Marja-Leena Rathje
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colour full


redleaves.jpg
   

a rainy foggy week, a sunny weekend, a long walk
gathering red leaves, planting spring bulbs
red tulips, blue hyacinths, little yellow daffodils
blue yellow white pansies, purple flowering kale
colourful sunset, colour full
   

OctoberSunset.jpg
   

Marja-Leena | 22/10/2006 | 11 comments
themes: Being an Artist


11 comments

Tulip trees! Grew up where they grew, but up here in the Shield, they aren't around. Beautiful things--I miss them.

Lovely images, lovely colors. That sky is really something else!

Hi Peter, glad this tweaked a lovely memory for you! I wonder if the tulip tree you recall might be the magnolia. They are often called that; they are indeed lovely! Quite plentiful around here.

Thanks MB, I was lucky to grab the camera in time to catch this sky, it was moving and changing fast.

Yes, very red. With bits of green. Unfortunately at the moment my monitor (or the graphics card) is reducing everything to red and green ONLY. And here's me, red-green blind.

Beautiful colors. We don't have much red here, mostly yellow and orange leaves. It takes just the right temperatures I think for the red maple leaves. But it is still colorful here, too. We have to enjoy it now, brown November is coming!

Actually, no, Marja-Leena. We had both tulip trees as such and magnolias in London, Ontario, where I'm from. After 4 decades away, I still miss the trees...

Mr. Zip - Oh dear! That's terrible about your monitor! And how do you discern red and green colours especially as an artist, and street lights? Are the greys different tones? I've not remembered to ask one of my nephews who is colour blind too. I seem to remember that males with this condition have the red-green loss. I certainly don't notice a problem in your work.

Leslee, actually our big maples are just yellow/gold but the small leaved natives naturally turn red as well as the Japanese ones that seem to just get even more so. Some of these leaves are from shrubs that also have this character. I just seemed to be focusing on that colour during our my walk and began gathering because we forgot to take the camera. That gives a peculiar new focus, doesn't it?

Peter, how lucky for you and such a lovely memory! I'm not sure if I've seen a true tulip tree except perhaps in the botanical gardens. Some pople around here misname the magnolia as tulip tree. Now I will have to try and find one - there may be one in the neighbourhood without my being aware of it's name!

My red-green deficiency is not as bad as it sounds. I can see red and green but not as effectively (especially in combination) as others do. I usually quote the example of berries on trees or fields of poppies - I don't notice them until people point them out. I'll never be a Monet! But I love red as a colour. I've had umpteen pairs of red shoes and my favourite leather jacket is red.

Oh that's a relief, Mr. Zip! I'd love to see you in your red shoes and leather jacket - wow!

Red is my favourite colour including different reds like rusty red. I use it in my artwork, like to wear it and have had red shoes, and use red in our home a lot, including a "seqoia red" bathtub and sink. I love red pillows, throws and candles. Our home looks very Scandinavian with lots of blond woods and red. Maybe that's why I love Christmas!

Yesterday afternoon, I took my yellow lab retriever for a walk in the park to shed some stress. A bright sunny day with several different coloured leaves that emitted a fragrance not found in a perfume bottle. Mother nature's vivid artwork without using a brush or paint. Awesome! Then to see your picture of the sunset - also created by nature. There's only one down-side being, the colours of sunsets is mainly caused by pollutants created by humans. However, with the coming of snow on the prairies, a blanket of white will cover the landscape and the colours will disappear. When spring arrives, I look forward to seeing the short-lived appearance of the crocus and other flora. We who visit your blog are appreciative of the variety of topics and the opportunity to share our thoughts and opinions. Indeed, it helps me navigate my way through another day.

Roger, I'm glad you've been out to enjoy the beauty and scents of the fall season. Your mention of snow brought a flood of memories of the first 24 years of my life lived in places with true winters! The clean snow, its brightness even at night, I still miss here in the green winters of Vancouver. Driving up to the local mountains is like traveliing to another world, rather than living in it. Planting spring bulbs is my way of anticipating spring, which of course is a much more momentous occasion after a real winter. And Roger, thank you so much for your sweet words about my blog!