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The Gift of Color Vision
There is a rare condition that’s not fatal, but many artists would kill to have it. It is called tetrachomacy. Its main symptom is near-superhuman vision.
Impressionist painter Concetta Antico has tetrachomacy. When she examines a leaf, she sees a “mosaic of color,” not just shades of green.
“Around the edge I’ll see orange or red or purple in the shadow; you might see dark green but I’ll see violet, turquoise, blue,” she says. In her line of work, this ‘disorder’ is a rare gift that produces extraordinary works of art.
Tetrachromats have more receptors in their eyes to absorb color, letting them see hues that are invisible to everyone else. The average person has three cones, or photoreceptor cells in the retina that control color vision and allow people to see up to a million colors. Tetrachromats have four cones, so they can detect nuances and dimensions of color that others can’t.
Researchers believe that one percent of the world population is tetrachromatic. According to Kimberly Jameson, a cognitive scientist at the Institute for Mathematical Behavioral Sciences at the University of California in Irvine, the differences between the color range perceived by a tetrachromat and someone with normal vision is not as drastic as the difference between someone who is colorblind and someone who is not.
After studying Concetta Antico’s genes, Jameson determined that her fourth cone absorbs color wavelengths that are “reddish-orangey-yellow.” As a cognitive scientist, Jameson is fascinated with how people like tetrachromats can form and communicate concepts, especially since their visual perception of the world is so different.
Research suggests that tetrachromacy may be more widespread than assumed: those who have it don’t always notice because they haven’t trained their brains to pay attention. Antico admits that she was more color-aware than most children; at age seven she was painting and thoroughly fascinated with color. Because of the extensive exposure at an early age, her brain wired itself to notice and take advantage of her tetrachromacy.
She actively supports continued research into mutations that affect color perception. Her reasons are personal: five years ago, her seven-year old daughter was diagnosed as colorblind. Antico believes that the more she helps science professionals understand tetrachromacy, the better they will be able to help her daughter one day.
Kimberly Jameson agrees. “If we understand genetic potential for tetrachromacy and how their perception differs,” she says, “we can understand quite a lot about visual processing of color that we currently don’t understand.”
Antico may actually be helping colorblind individuals via her art. She has been teaching painting for over 20 years, and many of her students have been color-deficient. Jameson has looked at their artwork and found it to be surprisingly color-aware. She believes that Antico’s sensitivity to color differences at a very early age may have given her the understanding and articulation to help these students. It’s a hypothesis that still needs to be proved empirically, but raises the possibility that people’s perception of color can be improved by retraining their brains.
Antico has her own art gallery in San Diego and hopes to one day open an art school for the colorblind, to help them improve their color-awareness.
“What if we tetrachromats can show the way to color for people who are less fortunate than us?” she says. “I want everyone to realize how beautiful the world is.”
MILES REDD – BE BOLD
“I love disparate rich colors paired next to each other—like taxicab and indigo. The tension that they make on the color wheel is dazzling. Each color makes the other more vibrant than when they stand alone.”
KELLY WEARSTLER – GENDER EQUALITY
“Pink-and-black is confident and chic. I always love to play up the sexy tension between masculine and feminine elements in design.”
STEVEN GAMBLER – ALL EYES ON THE KITCHEN
“Kitchens now act as a part of a house’s public space… It’s important that the kitchen feel as warm and friendly as a sitting room.”
TIMOTHY CORRIGAN – GREEN HARMONY
“I find it important to create homes that serve as our places of sanctuary from the outside world, so I often use green in a prominent role. It’s a color that represents harmony and balance, and you can’t help but feel a little bit calmer after spending time in a room surrounded by green.
Do you view your home as a sanctuary? If so, what colors do you use to highlight the essence of this matchless location?
After reviewing the philosophies of famous designers, it clear to see that beautiful homes come in all sorts of color schemes. As a personal oasis, your home ought to reflect your character and surround you with colors that encourage you and lift your mood.
Color is a powerful tool that can influence mood. When it is applied to the right location, it can have a positive influence on you.
What Color Should You Paint Your Home?
Decorate Your Home Office to Inspire Creativity
Make Your House a Home with Color Blocking
Be a Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC (see more details here)
Join us on SegPlay® Mobile iTunes now available for iPhone and iPad
This entry was posted in Color, Color Trends, color wheel, Color-changing, Colorful, colors, designer, home decor, Home decorating, Home paint shades, interior design and tagged color, colorful, colors, decorating your home, decoration, emotional wellbeing, home, home decor, interior design, mood, mood-changer, personal oasis, positive mood, sanctuary on August 20, 2014 by segmation.
Hues, Tints, Tones and Shades – What’s the Difference?
Let’s face the facts: we can easily take color for granted. Even when we are enjoying the brilliant hues of nature and the masterful shades in paintings, it is hard to be fully aware of the colorful intricacies we are taking in.
Case in point: do you know the difference between hues, tints, tones and shades?
To some, it comes as a shock to learn that these colorful qualities make up multiple tiers of the color wheel.
Basic and Intricate Elements of the Color Wheel
At first glance, the color wheel is a tool that guides us in using primary, secondary and complementary colors. But it also does much more than this. It describes analogous colors (any three colors that sit side by side), split complementary colors (which considers the two colors adjacent to a complimentary hue), and tetradic colors (a group of four colors, made up of two complimentary colors).
Beyond defining aesthetic color combinations, the color wheel also offers a good starting point from which tints, tones and shades can be properly identified.
The color wheel at its most basic form is made up of 12 hues. Hues are pure colors. When white is added to hues, they lighten and become known as tints. When gray is added to hues, they dim and become known as tones. When black is added to hues, they darken and become shades.
This excellent image, compliments of lifehacker.com, shows the many levels of the color wheel:
Using Hues, Tints, Tones and Shades
Different tiers of the color wheel come in handy when decorating, designing graphics, deciding on outfits or preparing works of art. For instance, matching a hue with its complementary shade can make for a dynamic combination. Sometimes, people find hues to be strong and bold. They may prefer light, more whimsical tints or are drawn to the calmer depths of shades.
More so, it can be nice to use one hue and its tints, shades and tones. This creates a monotone chromatic color scheme. In the same vein, a monotone achromatic color scheme uses all variations of neutral colors and can be brought to life with a brilliant hue.
Art on Color is No Joke
Question: What do two architects have in common with a
French artist and an English painter?
Answer: An irrefutable interest in color.
Chelsea is a Manhattan, New York neighborhood. While the people who live there may be colorful and lively, the art galleries tend to steer clear of the vibrant hues found in other parts of the city.
This summer, however, an art exhibit has moved in and is brightening up this subculture of New York. Entitled, “Art on Color,” the exhibit is anything but chromatic. In fact, the two men responsible for this three month showcase made it their mission to paint every wall of Gemini G.E.L. at Joni Moisant Weyl a different color, leaving only one wall white.
“It’s always important to know where to start and where to stop with color,” said Peter Stamberg, partner at Stamberg Aferiat and Associates, an architectural design firm based in New York City. Together with Paul Aferiat, the two architects designed some profound establishments, like the Saguaro hotel in Palm Springs and Shelter Island Pavilion, which are known for their bold color and architectural designs.
In addition to designing buildings, they are also the masterminds behind the exhibit “Art on Color.” Although, it can be said that more than two great minds engineered this idea.
Stamberg and Aferiat invited great artists like John Baldessari, Ann Hamilton, Ellsworth Kelly, Roy Lichtenstein, Man Ray, Brice Marden, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist and Joel Shapiro to feature their work in Chelsea this summer.
However, even Hockney is hesitant to claim his title as a color authority. He advises the men behind “Art on Color” to go to Matisse when they are “having trouble with color.” After all, the colorful works of art created by the French artist display the magnificent qualities art takes on when it is infused with bold color.
Stamberg and Aferiat are bathing New York with color this year, but with designs popping up all over the United States, who knows where their touch of color will land next.
Pantone’s World of Color
Liza Amor Shows Las Vegas What Happens in the Art Room
This entry was posted in "out of the box" art, Architectural, architecture, Color, Color as art, Colorful, colorful cities, David Hockney, Exhibit, Henri Matisse, New York and tagged architecture, Art exhibit in Chelsea, Art on Color, bold color, building design, color, colorful, David Hockney, exhibit, Henri Matisse, New York Art Gallery on August 11, 2014 by segmation.
Beach Towels: Where Art and Function Meet
Fun in the sun is what summer is all about. Whether you enjoy bronzing your skin, laying in the shade, diving into a pool, or wading through salt water waves, your beach towel is sure to get a lot of use this season.
If you like to express your artistic style, having a one-of-a-kind towel is one way to make a splash. This type of beachwear comes in numerous designs, colors, sizes, and fabrics. Therefore, finding a towel that is both artistic and functional is a breeze.
Beach towels are sold at most retailers during summer months. They range in price and design, and serve most purposes. If you want to make a statement with your beach towel, it may involve shopping around. Below are some ideas and links to help you begin your search.
A different approach to beach towel design is to purchase one with a famous work of art printed on it. Complex Art+Design shares 10 unique styles that include abstract art, expressionist art, funny quotes, and everything in between.
You may want to hang your new towel on the wall rather than take it to the beach. Have no fear; these one-of-a-kind beach accessories are durable, washable, comfortable, and ready for sand and salt water spray.
Add a Splash of Colorful-
Every summer season brings a fresh roll out of vibrant beach towel designs. This year is no exception. Beach towels are often associated with bright colors and bold designs. While you want to be unique, it is essential to have a beach towel that shouts color. Stripes, polka dots, animal patterns, sea shells, or any other bright, bold designs host colorful accents well. Bright, Bold & Beautiful wants to set you in the right direction by sharing where you can find these sorts of beach towels.
Get Creative-
Did you know that your beach towel can serve multiple purposes? DIY crafters are getting creative with beach towel projects. Martha Stewart is showing her audience how to embellish towels with tic-tac-toe boards so they can play games by the water. Also, some Kentucky crafters offer tips on how to sew old beach towels together to create one large, water absorbent picnic blanket. Read more creative tips in this article.
While creativity and color are great characteristics for a towel, functionality is king. A couple traits people look for when shopping for this summer staple are size and fabric. Find a towel that is long, wide and absorbent. Towels come in all shapes and sizes, and are made of numerous types of materials. If you want to learn more about what type of towel is going to serve you best, Thirstytowels.com has more information on this subject.
A beach towels can be a great way to display your artistic side. Enjoy the summer sun in style this season. Be unique. Get creative. Celebrate color. Enjoy comfort. With beach towels, you can truly have it all.
This entry was posted in "out of the box" art, American West, Amigos, Art, art and learning, Art Appreciation, celebration, Cinco de Mayo, holiday, Mexican Heritage, Mexican symbol, Mexican-American, Pride in America, United States and tagged American Civil War, Art, Cinco de Mayo, color wheel, colorful, hot pink, Mexican, Mexican culture, paint by numbers, Segmation on April 10, 2013 by segmation.
Colorful Roses on Valentine’s Day Communicate Love
The goal of most lovers on Valentine’s Day is to communicate love to their significant other. For these blessed people, Valentine’s Day is a much anticipated holiday that brings fulfillment and joy. Individuals in romantic relationships often seek to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for their loved one, and more often than not that gift ends up being a bouquet of roses. Depending upon their color, roses can communicate different types and intensities of love.
What color of roses communicates romantic love? Red, just as you probably guessed. Traditionally, red roses have symbolized passion, energy, and deep love. Red roses are best reserved for communicating intimate, romantic love. Given to someone you see in a platonic light, red roses could send a message you don’t intend, so be careful who you gift this type of flower to!
Whether or not you are in a romantic relationship, you may want to send roses to a dearly loved friend or family member on Valentine’s Day. No matter what you want to communicate, be it purity, friendship, admiration, etc., specific colors of roses can help you get your message across:
White — Love (especially of a spiritual nature), humility, reverence, and purity
Yellow — “Presents a ‘welcome back’ sentiment,” gladness, joy, and friendship
Pink — Innocence, affection, and understanding
For people who long to be in romantic relationships but simply haven’t found that special someone, Valentine’s Day can be an unhappy time. Everything these individuals see on February 14th reminds them that their desires are going unfulfilled. You can make Valentine’s Day special for these people by surprising them with roses. Since you want to avoid communicating a romantic message to such individuals, try sending them roses in the following colors:
Light pink — Gentility, grace, friendship, and admiration
Peach — Sincerity, sympathy, modesty, and gratitude
Dark pink — Appreciation, gratitude, thankfulness