This month the Partners are showing work with the color blue as the theme. Cerulean, aquamarine, Berlin blue, China blue, azure…so many blues. Ultramarine, the most precious of colors except gold, I thought meant “sea color”, like the Greeks' “wine-dark sea", though the ocean always looked more true blue and greenish blue to me. I figured it was out there somewhere. But the name comes from the Italian “oltromarino”, meaning “beyond the seas”, because the color was made from lapiz lazuli, a semi precious stone mined in faraway Afghanistan. Indigo, too, is named not for its substance but for the Greek term for its historical source, India. Cobalt came from mines in Persia, and was found excellent in glazes for tiles, and was mixed with copper for turquoise. Prussian Blue, iron ferrocyanide, was made by accident, used in the development of blueprints, and became a popular pigment for paint (later found to be somewhat fugitive).
The colors in our paintboxes represent the end point of so many stories of ancient exploration, travel, trade, greed, theft, sacrifice, practice, and beauty.
"Blue is the color I am driven to start with in most of my work. It is all around me in nature, obviously the sky and the ocean, and as one of the three primaries that can make other colors. This watercolor was an intentional effort to meet the challenge of our September exhibit. It has all of my favorites: cobalt, ultramarine, indigo. I wondered after I added the violet if it would qualify as “blue” and dismissed my overthinking. Blue has many elements!” – Kathy Carl
“Blue is elemental. My favorite crayon in grade school was Prussian Blue, and later I had a crush on turquoise. The first time I opened a can of ultramarine stage paint for a theater set I wanted to drink it, it was so lush." – Carolyn Schneider
"Blue is a color that has much symbolic significance. In the book of Leviticus colored gemstones are described, and one, Shevo, refers to an agate, sky blue in color. It is regarded as a potent talisman that brings luck and protection. Blue in many cultures is symbolic of peace, love, and harmony." – Mina Cohen
"I began looking among the found object collections in my studio for blue things. I found more and more, and had a great time arranging and rearranging, composing with color and shape.” – Miriam Davis
"This is the Mad Hatter’s Teapot turned into the Mad Felter’s Teapot. Historically, hatters were felt makers. They were mad because of the chemicals they had to use to make felt beaver hats. Lewis Carroll invoked the madness of hatters in Alice in Wonderland. This teapot seems to be floating on a wave at sea with a blue sky above. I have plans for more teapots since one is not enough for all the creatures invited to the party." – Adriane Nicolaisen
"During the past few years I have done many paintings with Blue as the dominant color. In wondering about that, I realized that when I think of Blue I think of expansiveness. I am fortunate to live where I am often aware of the big blue Sky and the big blue Ocean. The color range of the blue is always changing and engaging." – Arlene Reiss
"I must say making a piece for this exhibit was a struggle; my work usually doesn’t have blue. But I was able to add a touch of blue in the appropriate place, the blossom." – Carolyn King
"Rich and varied blues from tropical turquoise to deep ultramarine: these are the colors of the oceans, thronging with life from microscopic plankton to humongous whales. Blue seemed right for this work. It suggests cool hard stone, an enduring monument." – Ginny Stearns