexible beliefs and can be too cautious, and suspicious of flamboyant behavior.

Blue-Green: Exacting, discriminating, poised and attractive, the Blue-Green person tends to be sensitive, intellectual and refined, persevering and stable if rather detached. Blue-Greens have excellent taste, and are usually courteous and charming, capable but often refusing help or guidance.

...now I am grown up and my taste have grown and evolved several degrees. I think that is a good thing else ways I feel we stagnate if we never evolve. Now my taste run towards the rusty oranges with bits of brown and yellow, which is what makes up the rusty color family I love. I enjoy a little red and some vibrant blues, a touch of purple and definitely most shades of greens. But if I had to pick just two colors it would have to be be rusty orange and a sage green.

Orange: This color of luxury and pleasure appeals to the flamboyant and fun-loving person who likes a lively social round. Orange people may be inclined to dramatize a bit, and people notice them, but they are generally good-natured and popular. They can be a little fickle and vacillating, but on the whole they try hard to be agreeable. Orange is the color of youth, strength, fearlessness, curiosity and restlessness.


Green: The color of harmony and balance, Green symbolizes hope, renewal and peace, and is usually liked by the gentle and sincere. Greens are generally frank, community-minded people, fairly sociable but preferring peace at any price. Green people can be too self-effacing, modest and patient, so they may get exploited by others. They are usually refined, civilized and reputable.

Brown: A Brown person has stamina and patience, tending to be very solid and substantial, conscientious, dependable, steady and conservative. Browns are not impulsive, and may be inarticulate and tactless but they love responsibility and are reliable and kindly. If you chose Brown, watch out for a tendency to be obstinate and inflexible

Purple: Purples are highly individual, fastidious, witty and sensitive, with a strong desire to be unique and different. Temperamental, expansive and artistic, a Purple person may become aloof and sarcastic when misunderstood. If you chose Purple, you tend to be unconventional, tolerant and dignified, likely to achieve positions of authority.

I have listed  the colors that I most relate to now at this stage of my life which is again changing. When I read the different definitions of color I see I have a bit of all of them in my personality and makeup...Nothing stands out and that is a sure sign of a Libra...a fence straddler. 

I don't know when I first knew I favored the colors of my later years but when I shop for anything in this last decade,  be it clothes, furniture, or flowers I am always drawn to the same orange and green color families. Even my art work, if I have a choice, will fall into those two color families most of the time.  When I had my intuitive painting workshop in January all of my paintings were in the orange families and my friend's  were all in the blue, pink and purples. I think it is a subconscious choice.

White is entering my life of late...It was nothing to me before other than to use as a diluter of other colors but now I am drawn to it in ways I had not thought of before...my hair is turning white and my preference in clothing is getting lighter. Home decor that is light and airy appeals to me but with intense, vibrant colors added in accessories.

White: Symbolic of purity, innocence and naivete, white has strong connotations of youth and purity. If you are an older person, your preference for white could indicate a desire for perfection and impossible ideals, maybe an attempt to recapture lost youth and freshness. It may also symbolize a desire for simplicity or the simple life.

Red is another color that is late coming into my life. I have noticed it popping up in the most unlikely places and situations and in greater quanities and each time I feel good that it is there.

Red: The color of strength, health, and vitality, Red is often the color chosen by someone outgoing, aggressive, vigorous and impulsive—or someone who would like to be! It goes with an ambitious nature but those who choose it can be abrupt at times, determined to get all they can out of life, quick to judge people and take sides. Red people are usually optimistic and can’t stand monotony; they are rather restless and not at all introspective, so they may be unaware of their own shortcomings. They find it hard to be objective and may blame others for any mishaps. Quiet people with a preference for red may feel the need for the warmth, strength and life-giving qualities of the color, or they blanket their true feelings under a sober exterior. Red is usually chosen by people with open and uncomplicated natures, with a zest for life.

I have added Turquoise last because it is the one colors that has been with me my whole life in one way or another. I associate it with the south west and my heritage. Where ever I go and whatever I see if it is visible it will draw my eye to it. It brings up latent memories and feelings that are so faint and fleeting that I can barely perceive them yet I know them. 

Turquoise: Complex, imaginative and original, Turquoise people drive themselves hard and may be in a state of turmoil under their outwardly cool exterior.

I am looking forward to seeing what the next part of my "color life" holds for  me..maybe I will add a little mystery in for fun.

Black: Dignified and impressive without being showy, Black people want to give the appearance of mystery, but their preference may also indicate a suppression of desires and worldly aims, suggesting hidden depths and inner longings.


A thought came to me after posting this blog ...is the reason black is last on my list  because it incompasses all colors and at the end of life that is all there is...everything in a big mesh pot of color creating 'black'.   A thought to muse on!