If you asked me where my bread comes from, without thinking, I would likely give you a very American answer: "from aisle three at the Winn-Dixie." My husband and I have enjoyed challenging this narrow-minded way of thinking in each other. We love illustrating where bread truly comes from and other such stories to our children. Two of the more commonly known are silk and gelatin. The first coming from the ass of a worm the other from bone marrow.
It was when we were painting our living room a rich red color, Cranberry Whip, that we started talking about the origin of colors. Shaun told me about the pigment Mummy Brown and how the name describes precisely where it comes from, and I was hooked. I asked everyone that would listen if they truly knew what was on their walls and in their paintings. Then on a rare outing to Borders we found the book Color by Victoria Finlay.
This beautifully written book is not just for the artist. It is filled with stories and histories of color. Finlay speaks of poisons, house paints, fine art, and her many adventures in tracking the pigments back to their source. She goes into detail about paintings that have been displayed for centuries and how the colors we see are very different from what was originally put on the canvas.
"For true Protestant symbolism you needed true Protestant black clothes-and that was an unbelieveably complex issue for dyers...The problem is that there are no true black dyes. There are black pigments-charcoal is one, soot is another-but pigments do not tend to be soluable in water, so it is hard to make them fix onto fabric. What many people did was dye clothes in several vats-blue, red and yellow-until the impression was one of blackness. However, that was expensive. Another option had to be found. And it is particularly ironic that the clothes of the most puritanical of Puritans were often made with a color collected by rough retired pirates, and paid for by exchange for rum and enough cash to keep several brothels busy on the Caribbean coast."
Chapter 2: Black and Brown Page 98
Each section is about a different color, and it can be picked up at any chapter and read exlcusively. It is a wonderful read-aloud book. Intriguing, delightful, and educational. So, now I know what is on my red walls (also the same thing used to color cherry coke!). Shaun and I recommend this book to any one, especially those who only have time to read in bits and pieces.
Cool, cool book. And nice review. Isn't it weird that the cochineal insect which is white and lives on cactus makes a red dye found in a lot of cosmetics. How many women would continue spreading insect guts on their lips? If only they knew.
MLH: Thanks for continuing the conversation! You obviously have great taste in books!;o} And to think the book is just full of such stories. So, very good.
sounds like a lovely book. i am fascinated with color. blessings to you and your husband on this new life adventure. i think it's wonderful that he's going back to school for art.
It really is worth having in ones library. And to you an artist, beware of licking your fingers when you paint! People do it much more than they realize! Blessings to you as well in your art adventures!