Brown

(Visiting friends. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

Of all colors, brown is the most satisfying. It is the deep, fertile tint of the earth itself; it lies hidden beneath every field and garden; it is the garment of multitudes of earth’s children, from the mouse to the eagle.

~ Mary Webb, The Spring of Joy, 1917

I discovered a sort of irony to brown as I began this entry. I think of it as a very earthy and comforting color. A color with lots of warmth. But when I started sorting through photos, the first place I looked was through the late fall, winter, and early spring scenes. Although brown appears frequently during the warmer months (especially during a drought), it’s often hidden in the landscape by the brilliant greens, reds, yellows, oranges, blues, and purples. What I think of as a warm color comes into its own during the colder months.

(Reflections. Photo by Robin. 2006)

I love the browns of a winter landscape, especially at home in the Bogs. I often think winter colors are underappreciated. There’s such a variety of browns, deep reds, grays, golds, silvers, and whites.

Because I associate brown with the earth, I think of it as a feminine color. It is also, to me, a grounding and centering kind of color, bringing me “down to earth.”

(Lancaster County, PA. Photo by Robin. 2006)

Brown is considered one of the neutral colors, found in wood, earth, and stone. In the arts and design/decorating, brown is often used to show off the accompanying colors. It also conveys a sense of honesty and wholesomeness. Brown has also been said to represent steadfastness, friendliness, and simplicity.

(Scholar’s Study in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

In feng shui, brown is considered a nourishing color belonging to the Element of Wood. It is rich and deeply balancing, and the brown palette comes with a variety of shades and earthy names: sand, wood, sienna, cinnamon, chestnut, tawny, dapple, coffee, cocoa, and the ever-popular chocolate.

(Hot chocolate. Photo by Robin. 2007)

Brown is a popular color with Mother Nature. Quite a few of her creatures come in a variety of shades of brown.

(White-tailed deer. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

(Baby pony on Assateague. Photo by Robin. 2007)

(Rabbit at Longwood Gardens. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

(Giraffes at Cleveland Zoo. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

(Lion. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

Brown is considered a dull color by some. Being a brown-eyed girl, I like it. It’s a good color to have around when I need something earthy and comfortable.

(Me, lookin’ at you. Photo by Robin. 2007)

I have a busy weekend in front of me. I’ll be back next week with another color. I didn’t realize how ambitious this project would be when I started. I think I might have to limit myself to one color per week.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a little more brown to ground and nourish you throughout the weekend…

(Tree trunk. Valley Forge, PA. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

(On the ceiling. Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Robin. June 2007)

(Browns in the Severn River. Photo by Robin. June 2007)