COLOR RESPONSES

Color -- A Natural History of the Palette

Victoria Finlay

TEXTILE COLOR RESPONSES

CHAPTER EIGHT

BLUE

"Ultramarine is a world that has always seemed to me to taste of the ocean. It has a smooth, salty, sound, suggesting a bluer blue than even the Mediterranean can select on a sunny morning." (pg 281)

"We were flying over snow-covered mountains...Looking down at the inhospitable terrain, it was almost impossible to believe that anybody could live there at all." (pg 299)

Materials: procreate, wet acrylic paint brush -- real tattoo, black ink

Size: 7.5 in W, 11 in H (sketch)             1.5in W, 3in H (tattoo)

Response

Water stimulates all senses -- sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch. It's exciting and invigorating yet dangerous and fatal. The natural element of water can take a multitude of forms, shapes, volumes, and densities. I see water almost as if it was magic -- light & dark. Water has always been part of my personal life, in one way or another captivating all my senses. Lakes, rivers, oceans, rain, snow, or just plain H2O; this element has shaped me as a human being. Water has been a part of my development and physical persona, serving as a basis for my personality characteristics and lifelong hobbies. While water has had a positive influence, it has also shown its dark side by taking away the lives of personal friends. 

The photo of the tattoo was designed by me and is a recent addition to my body art. It has taken me years to finalize this design, and this chapter helped me understand how I wanted to design it. Even though it is a simple tattoo, it captures so many meanings in my life. As my college career comes to a close, I realized my childhood is also coming to an end.  I have thought about who I have become, reflecting on the people and activities that have shaped my life. 

I designed this tattoo in the shape of waves and mountains, representing an abstract version of myself. The two sides of myself expressed are not necessarily dark and light, but rather my introverted and extroverted sides of my persona. These opposites are connected by water in different forms embracing the excitement, calmness, risk, and all the in-between to prepare me for my future.  

CHAPTER NINE

INDIGO

"-- archaeologists confirmed that metals had been found on the skin if at least one body, and speculated that the Celts may have been covered with blue tattoos." (pg 324)

"He crystallized his understanding of gravity; he began to formulate theories of the planets; and with the help of two prisms he had picked up at local fair, he discovered that the colors of the rainbow were held within white light." (pg 339)

Materials: my face & legs, glasses, sunlight

Response

My skin represent my precious physicality and help remind me of the importance of taking care of my body's health. Tattoos are one way I express myself. I take my time when it comes to their design, size, and placement on my skin. The known fact that they last a lifetime constantly reminds me of the importance of being patient and confident before changing my physical appearance forever.

Light is also an essential element to me. It is mystifying and representative of the exploration of life, noting that a prism and white light created the colors of the rainbow. This is, in a sense, 'crystalizing' all of my experiences into one. Although by separating the prism and white light, the colors disappear. 

I combined light and tattoo to create my own temporary tattoos with my glasses and sunlight for this response. The resulting design that appeared were the abstract reflections on my surroundings, displaying a bright indigo color from the blue light protection. The two images that intrigued me were the selfies. The resulting reflections fit around my eyes and cheeks, making them look as if they were real tattoos on my body, but one wrong move and they disappeared. This made me realize the more profound reason I am so patient before getting real tattoos. There are things in life that you are unable to 'fix' or make right. So before I make any critical decisions in my life, I always take a step back to think, observe, and make the plan, and then execute.

CHAPTER TEN

 VIOLET

"Bacchus ever had a color he could claim for his own it would surely be the shade of tannin on drunken lips, or John Keat's "purple-stained mouth," or perhaps even Homer's dangerously wine-dark sea." (pg 363)

Materials: photoshop, free stock images (gold chalice, wine, lips)

Size: 7.5 in W, 11 in H

Response

Red wine and violet. A pairing I see as sophisticated and classy, while others may see tawdry and trashy. Red wine is known to have an acquired taste, and many avoid drinking it, but others learn to love the zesty tart flavor. Violet is known to represent modesty, the mixture of red as strength and blue as integrity. Sometimes red tones can be overbearing within violet, emphasizing arrogance and immaturity. Together, red wine and violet can receive mixed reviews. I understand I am talking about an alcoholic drink and a color. Still, this chapter/quote allowed me to open my eyes to realize the correlation with a well-known controversial topic. 

Many things in today's society get judged by their covers when what lies beneath the surface is much deeper, and people choose not to look farther. Women, for instance, have been a consistent topic for centuries — the male gaze, nudity verse naked, the perfect female body, etc. In today's society, young women are prone to criticism and judgment from many viewers, who aren't afraid to say their options. This pairing can help describe our society's obsession with "judgement," which is done prematurely and without much contemplation.

For this chapter/quote, I created a photoshopped image embracing and displaying femininity using red wine and the color violet. The initial thoughts of most viewers would be insensitive and crucial, basing opinions off of pure sexuality and lust. However, when creating and view the artwork myself, I see feminine empowerment and panache. There is more than just what the eye sees. Instead, allow yourself to observe, understand, and relate so you can look beneath the surface and dive much deeper into what is truly reality.