O is for Orange #AtoZChallenge

Posted April 17, 2015 in A-Z Challenge / 6 Comments

Today I’m continuing with the A-Z Blogging Challenge. The aim is to write a post for every day of the month except for Sundays, with each post representing a different letter of the alphabet. This year I’m doing an A-Z of Colours. I’ll be doing a variety of posts, including haikus and poems, arts and crafts, fashion and beauty, recipes and more!    

For the letter ‘O’ I have chosen the colour Orange. Orange is a bright, warm colour between red and yellow, named after the juicy citrus fruit. Orange was one of the first colours used by man, made from ochre pigments mixed with animal fats.

Keep reading to discover the symbolism behind this colour and see some beautiful orange paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Symbolism

Orange symbolises warmth, summer, happiness, joy, energy, confidence, excitement and activity. It can also represent Autumn (fall) as it’s the colour of fallen leaves, sunsets and pumpkins. Orange has long been associated with amusement, frivolity and entertainment. But it can also be used as a warning or to attract attention, for example in lifeboats, lifejackets and prisoner’s uniforms.

Historically, orange is associated with Protestantism and revolution. It also represents spirituality and is commonly worn by monks and holy men. In Budhism it is the colour of illumination, the highest state of perfection. In Confucianism, orange is the colour of transformation, whereas in Christianity it represents the sin of gluttony.

 Complementary colour: Blue

Plants and flowers: California poppies, marigolds, dahlias, roses, butterfly weed, orange hawkweed, parrot’s flower, wood lily.

Animals: tiger, red squirrel, red fox, ruddy shelduck, iguana, Altamira Oriole bird, flame angelfish, koi carp, European red slug, leopard butterfly, costa rican poison dart frog, goldfish, orangutan, clown fish.

Foods: oranges (obviously) carrots, Red Leicester cheese, apricots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, paprika, curry powder (tumeric), cheesey doritos, orange juice, Tango/Fanta.

Beautiful Books with Orange Covers

My Orange Polyvore Creations

Sunny Orange

Jack-O-Lantern

Orange in Art

Orange became a highly popular colour with the pre-raphaelite painters of the 18th century and the impressionist and post-impressionist painters of the 19th century. Here are some examples of their beautiful orange artwork:
‘Flaming June’ by Sir Frederic Leighton, 1895.
‘Midsummer’ by Albert Joseph Moore, 1887
‘The New Novel’ by Winslow Homer, 1877
‘Marie-Thérèse Durand-Ruel Cousant’ by Renoir, 1882

‘Landscape with House and Ploughman’ by Vincent Van Gough
What do you think? Are you a fan of the colour orange? Do you have any favourite pieces of orange artwork?

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6 responses to “O is for Orange #AtoZChallenge”

  1. Annalisa Crawford

    Orange is my favourite colour at the moment (it’s sometimes red) – I have a beautiful summer dress that I can’t wait to start wearing again! I love all those things it symbolises.

    Annalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep

    Reply
  4. Sarah Anne Foster

    I'm not a huge fan of orange, but it's beautiful in those paintings! Maybe it's just that I don't like wearing it…

    Reply
  6. Rachel Pattinson

    I love orange! It’s one of my favourite colours :). Those painting and book covers are beautiful

    Reply

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