Friday, April 02, 2010

Blue

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Yesterday Silke shared her most recent painting and I was intrigued and calmed by her use of the color blue. It felt spiritual. Blue is a color I do not normally use or choose, but I find I am becoming more fond of it. Here's a little scientific history about blue's influences and effects:
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The cool, calming effect of blue makes time pass more quickly and it can help you sleep. Blue is a good color for bedrooms. However, too much blue could dampen spirits.
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In many cultures blue is significant in religious beliefs, it is thought to bring peace, and it is believed to keep the bad spirits away.
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Blue conveys importance and confidence without being somber or sinister, hence the blue power suit of the corporate world and the blue uniforms of police officers. Long considered a corporate color, blue, especially darker blue, is associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism.
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In Iran, blue is the color of mourning while in the West blue often represents love.
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People describe how the color blue makes them feel:
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A deep royal blue or azure conveys richness and perhaps even a touch of superiority. Navy blue is almost black and is a bit warmer than lighter blues. Combine a light and dark blue to convey trust and truthfulness — banker's colors. Although blue is a year-round color, pastel blues, especially along with pinks and pale yellows suggest Springtime while deep blue is a colder weather color. Create a conservative but sophisticated look with subtle contrast by combining light and dark shades of blue.
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Mix the color of blue with green for a natural, watery palette. Add gray for understated elegance.Sky blue and robin's egg blue, especially when combined with neutral light brown, tans, or beige are environmentally friendly color combinations. Throw in a dash of blue to cool down a hot red or orange scheme. Grab attention with the contrast of blue and yellow.
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Dark blue with white is fresh, crisp, and nautical. Red, white, and blue is a patriotic color trio for many countries, including the United States. Use dark blue with metallic silver accents for an elegantly rich appearance.
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I wonder if my talented artist friends agree with this analysis?
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Here is my own version of Blue, an impulsive poem that is a repeat here on my blog, inspired by the color of words.

Blue

No can do
Not tried
Not true
Attested to
Hullabaloo
Can’t outdo
Cordon bleu
Here anew
Straight into
Making do
Just outgrew
Take a few
Put me through
Still taboo
In full view
Kangaroo
Bottle screw
Misconstrue
Book review
Elmer’s glue
The whole slew
Doggy do
Baby shoe
Screw you
Why and who
Break a few
Home brew
Bally hoo
Who knew?
Stomach flu
Kung fu
Wandering Jew
Animal glue
Pacific yew
You have to.
Whew.
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Love
kj

19 comments:

  1. I like blue! Blues skies would be especially nice about now.

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  2. I love this post!!!!
    I did one about blue also
    http://mandarianne.blogspot.com/2009/01/number-5-blue.html
    a long time ago......
    I love to read and discover facts about colors!

    Thanks

    ♥♥♥
    >M<

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  3. I love the poem... who knew that blue rhymed with so many things :0)

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  4. hey... Karen...

    as you know i'm an Iranian but never heard of blue being used for mourning... what is your source?
    :)

    this color is abundantly used in our tile works and historical buildings... also traditional vessels... and it signifies spiritualism and mysticism... as it is the color of sky...

    you can see some works here:

    http://www.amirmohtashemi.com/art/main.php?g2_itemId=234&g2_page=3

    and here:

    http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo480397.htm

    mourning color here is black... and before Islam it has been white...

    anyways... this is a great post... lots of shades of blue...

    and when you talk about Iran, the blue you've chosen is somehow green... and you know this color has become the sign of protest against the government... after the horrible events following the last year election...


    and last but not least...
    your poem is really fab!
    it put a big smile on my face...
    :D



    a dear friend, you
    truer than the blue

    :)

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  5. I was also thinking "true blue".

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  6. I used to like blues, sing the songs of the color of them. Now I like reds because it reminds me that I have a brain and blood flowing to it through my head. Last month when my yellow turned the color of tea they told me they had to cut on...orange turning OH ME! Colors, colors everywhere I have one good eye that still sees them and would never let them go without me gone ahead.

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  7. As one of your artist friends, you know that blue is my favorite color.
    I'm not a big fan of navy blue.
    I adore periwinkle! And turquoise (which is really a blue-green.)

    Blue skies lift my spirits.
    The blue sea soothes my soul.
    Blue comforts me and for some reason it ends up in almost all of my work. I guess I control that ;)

    Black reflects blue.
    White has blue shadows.

    Blue flowers are a joy to discover!
    Bluebirds, blue moons, and true-blue friends.

    It's all good!

    xoxo
    Lolo ♥

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  8. fun poem. when I was little people said I should wear blue re: my blue eyes. In looking on line at hundreds of house interiors it is interesting to note how many have blue walls.

    I like a touch of blue in the kitchen with yellow.

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  9. The colour blue calms down, I know that for sure. When and if I have to meet and talk to people which are very nervous and taking away too much energy from me, I always wear something blue. When someone is complaining about a terrible mother-in-law I always give this advice. Oh, and cross your arms and legs while talking :-)

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  10. Your poem made me laugh :-). I have never been a fan od blue, but a couple years ago I fell in love with that sea green blue of the sea and it has been my favorite color since. I change favorite colors about every 3-5 years.
    I love you Kj. xoxo

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  11. KJ, for most of my life, I was indifferent to Blue.... (of course you know the hues I am drawn to - and actually have been since I was quite young....)!

    My feelings towards Blue changed the first time I visited New Mexico ten years ago and saw BLUE with new eyes...Blue skies cradling puffy white clouds, twilight blues, meshing into lilac, violet and pink as the setting sun touches the mountains... and of course, Turquoise Blue....

    I even chose a Blue stone for the ring my (now-ex) gave to me... I wear it still because the blue and white stones remind me of happy days and warm, gentle breezes.

    Your poem was wonderful and made me laugh out loud!!

    Easter Hugs to You and the Family!

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  12. blue is for boys,
    i had three.
    blue is for my grama rose,
    she always sang to me.
    blue is for the sky i gaze at each day,
    and blue is for the friendship that
    we share,
    true blue in every way.

    happy easter kj! lovely post!


    (my granma rose LOVED the color blue and so it always reminds me of her)

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  13. Very beautiful post. I love some blues, they make me feel all those ways.

    xoxoxxoxo

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  14. As another one of your artist friends kj i adored this post! Color theory is one of my stronger artistic traits (as opposed to perspective, my weakest!). I also love blue, but sage green and burgundy is my fav combo. It's fascinating learning about the origins of colors! I just posted a blue bunny, hope you and Emily like it
    http://susanbethstudio.blogspot.com/2010/04/sunday-sketches-feast-and-flood.html

    Have a wonderful Easter! Hugs, Susan

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  15. A fun post, most definitely! And I'm mentally singing your poem as a rap. :)

    I'm taking the blue out of my kitchen. The walls were a white labeled as "Dairy," and it had a real blue cast to it that I wasn't expecting. The window frame is a gorgeous French blue to match the shades in the office. I'm painting the walls and window frame white; the shades were spendy so they will stay for now. The blue became dismal in this rather small-ish kitchen/office combo. After reading your post I understand why.

    a-hem...blue jeans rule!

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  16. I love Robin's egg blue, and the way the broken eggs shine on the grass. My favourite is a very dark blue...the colour of the Sky at an early hour of the morning.

    Happy Easter, kj, I am so very happy you're my friend. And I hope Emily has an amazing, loving Easter holiday as well! xo

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  17. Oh, such a beautiful post, KJ! I've always loved blue - it soothes me! Most intensely, I love the blue New Mexico sky (there's nothing like it) and the turquoise blue of tropical ocean waters. When I see those, I want to just melt into them! Loving blue, but not feeling blue!! Happy Easter, dearest KJ!! Love, Silke

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  18. I've love reading your blog, and just joined recently.
    kindhearted, and fiesty. I've enjoyed your expressions and impressions
    loved 'blue'

    debbie

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