For many, rainbows are seen as a miracle of sorts. When we see a rainbow in the sky, it means the sun is reflecting off the moisture in the air in just the right way to display a spectrum of color that will send people running from the far corners of their house into the front yard to enjoy the … [Read more...]
Colorful Learning
It truly is a wonderful, colorful world we live in. I often ask myself what the world would be like without color and the thought just makes me sad. However, it does make me appreciate colors even more and that gives me a lot of ideas for new things to write about.
The History of the Color White: Pure, Bright, and Held in High Regard
White is one of the more common colors in the world. It's used in everything from paper to wedding dresses. Some colors tend to fade into the background of everyday life. But white is an unusual case where it can quite literally function as a background for other colors or indicate something very … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Gray: Both Celebrated and Unappreciated
Gray might not seem like a very dynamic color. The modern eye tends to view gray as neutral or utilitarian at best and downright apathetic at worst. For example, gray is often used to describe depression. And we're all familiar with the less than stellar feelings evoked by gray skies. However, by … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Black: Mystery, Death, and Beauty
Humanity has always had a special relationship with color. On a purely physical level color is nothing more than an interaction between our eye's photoreceptors and different frequencies of light. But the emotional meaning of color is so much more than that. Every color has a unique meaning to both … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Brown: Powdered Remains of Ancient Egyptian Mummies
We're surrounded by the color brown to such a ubiquitous level that we often take it for granted. After all, brown is the color of the very dirt which life is built upon. If there's life in an area then it's always built on a brown foundation. Even the blue oceans boast nutrient-rich brown dirt in … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Turquoise: Which Came First, The Stone or the Color?
Is it teal? No, perhaps it's aqua. Maybe it's blue-green. The argument may lean more toward green and then back toward blue. Actually, it's likely the ubiquitous turquoise. Turquoise is a very versatile hybrid blue/green color that is flattering on almost every skin tone and hair color. It's a … [Read more...]
Colors Explained by a True Expert: Why Do Things Have Color?
Would you believe me if I told you that color is an illusion? It's true, and I'll explain why. People with an artistic eye could spend days talking about the beauty they see in the world around them. Of course, everyone finds beauty in different things. But talk to someone about their personal … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Pink: Earth’s Oldest Color
Pink is one of the most eye-catching colors in the world. It walks that fine line between colors found in nature and those which come about solely through humanity's artistic innovation. Pink occurs in nature just often enough that it feels comforting in a similar way to blue skies and verdant … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Yellow: Divine, Cowardly, or Downright Disgusting?
It's funny how merely thinking about a particular color elicits so many emotions. The truth is, there is an interesting and sometimes checkered history involved with almost every color conceivable to the human mind. In this particular case, it is time to delve deep into the history of the color … [Read more...]
The History of the Color Orange: From Prehistoric Cave Paintings to Pumpkins
Think about some of your favorite moments from childhood. The vast majority of Americans will probably drift back to fond memories of Halloween. Obviously part of the holiday's charm comes from costumes and candy. But we're also drawn into Halloween thanks to the holiday's striking colors. Orange … [Read more...]
