Stonington Borough, Connecticut
We live in a world of color. All nature is color: white, black, and grey do not exist except in theory; they are never seen by the eye – they could only exist in a world that was colorless. Such a universe is beyond imagination: a world without color would be a world without light, for light and color are inseparable.
~ E. Ambrose Webster
(E. Ambrose Webster: Early Modernist Painter)
Hi. When I was younger I thought of shadows as grey …. Since I started painting, I realize they are blue, or purple or …. Jane
Perhaps this is why I have such a hard time telling my black socks apart from the dark blue ones – the “black” ones are another shade of blue…
Good perspective ! It was not until I began really seeing through my photography that I would begin to “see” this. I was given the shades of color, not just red, blue, green, etc…
It is through the light and shadow…
Jeff, I found this quote in a book about the Provincetown painter, E. Ambrose Webster (1869-1935), Tim’s great-granduncle. He started Ambrose Webster’s Summer School of Painting, and was a founding member of the Provincetown Art Association. It’s so interesting to me that you and Jane, both artists, concur with Webster’s observation.
I like Jane’s comment. It’s a wonderful lens to use when thinking about color. . . and life in general.
I remember one day I was startled while watching a decorating show on HGTV – the designer asserted that brown was simply a shade of orange.
“…for light and color are inseparable.”
This makes me think of Light (as in Source Energy) and Color (as in animation; personality; that which makes us uniquely individual).
I love the floral arrangement in the seat of the chair!
What a wonderful thought, Laurie, so much unity in the diversity of color and individuality!
We were eating breakfast at a new-to-us restaurant and saw this arrangement on the street from our table by a window. I came back the next weekend with my camera to get the picture!
Colors like these simply brighten a day. Love this arrangement!
They brightened my day, too – so happy you enjoyed the little sidewalk garden!
As an artist (and writer) I love the quote. And your little ‘sidewalk’ garden feels like color as far as the soul can see! XO ♥
So pleased you loved the quote and the little sidewalk garden, Diane! It is amazing how color can lead our eyes to an ordinary little scene…