CRUSADE No. 54 ~ Mind Games

 

Thanks to all who came to play last month!  What fun to see your mixes and names.  Loved all the unique interpretations.  Loved seeing how you think when it comes to picking titles.  I had a different challenge planned for this month but did a quick revision so we could continue where we left off - so if you didn't clean up you are all set!

Last month when I was visiting crusader Viki, I noticed she named a color "Squee".  Do you love that?  It got me thinking about what would happen if we selected a word or phrase FIRST, then had to determine what that would look like as a color.  Reverse of what we just did.  Cool, right?

Here's the thing - I see color when I hear music.  I associate certain songs with one or more colors.  Sometimes I can picture a whole piece of art.  And it works in reverse too - I see art and hear music.  It's harder to do with my own art since I usually connect the art to the studio music played during its creation.  But for other artist's work I take it in and music starts to play.  I have a running soundtrack as I thumb through a book or pace around a gallery.  So I love the idea of selecting a word or phrase, then pass through my personal filters to figure out what color I would assign to it. 

My Mom's bridesmaids wore periwinkle so that wasn't much of a stretch to mix a color to match.  But it took me a long time to decide what Vertigo might look like.  I was leaning toward a blue-ish color because I was thinking about balance, but I just can't do blue, so I went with green.  Ha!  Just noticed....Vertigo - Vert (French for green).  Was it subliminal?  Possibly.  Oooh! "subliminal", what color would that be? 

 

 

 

It may be hard to choose a word or phrase since you are already in color-naming mode.  Titles are probably still swirling in your mind from the last challenge, or more names occured to you after visiting other crusaders.  If you prefer an assignment write to me and I'll give you a phrase to illustrate with color.  Try getting abstract by claiming a phrase that isn't typically associated with a color.  Like it would be a cop-out to to choose the song title Sunday Bloody Sunday or Purple Rain.  It would be more interesting and challenging to focus on something like Living on a Prayer, or Solitary Man, or Don't Fear the Reaper.

 

Are you following me?  Are you already thinking about what you'll do?  I hope so.  I think it will be fun to repeat last month's challenge, but in reverse.  Thanks Viki for the inspiration!!  Her "Squee" was a citrus-y green.  What color do you think "Squee" should be? 

About fifteen years ago I entered a contest by Crayola to name new crayon colors.  You had to buy a box of nameless crayons and present your clever choices with a reason for the selection.  The winners got their name printed on the crayon wrapper for a whole year.  Imagine that?  One favorite was by a ten year old boy:  Purple Mountain Majesty.  HCIT?  I didn't remember that until this afternoon when I was composing this post.  In your imagination what color combinations equate to Twilight's Last Gleaming, or Sea to Shining Sea?  

 

Feel free to illustrate your word or phrase with one or more colors.  Do whatever feels right to make your visual statement.  Do more than one.  Just do it.  It's a fun exercise!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[iHanna]

I'm game!

[Carrie]

I'm sorry to have missed #53, but I've GOT to make it in for #54! Back when I used to spin more, I had all these ideas for yarns inspired by song lyrics, if I could just find the right fibers in the right colors. I never did, but now might be the time to post my ideas :) They're mostly somewhat literal, but I also want to come up with some new ones. And I still want to post a late entry for #53... You're just such a rockstar!

[Regina]

This crusade sounds really fun.
An apology goes out to some of the fellow team members whose blogs I visited last month, but wasn't able to leave a comment. Don't know what the snafu was.

[Judy N]

Michelle-
SO glad you are continuing with the evidence series...LOVE IT!!!

Still trying to finish up with Mad Scientist, can't seem to commit these days. Started it, have all the ideas down pat but just not done. I WILL finish this weekend because I am dying to start on Mind Games. Also need to set up a flicker account like we talked about....will get done.....

Thanks again!

Until later,
Judy

[Melanie Philpott]

Hi Michelle! I was a bit stuck on choosing one or two words first but when I read about a phrase I've lots of ideas popping up! Marvellous! I'm going to get started...

[Michelle Brown]

This was CRAZY! And SO much fun!

Introducing Microphone Pop, Singing Rays and Pop-pop Beat;

http://aztecmichelle.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/gpp-no-54-mind-games/

(it comes with an explanation!)

[Jane]

Yes! CRAZY FUN! My 'evidence' is posted
http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com/

As always-I had a BLAST! Thank you Michelle!

[Maria]

the universe is swirling so many things around me these days. as i read this months challenge, I was listening to a playlist mix of songs that meant something to me about 12 years ago and songs that mean something now that the what I had then is on the verge of continuing. I've plotted out 8 squares on a two page layout--four songs from then and four songs from now...can't wait to create the colors!! Thanks for a truly challenging challenge!!

[Chris]

This is so excellent I can hardly stand it. I'm going to put 53 and 54 together before posting. So, there.
Saturday mornings are my little mini vacations to take in all these great ideas and then swirl and then bake at 350 and pop out and eat with vanilla bean ice cream.
(this is not only my journaling year--it's my make-a-food-metaphor-out-of-everything year.)
xo

[Chris]

I came back because I just realized that I did not visit any of the crusaders last month and I really wish I had made that a bigger priority because it's always fun. Being busy is (almost) no excuse. So I'm urging everyone to visit the crusaders as the month progresses, and also to visit the previous challenges and comment, to remind those challengers to carry this forward to challenge 54, which I think is the stunningest of all three!

Note: The color titled Stunningest would be something like an espresso brown with weathered antique gold overlay and highlights of jacquard Lumiere in Halo Blue gold (used sparingly) throughout and an edging of sunset bronze. With vanilla bean ice cream and a cookie tuille.

[Maria]

Chris--your posts make me laugh!! I can't believe I've got a finished product ready so early this month!! I think that leaves me time to expand on some of them!!
http://mariasangel.blogspot.com/2011/08/crusade-54-mind-games.html

[Serena]

Okay, this is a GOOOOOOOD one! Not that they're not ALL good, but this one has really enticed me and I'm going to make a point of playing along for it. BTW, that is absolutely utterly super freaking interesting about this ability you have!! I so WISH I had that, too! Is this synesthesia? So cool.

[Judy N]

Michelle -
Well, I did get done with Crusades 53 and 54 (well almost done, still have to come up with a some of the names for 53, but I do have the colors done!) I was hoping to hear back from you with some challange words/phrases for the second part of Crusade 54 (I assuming you saw my email) but until or unless, I am done. It is not too late!!!

Now to go set up a flicker account.....

.....won't be able to even start until after the weekend, though. Once I do I will upload/download the Evidence Crusades for the year.

Heard from Kathy yesterday and finished paying for the workshop...can you believe just 6 weeks away (can you hear me scream from here?!?!) I can hardly wait!!

Until later,
Judy

[Chris]

Hi, Michelle
Mine's up!
http://parabolicmuse.blogspot.com/2011/08/mind-games-gpp-crusade-54.html

xo
C

[Tammy]

Michelle, This is a lovely, challenging, topsy turvy twist on last month. I love taking experiments on tangents so this will be fun. I like to think about the challenge for awhile while life moves forward, and get messy when I can. Cheers!

[JeriAnn]

I love this idea. I've been gone so long trying to keep up with all the challenges in my life, but this one entices me to carve out a little slip of time. Words and color are two of my favorite things and to combine them... Wheeeeee! The usual Michelle genius. Hope you're having a great summer and Shannon's roses are a riot of color. Thinking of both of you!

[Cath S]

Done! And, as is often the case, the direction my response took was swayed by what is happening around me. Thanks for the fun Michelle. http://cathsheard.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/mind-games-what-color-is-the-weather/

[Zura]

I haven't played in several months, but I decided to just get back in and play this month! Haven't done mine yet, but I'll post a link here when it's done. Michelle, every month I say a thank you prayer for you. I try to take you for granted, but I am so grateful that you keep doing this, even when some of us don't participate. I know it's hard to keep going when you don't get the feedback sometimes. I think you are amazing!!!

[Karen Isaacson]

This was really fun and a great exercise. Time to check out what all you other crusaders have done so far!

http://iamrushmore.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-is-color-of-more-lost-time.html

[Jeanette]

A fabulous idea for inspiration and colour mixing! I'll be participating and have written a little about it on my blog. Names and colours are slowing appearing and I'm sure there will be more.
http://illustratedlife.blogspot.com/2011/08/symbolic-colours.html

[Serena]

Okay, Michelle, I finally got my colors finished and did my post up tonight! It was really tricky for me, but FUN. Great way to stimulate the 'ol brain cells!

http://dreamwiththefishes.blogspot.com/2011/08/gpp-street-team-crusade-no-54-mind.html

[Zura]

I had fun with this one! My evidence is posted at http://www.creativeclown.com/?p=111

[Jane]

Hi Michelle, this is such a great challenge, I just had to come back for a second round. Part two is up.
http://paintedheartstudio.blogspot.com/

Happy weekend!

[Serena]

I had so much fun participating in this challenge and was glad to come back to your GPP Crusades again. And tonight I had a blast going around visiting all the other participants and seeing what they'd done with it. Soooooo much awesomeness!!!

Michelle, I adore your color creations here. I love the way you did shades and variations and other subtle color shifts peaking through. They're heavenly - all of them. I think, if I had to pick a favorite, though it's very difficult, I'd have to pick Vertigo. It's really a toss up between that and Elizabeth (Bennett) Darcy's Parlor.

Thanks for giving me a reason to get into my paints and colors!

[Melisa]

I love playing with color so I'm glad I got to participate this month. I still want to go back and do #53, too.
http://www.toadinaboat.com/2011/08/23/crusade-no-54-mind-games/

[michelle ward]

HEY CRUSADERS: I'm going to be away for a few days so I will catch up on posting links to the sidebar when I return. Keep at the Mind Games while I'm away and don't forget to visit all the current participants and leave your words of encouragement.

[QuinnCreative]

Just love this challenge! The whole series has been fun, but this was so wide-open and interesting. I had a lot of fun, even if some of them were a bit literal. And I found a cool link for color lovers that I put at the end of the post. If you've never played with The Color Of, you'll have a good time!

[QuinnCreative]

It would have helped if I'd included the link: it will be available in about an hour-- right after midnight turns Wednesday to Thursday, Aug. 25: http://wp.me/p2H1i-1N6

[Terrie: Creative Explorer]

I just found your wonderful challenge after visiting Melisa at Toad in a Boat. When I clicked through to see what she was up to, I was hooked. I looked through all the other participants and felt totally inspired. So, here's my very first entry to the Crusade.

http://creative-explorer.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-colors.html

I can't wait to see what happens next!

[QuinnCreative]

This crusade was just a huge imaginative boost for me. I loved looking at the other posts for inspiration--and there was SO much inspiration. There always is, but something about the power of naming a color first, then creating the color was very powerful. I love the range of names and colors, and I love the thoughtful explorations of the interior landscape a lot of these posts had. Thanks again, Michelle--oh, and I'm loving your new column in Somerset Studio!

[Viki]

I finally got my pictures scanned and my post finished. I can't wait to see what everyone came up with :)

[Rosemary Griffin]

Hi Michelle,
I am finally playing along again. So I just posted my page.
http://fabricfan.wordpress.com/2011/08/31/mind-games/
I loved the great colours that you did and it gave me a lot to think about.

[Marie Z Johansen]

I'm late, I'm late ! I had so much fun with #54! I've scheduled it to appear on my blog on Tuesday morning 9/6/11 at 0800. Now I'm off to be on time for #55!

http://mzjohansen.blogspot.com