19 February 2015

Orange joy

 

Once again, it's time for the ROY G BIV photo challenge, and this month we have been looking for "orange." For January's edition I let paper inspire me, so I thought I'd continue with a paper theme again this time. As is often the case, other tangents tempted me, and I must say that it's the most fun I've had for a while (things are still not the same around here since the beginning of the year).

Orange is my favorite color, so the hardest thing was probably deciding what to photograph. My day is full of orange: I brush my teeth with an orange toothbrush, my hair with an orange hairbrush, use amber shower/hair products and orange towels. Orange curtains frame the windows, which look upon terracotta roof tiles, blankets & wraps in shades of orange keep me warm, I pour tea from an orange pot into a cup with a sliver of orange rind. And since it's citrus season, the fruit basket is inevitably bursting with the delicious blood oranges that are at their best right now. However, I opted not to catalogue my orange life here (at least not visually).

In the image at the beginning of this post you should be able to just make out some letter forms for one paper project I'm working on, belatedly: the "place"-themed alphabet for A Letter a Week 2014. Originally I had planned to include several more photos at the end of this post, but have since decided to create a separate entry——so this post is less paper-y than I had first envisioned.

Here are some notes on the photos that have remained...

First is an image of the confetti (known locally as coriandoli) I made in honor of carnevale this week. When I emptied the hole punch of the orange and copper circles I had cut, out fell the remnants of a long-ago project, adding some other colors to the mix——certainly more in the spirit of Carnival. 

After the confetti is a picture from this morning...it's not the first time I have posted an image of the early sun falling on the roof tiles and so beautifully highlighting their curved edges, but this "crescent"-enhancing moment delights me each time I catch it.

Next is a selection of my favorite orange-spined books. The one on top——All the Little Live Things——is my current read from Wallace Stegner, an author whose writing I savor. Not page-turners, but rather stories with a painterly sensibility, told at a pace that invites on-the-page reflection, I have been taking my time working through Stegner's collection. You may notice that Witold Rybczynski's books compose a good chunk of the stack...I've always enjoyed how he writes so engagingly about the multiple facets of architecture/building. (I only just realized he has a blog, which I have yet to peruse.)

And then are some chili peppers that have been slowly drying (shriveling!) over the last several weeks. They began as a bouquet of bright oranges, reds & greens, but had changed considerably by the time I rediscovered them when making a pot of chili earlier this week. (In fact, they are perhaps even more photogenic now——definitely more patinaed——though I will spare you the dozens of photos they inspired me to take).








 

I thought I'd finish with this photo of an orange freesia that I took a couple of years ago, against the temporary "garden" of freesias that popped up on the studio table during a photo shoot. I liked the image so much that I gave it a title——OrangeJoy——and offered it in my Etsy shop for a while (plus have sent many post card versions as thank you's). It remains one of my all-time favorite pictures, and fills me with joy whenever I come across it.


 


Here's wishing joy for everyone, in whatever shape, form or color
that happens to be. I'd actually love to hear which color symbolizes
joy for you if you'd like to note it in the "comments" section...

And Happy Year of the Goat/new moon!


*


For those of you who are not familiar with the
ROY G BIV photo challenge from past years, it was first begun
by artists Jennifer Coyne Qudeen & Julie Booth. Each month is
devoted to a different color of the rainbow, and once we do each
of these we will move on to other colors later in the year. All
are welcome to join in the search. Please visit Jennifer & Julie's
 blogs for links to other participants. Guidelines are here.

16 comments:

  1. Hi Lisa- It must be something about the light in Florence and your ability to capture it so beautifully...you're photos always inspire me!

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    1. Thanks, Julie! And yes, the light has been very inspiring on clear days of late - and it's been such a treat simply to have more light to work with once again. Plus, orange truly glows when you add sun, doesn't it? Thank you again for inspiring the ROY challenge - it's always a great excuse to break free from whatever else is going on and have a little fun...
      - Lisa

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  2. I really look forward to your photographs each month, you capture the colours so beautifully.
    The chillis are my favourite next are the tiles but I like all your captures.
    The colour of joy for me would be pink, pale pink to the vibrant magenta.

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    1. Thanks for your sweet words, Maya...and for sharing the color that means joy to you. I find it so interesting that a single color can mean such different things for people, and love how it's often linked to memories of our childhoods (not to mention more "grown-up" memories too).
      - Lisa

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  3. Beautiful photos and can easily tell you like orange in all its shades...vibrant!
    I'm not sure I have a true favorite but I do seem to lean towards a turquoise or a yellow ochre in art making.

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    1. Mary Ann, thanks for stopping by - and for sharing some of the colors that you are drawn to... I find it so interesting to hear how others are affected/influenced by colors. I must say, the orange-themed pieces you've posted this month are gorgeous and leave me with a feeling of joy!
      - Lisa

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  4. Bonjour Lisa,
    I remember seeing the picture of the orange freesia, a long time ago. It is still one of my favourite.
    The color of joy is connected with the colors I see when travelling in the south of France, especially in Menton. It's kind of "salmon pink " with the sea in the background.
    Thank you for sharing your photos.
    Céline

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    1. Hello Céline, I'm happy to hear you've always liked the orange freesia image too...I'm looking forward to the imminent arrival of fresh freesias at the flower market this year (March, I believe).
      And thank you for sharing your idea of a joyful palette...your description certainly evokes a sense of beauty in my imagination...
      - Lisa

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  5. I love orange too and yours are warm & stunning

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    1. I just popped over to look at your "oranges" for this month, Linda, and I can see your passion for orange - beautiful! Thanks for visiting, and for your lovely comment...
      - Lisa

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  6. Hi Lisa
    I seem to have been far too long a time away from your blog and your beautiful photographs. I somehow missed your red post so I have double enjoyment today - red and orange to savour.
    This is, as always, a beautiful selection - cheering and wonderful. Thank you for the pleasure it brings.

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    1. Hello, Margaret, and thanks for stopping by for a little catch-up (which I always seem to be doing too!)... I'm happy to hear you found some cheer & pleasure!
      - Lisa

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  7. Hi Lisa, it sometimes takes me a while... I was here for a peek on Thursday and am only back now with words! Your oranges are so evocative - so rich and warm and glowing. I love orange, but my colour is purple - my phone cover, my pens, my purse...are all purple! I am intrigued by the orange alaw letters, and just love the stack of books. Thanks for delightful visit!

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    1. Hello Fiona - and thanks for visiting/commenting (it's never too late, as you've probably noticed is my philosophy on leaving comments)!
      I enjoyed hearing about both your love of orange and your passion for purple... While I don't own a purple purse or write with purple ink, I do have a purple cell phone - and wear a purple winter coat (and find that there's actually quite a lot of purple in my life, as well as the orange). I love it when the more subdued shades of each color, like terracotta and plum, are paired together - and, at times, even the brighter versions.
      Sorry - I don't mean to highjack your comment here...I just find color to be a very engaging topic : )
      - Lisa

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