A World Without Color?
Today I completed the second lens in a new series about color. During the writing of my first color lens, I studied the science of color as it related to blue. I was fascinated by the way color affects us, not only in our personal preferences and moods, but in how certain colors can determine the mood of an entire group! (Just for the record, never paint a preschool room schoolbus yellow!)
Today’s lens centered around the color yellow. As I wrote, I found myself surprised by the memories that this single color brought to the surface. My mind turned into an old-time movie projector, as I saw flashes of special long-ago occasions that were somehow connected with the color yellow. Yellow is not a color I wear often, but I’m drawn to it for several reasons. Apparently it has a stronger hold on me than I thought.
Think about the colors you surround yourself with. What do they mean to you? Are colors all that important? I think so. Can you imagine a world with only black, white, and shades of gray? That would be like opening the pages of a new coloring book to find all dark outlines and no sparkle.
When my husband and I lived in Germany, the wall still separated east and west Germany. In fact, one of his cousins told us the story of his sister having to stay on the east side when that cruel wall was first constructed practically overnight. She lived there, separated from her siblings, until the order was given to take the wall down. When they finally met up again, she described her life as “gray” but happy. It was all she knew, and by that point, she had lost the close relationship she’d once had with other family members.
A world without color would be dreary.
What do you think? Does color play a big part in your life, or is it just one of those extras you take for granted? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Wonderful and our karma that you speak of how color really paints our world. I’ve recently connected with an acupuncturist to work through my terrible knee pain and during the last two visits as I am relaxing, with my eyes gently closed I’ve been experiencing seeing colors. It’s not the day trippin’ seeing colors during the 60’s kinda thing
…ha! It is a visual brain bathing of blues, greens, yellows, and sometimes black. Gretchen, my acupuncturist, swears it is not anything she is doing…this seeing of colors is coming from me. Whoa! in a good way because I never imagined experiencing anything like this. I Love my world filled with color!
November 5th, 2008 at 4:53 am
I often see colours that swirl when I close my eyes at night. I wish I could capture the pictures in some way!
November 5th, 2008 at 8:20 am
I dream in color. Always have.
I’d love to be able to capture some of those dreams to create a new Photoshop pattern stamp. Wouldn’t that be somethin’?