The Future: Eco Friendly Paint

What's the latest in paint technology? Eco-friendly paint. Benjamin Moore offers a line of paint called aura paint, using colorlock technology, a technology that bonds the pigment color microscopically to the paint film, allowing for low odor, fast dry time. In addition, this technology rises high above safety standards, with its incredibly low amounts of VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds). Benjamin Moore's Aura paint has no true competitor on the market, indicating its innovation in paint technology. Aura's promise to be green without compromising excellent color gives further proof to its unique place on the market. Benjamin Moore offers every one of their colors (3,500 of them!) plus most colors from other competing paint brands in the Aura line. It's a painter's dream come true.

View the Key Features of Benjamin Moore's Aura Paint, and you may never buy another brand again!

Any Suggestions?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I hope to continue writing in this blog, even after my class ends (about one more week!). As such, I would love to get insight from you! Yes, YOU! I want to know what you're interested in. What about color do you find fascinating? Would you like me to investigate further on a topic already posted? Please send your thoughts, questions, and suggestions my way!



A Bar at the Folies-Bergeres 1881-82, Edouard Manet

Webs.com : Social Networking Website Tool

Hello again. I have good news! Per assignment, I have discovered a great social networking website to create free websites! I'm loving it! My new site, of course, goes hand in hand with this blog, so I wanted to introduce it to you. You can become a member of my site, comment on my posts and pages, or even sign my guest book! Please, tell me what you think! I'd love to hear your feedback.

Check my new site out here!

The Future of My Blog

Of the future of Color in my World? I'm glad you've asked. Although I don't want to put myself in a forecasting box, I will say that the future of my blog is sunny. Although this adventure began as a school-driven initiative, I have developed a desire, school-work aside, to continue posting. So, I'm happy to announce that although my class is coming to a close shortly, Color in my World will not be. Not yet anyways. I still have some ideas rolling around in my head that I can't wait to share with you. Hopefully, I will be able to post at least once a week, and of course, you, my reader, will get an update if I change my mind. :) So, until my next post, have a sunny day!

Oh, and why the crazy colored cake? Just because! :)

AOL Video-Interior Design & Color

Remember our discussion about warm and cool colors? Well, this video gives more insight into the uses of different colors (often strategically choosing from the warm or cool colors) to create different moods, looks, and atmosphere in living spaces. In a nutshell, this video is a good starting point to learn how to use color in your own home!

Watch more Grab Networks on AOL videos on AOL Video

Blip.tv- Color & Food

Just like I have discussed in a previous post, color and food have an unusual and distinct relationship. The color of food often triggers our brain to decide if food looks desirable or completely unappetizing. This video talks a little about the same idea: the link between food and its color.

Google Video- Colors & Holidays

I love painting Easter eggs in the spring time. This video talks about just that! It talks about how to use dye to paint and create color on Easter eggs. Enjoy!


How to Color Easter Eggs With Food Dyes -- powered by eHow.com

Youtube Video (For the Little Ones)

Although kid-friendly, this video is the perfect way to introduce colors at a basic level.

My Slideshow: Costa Rica Trip

PodCast For Flickr Pics

To listen to my audio narration for my flickr pics on the right-hand sidebar, click the red arrow to begin playing the audio. Hope you enjoy!

Podcasts of Interest

Again, per assignment, I have explored the itunes Library of podcasts for 5 great podcasts that relate to color! The first few mentioned relate to the use of color and interior design. The last two relate to color in nature (specifically butterflies--this one is really fascinating!)and the connection between health benefits found in certain foods that are identified through color. Enjoy!


1. Danielle Huirsh from Color Splash - HGTV Design Podcast (FREE!)

2. Black & White with a Splash of Color - Expr.ession (FEREE!)

3. The Dimensional Divide Episode 001 - The Dimensional Divide (FREE!)

4. How Do Butterfly Wings Get Their Color? - Stuff You Should Know (FREE!)

5. The Edible Benefits of Color - Color Yourself Healthy (FREE!)

Just like my teacher said, "Check out the iTunes store by downloading iTunes to your computer (for Mac or PC) and browsing the podcast directory there." That's all there is to it!

Primary Colors: Staple to Most Logos

Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Lesson for the day: Primary colors. Although I'm sure you already know what these are, let's get a reminder. Primary colors include red, blue, and yellow (cyan, magenta, and yellow to be technically correct).

This week, however, I began looking around at all the common places in my area. I've learned something. Walmart, Target, and McDonald's are just a sliver of all the common large companies who exercise the use of primary colors in their logo presentation. Why is that? Well, after further investigation, I've learned that humans have Trichromatic color vision, meaning that we have the ability to see different colors among three types of color-sensing cone cells. It is the use of different combinations of cone cells (or all three) that enable us to receive and interpret different colors. Interesting, huh? So, our color wheel, complete with primary and secondary colors, was created in light our our eye anatomy.

So, that's probably why some of the most widely know businesses utilize our very basic primary color wheel. Next time you venture out, notice the logos around you. See if you find a pattern as I did.

Kodak Picture Tips

I was recently introduced to Kodak's Top 10 Tips For Taking Pictures in my media class. My assignment was to utilize some of the new tips learned to depict a process related to my blog. The previous three pictures depict pictures taken at a wedding. I had taken a picture when the bouquets were delivered, with one of the bridesmaids, and once the bouquet had fully dried.

In the first picture (flowers delivered), I used the #4 "Move in Close tip".

In the second picture (flowers with bridesmaid), I used the #5 "Take Some Vertical Pictures "tip.

In the final picture (flowers dried), I used the #2 "Use a Plain Background" and #7 "Move it From the Middle" tips.

So, although this was an assignment for school, I thought you might enjoy exploring color in YOUR world through a camera lens! (And of course, use our new Kodak tips!) Enjoy!

Color-Coated Roadways

Have you ever thought about our Road Color Key? I have. Whether humans might have a harder time stopping at stop signs without the association of the color red, I cannot say. But, I do find myself suddenly interested in the world of our brain's union with color, particularly in its' manifestation on our roadways.

Upon closer examination to our traffic sign key, I might note that all cool colors indicate mainly directional, medical, service destinations while warm colors offer yielding, cautionary, or danger-saving alerts. Is this not a direct link in our investigation behind the meaning of colors? Warm colors tend to bring our brains to highest alert, while we have a trained cool colors to trigger things of a calm, collected, and helpful nature. This is just a bite of how interesting our world's color is! I challenge you to discover more revelations about our traffic color system's history. Be an educated driver!

Rules I Live By Online: Online Ethics

Today, I learned about the common ethical dilemmas that often plague our web. My assignment, upon completion of my readings, was to create a list of ethical rules of my own.

1. I will strive for accuracy in my work.
2. I will not plagiarize, NO MATTER WHAT!
3. I will identify all sources.
4. I will be transparent with my work.
5. I will not take pictures, videos, quotes, etc. out of context for my own story.
6. I will not make derogatory comments or stereotype.
7. I will respect my peers on the web, whether known or unknown.
8. I will do my best to depict a full, unbiased story when reporting on current events.
9. I will admit inaccuracies or mistakes in my posting as they come to my attention.
10. I will do my very best to hold my audience with the substance of my blog!
11. I will research several sources before posting.
12. I will clearly indicate my opinion as different than facts.
13. I will not compromise the integrity of my work.
14. I will be fair in my gatherings.
15. I will avoid misinterpretation of my story, opinion, picture, video, etc.
16. I will not blur the lines of ethical online writing.
17. I will be held accountable to my work.
18. I will not be persuaded by any monetary gifts, exchanges, etc. to report anything but the truth (or my opinion).
19. I will exhibit good taste in my word choice, pictures, video, and links.
20. I will show sensitivity with those controversial subjects in our world.

Additonal Resources

Although I may elaborate on some of the following topics in later posts, here are some more ways our world uses color to investigate! (This is also an assignment for school ;).)

School Colors = Meaning and Pride

Animals & Colors

Art & Color

U.S.A Flag colors have meaning too!

Did you know flowers' colors have meaning?

The Deep Web

Does Weather Really Affect Our Mood? According to Rich Maloof, columnist for MSN's Health & Fitness, it does. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Maloof clarifies, "...our emotions are not casualties of the weather. The rain can be guilty by association, but not causation." Indeed the link is not a science, but rather an art of observation. Research has commonly sought to diagnose this hypothesis. Confirmation of an association between an inclination of better spirits and sunny skies cannot be ignored in sample surveys over the past decade.

In my own experience, I cannot tell you how many times I "didn't feel like doing much that day" or "feel like getting out of bed" when the sunshine was in temporary hibernation. Whether an excuse or eerie connection, it is hard to distinguish.

Our bodies give us more insight. The recognition of light produces serotonin and darkness triggers melatonin production levels to change, affecting higher energy and our sleep cycles respectively. (So maybe this is my justification to wanting to sleep through dreary, rainy days?)

In my opinion, Ani Kalayjian, Ed.D., R.N., professor of psychology at Fordham University in New York leaves us with the best advise to err on the side of sunny: "We tell people to take advantage of the sunny days. Leave the computers and the indoor games and get out there in the sun. That's when they can recharge their batteries—recharge their serotonin—and maintain higher mood."

Use of Color in Food

Have you ever thought about why certain foods look more appetizing than others? How come re-fried beans don't look nearly as tasty as a beautiful strawberry shortcake? I find this disparity fascinating! Display of color is an integral key in the perception of freshness, good taste, atmosphere, (and expensive food).

In an article from COLOURlovers, the author talks about how our brain can mislead our taste buds. Our anticipation of taste from visual stimuli changes our expectation and conclusion about what tastes good, better, or terrible. Even children are more excited about cereal from its' colorful display.
In addition, color plays a leading role in indicating the ripeness of produce, such as bananas and pineapple. So, the next time you try to decide what to eat, notice if your choice had something to do with your eyes. Until next time.

Working With Google Cites & Calendar

Like I said, I'm a student. So, per request of an assignment, I was to aquaint myself with google cites and google calendar. Here's the result. If you're just a casual reader of my thoughts, you may disregard the following:

google cites & calendar assignment!

The Pleasure is Mine...

Why hello. I’m glad to meet you at last. My name is Lydia. Among other things, I am a student, new wife, and a youngest daughter. I love all things tangible or visual—postcards, paintings, spiral calendars, stained-glass windows, sticky notes, vintage books, flowers, library books, wallpaper (yes, wallpaper), construction paper, sunsets, and magazines. I suppose it’s because I love the accessibility and color in the life of its’ aesthetic. Which brings me to my point: I am invigorated and enlightened by our world of color. What I mean is, all things seem to integrally use color in their function or allure…or both.

Why are most male animals more colorful than their spouse? How come guacamole doesn’t exactly look appetizing before you’ve tried it? Why does there seem to be a laser link between school spirit and wearing its respective school colors? Why don’t we just watch TV in black and white? Why do the colors blue, green, and grey seem to calm me down? I know why. Or at least I’m willing to investigate and report why. So let us toast—here’s to my venture of revealing my revelations, curiosities, and conclusions about the use of color in our world. Cheers!


Paul Cezanne, The Bay from L’Estaque, c. 1886, oil on canvas