Day 4: Carnation Pink

This color felt yummy, like cotton candy or bubblegum ice cream (not that I like bubblegum ice cream, but it is definitely childhood yummy). These shapes seem light and airy and floating - there is a lot of movement. Most of the shapes are clustered together, while just four seem to be escaping.

This is the first drawing that is horizontal - it needed to spread out. Expand.

My interpretation: I am in a place in my life right now where I feel more independence. My teenage daughters are moving out in their own directions, and I have more time to focus on me and my passions (like when I was in my twenties). "Me" is taking up more space in my world and I am moving out in new directions. This is exciting and new (and yummy). Even child-like.

Day 3: Orange

This started out with the dark center line- which was originally supposed to be grass-like, but now it feels more like an EKG (a life line). There seems to be mountains that are growing up and out of that lifeline - moving upward. Underneath I interpret this as multiple layers of Earth - very subterranean and/or tunnels.

Near the end, I was pressing really hard with the crayon to get the darker orange color, and the crayon broke. So I removed the wrapper from one half and spun it on its side to create the half circles - which now look very celestial - sun and moon like.

I am interpreting this as if there are many layers in my world - things that may still be unseen below the surface. I am feeling as if I need to start digging deeper to get to something new - get passed the superficial.

This feels a lot more positive than yesterday, and even inspirational.

Day 1: Red Violet

This drawing seemed to evolve out of the color. It feels very organic, but almost in the opposite color than I would expect it to be. I've always thought of "Red Violet" as a Victorian and uptight color. This does not feel like that.

I am open to your interpretations. And I am curious to see if others want to draw their own picture with a "Red Violet" crayon.

Crayon has never been my favorite medium. I am going to have to explore unconventional ways to use this art material. Any suggestions?

New Box Of Crayons

Today I bought a brand new box of 64 Crayola Crayons, and there are so many new colors that did not exist when I was a child, and other colors that have been retired or have had their names changed. I am fascinated!

I have decided to choose one color each day, and allow that color to create a drawing. (See next blog for this first drawing.)

History:

In 1903 Crayola introduced 8 different colors: Black, Brown, Orange, Violet, Blue, Green, Red and Yellow.

By 1957 there were 48 colors: including "Purrsian Blue" which was changed to :Midnight Blue" in 1958, and "Flesh", which was changed to "Peach" in 1962 - partially as a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

In 1971 there were now 64 colors: including "Indian Red" which was changed to "Chestnut" in 1999 because many people thought it was offensive to the Native American people.

By 1989 Crayola was up to 72 colors with the inclusion of fluorescents.

80 colors by 1980 and in 1992 several colors were retired: including "Orange Red", "Orange Yellow", "Raw Umber", "Grey Blue" and "Maize". These colors were replaced with such colors as "Vivid Tangerine", "Cerulean", and "Fuchsia".

In 1993 Crayola introduced 16 new colors that were named by the public: including "Asparagus" and "Macaroni and Cheese".

Today there are 120 colors with new colors like: "Inch Worm" and "Wild Blue Yonder".

Info from: http://www.crayola.com/colorcensus/history/chronology.cfm