A Natural History of the Palette

I drew this in response to the section of the chapter talking about visiting the cochineal farm; right before that section the author was describing the uses for the red color made from the bugs, and said, "In the twenty-first century women around the world coat their lips in insect blood..." (137, Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finlay). I was inspired by this line. The red on the lips also relates to the color red itself and what it can represent: love, lust, power. Victoria Finlay described red as, "...the stormy feelings of the heart, it is love, it is the god of war, and it is power." (142). Red liptstick is often seen as attractive and seductive, and the color red itself is often used to allude to lust. A bold red lip is also sometimes used to show a powerful or confident woman, like in makeup advertisements or in fiction.
Beauty from Blood, pen and ink, acrylic

I made this sunflower in response to the yellow chapter from Finlay's Color: A Natural History of the Palette. The quote that inspired me was, "He had consulted a vet, who had recommended giving the cows mango leaves for one of two daily meals, which he did for a fortnight, 'followed by some interesting times standing behind the cow to catch 'the treasure' in a bucket.'" (213). I found this idea gross, the idea od dying fabric yellow and having to go through collecting cow urine, so I wanted to make something with the color yellow that was the opposite of the grueling process; I embroidered a sunflower, something that is seen as beautiful and elegant.
Embroidery

I made this heart in response to the indigo chapter in Finlay's Color: A Natural History of the Palette. I was inspired by the quote, "The Aztecs went one step farther than the Mayans: they used indigo as a medicine as well as a dye, called it iquilite and worshiped it. They also, memorably, daubed their sacrificial victims with it before they pulled out their hearts." (333). I've always found it hauntingly interesting how these civilizations had human sacrifices as such a commonplace thing in their culture. I made a human heart that is bleeding both blood and indigo to represent the hearts of these human sacrifices and the color they were decorated in before their deaths.
Sacrificial Heart, Apoxy, acrylic paint, fake blood