Written By Mary Nunn, Strathroy Working Artist, Educator & Mentor
Green is a secondary colour mixed from two primaries, Blue and Yellow. There are naturally occurring green pigments: In paints, one of the most beautiful colours is Viridian, plus Cobalt greens, Jade, Emeralds, Olives, Malachite green and the pthtalo greens.
I am truly grateful to our fore thought of our leaders, for protected our green and wild spaces for us to enjoy. National and, Provincial parks, local parks, trails and conservation areas have all been protected for our use. So, many countries in our world have done the same or individuals who are working to reclaim our forests and marsh areas. The owners of outdoor outfitter, Patagonia, have reclaimed 25,000 acres in Patagonia that are now being returned to their native state, located between Argentina and Chile.
Green is common in our everyday lives; the varied green all around us, whom are fading now, but we so look forward to in the spring. There are reptiles that are green, frogs, snakes and crocodiles (thankfully not around here).
Of course, the Irish green of St. Patrick’s Day. Chicago dyes their river green in honour of St. Paddy’s day. Still more, Green Bay, Wisconsin and the Packers. The Green Party, Green Day, a band, or we can be green with envy; there are healthy green fruit and veggies. The Green of the aurora borealis is truly stunning in the night sky. The beautiful green of Verdigris, the patina caused by oxidation on copper, is one of my favourite tones.
The Matrix was filmed using a green filter, to give it a mysterious or other worldly vibe. Our digital world in movies, AI, on-line work and digital imagery can be manipulated to bring about thoughts, ideas and moods, advertising plus political messaging uses colours to speak for them.
Now we live in a world of Green political issues; Canada was once in the top 3 of Countries in the world, we have fallen to tenth place.
Green can mean go; a Christmas colour matched with red its compliment. Hospitals, particularly surgical areas use a pale green to allow a visual break from the red of blood.
I use a colour code to rate my pain; in hospital they ask you to rate your pain from 1 to 10, men often say eleven. For me, green is fine, yellow, off a bit, orange not so great, red, let’s go to the ER.
An idea to try, focus on any solid colour for a short time, close your eyes, what do you see?
