Tuesday 4 November 2008

The colour for today is.......


Purple



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Purple is the name for a range of shades between red and blue, and is made by mixing these primary colours. Although there are many different names for the various shades, such as mauve, liliac, puce, amethyst, mulberry, and heliotrope, on the colour wheel purple is situated between, magenta and violet which are considered colours in their own right.


It is a colour often associated with Royalty or the nobility as in ancient times purple pigments were difficult to achieve and therefore expensive, and worn only by those who could afford them. Feelings of love, courage, spirit and wisdom are often expressed in shades of purple, and it can also represents death and mourning . In Victorian times a light mauve or lilac was the first colour widows could wear after the traditional year of wearing black – often antique quilts will feature what were known as mourning prints such as the purple in this block from the 1860’s.



The word purple is also used in language as a descriptor, for example:-Purple prose – meaning exaggeration or imaginative writing. Purple speech – raunchy language or swearing. Purple haze – drug connotations. Purple cow – something remarkable, eye-catching or unusual.

Then of course, there is the poem by Jenny Joseph.......

When I am and old woman I shall wear a red dress
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves........

I meant to add these colour sites earlier............ have a look they are good fun.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I adore your purple photo collage. Is that easy to do? And you made it so interesting with all your purple information. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I tried out the photo collage on my blog yesterday. It works great! What a find. Thank you.