Tammie Rogers
Inspired by Dogs & Nature
Nature’s Color Wheel
In a high school art class many years ago, I learned that colors which sit opposite on the “artist’s color wheel chart” tend to complement each other.
My favorite color is purple. It’s known to enhance creativity which is why the walls of my office are a soft shade of lilac. I love seeing splashes of purple around our farm; like the deep purple color of the the native Ironwood that grows wild, here.
Purple’s complimentary color – the one that sits across the color wheel – is yellow! Yellow is such a cheerful color, that I think it compliments nearly every other color. Still, pairing it with purple is often a magical combination.
How splendid that I have an image of a yellow butterfly on the deep purple Ironwood! I think they do look great alongside each other.
Another purple wildflower which is more traditionally referred to as weed, as it can become quite invasive and isn’t pleasant to encounter as it has some irritating thorns, is this Swamp Thistle. Still, i find it very beautiful, thorns and all.
I took a few shots of a bee on a blooming Swamp thistle. I find it dramatic with the back-lighting of the late, sun highlighting it’s spines.
Speaking of bees, here is one that looks amazing on the Goldenrod that is in bloom all around our farm at this time. Although my inner animal-self is beginning to feel the impending shift to winter, seeing all this brilliant yellow quickly takes the edge off those thoughts.
And, speaking of colors that create an emotions response, look who sneaked in for a cameo! This wasp dons colors that evoke a bit of fear in me – regardless of how amazing I think it is in so many important ways. Maybe that’s because (per https://tvtropes.org) “Black and red. In western culture, these are the two most sinister colors, as red typically conveys the meaning of blood or anger, and black is that of darkness or death… Sticking to these two colors is common for designers who want to create something as sinister as possible.”
The color pallet of nature has clearly impacts our emotions. Colors have also influenced our sense of design and how we can influence an audience by using certain hues to convey a mood. Nonetheless, I strive to see the importance and sheer beauty of that wasp, regardless of how he is dressed. But, I’m not gonna lie. It’s hard work after having been stung when I was filling a hummingbird feeder earlier this summer! Those colors tell me, “steer clear” and I will happily oblige.
Tammie Rogers 
So beautiful pictures of nature