Black and white can show how something is. Color adds how it is, imbued with temperatures and humidities of experience.
Peter Schjeldahl
I had a fun “ramble” through my archives this week, looking for cool colors–Tina’s theme for this week’s challenge.
Let’s start with cool colors in the natural world. As Tina mentions, the blues and greens found in nature complement each other beautifully. To illustrate this, I’ll start with several images captured on a road trip out west to Arizona and California. At first the desert colors seem muted and subdued until my eyes started adjusting to the new landscape.
In the first image, you can see the contrast of the green palm trees against the bright blue sky in Scottsdale, Arizona. The next image was shot on one of our morning walks in a park in Tempe, Arizona, where I noticed the various shades of cool colors. The third image captured along the Santa Monica Pier combines the colors of nature with man-made colors. I loved how the blue of the basketball court complimented the grass, trees, and the sky.
Palm Tree Ballet, Scottsdale, Arizona 
Morning Walk, Tempe Arizona 
Cool Colors on the Santa Monica Pier
Cool colors in nature can be soothing to the eye, but when artists deliberately choose a cool palette, the effect can be startling. Here are some examples found in various locations. I’ll start with the beautiful and vivid Marc Chagall mosaic in Chicago, Illinois. Beneath that, you’ll see street art captured in Florence, Italy and graffiti in Melbourne, Australia. Each one captured my imagination and attention and drew me in.
Marc Chagall Mosaic. Chicago, Illinois. 
Blub, Portrait of Van Gogh with Googles, Florence, Italy 
Imagination on Display, Street Art, Florence, Italy 
Graffiti Alley, Melbourne, Australia
Well, that was fun! I hope you enjoyed this exploration of cool colors. Thanks as always to Tina, for her inspiration! We hope you join us this week and share your images featuring all shades of blue and green.
Looking back to Ann-Christine’s Spots and Dots challenge, your varied and creative responses were so much fun. Looking ahead to next week we’re excited to announce that our challenge will be hosted by Dianne Millard of Rambling Ranger. Her blog is a fascinating and beautiful look at nature, captured on the job and in her travels as a park ranger. Be sure to check out her beautiful blog and watch for her post next Saturday at noon. Until then, have a wonderful creative week and please stay safe.
Categories: LENS-ARTISTS, Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, Photography
Great photos for the challenge Patti 🙂 🙂
😀. Thanks so much, Brian.
Terrific interpretation Patti – I especially loved the Santa Monica pier (a personal favorite place) and the street art in Florence (one of YOUR personal favorite places 😊). Color can make such a difference in our lives and is especially evident as we travel and are more aware of our surroundings. Your post is a great example of that.
So true…about my favorite place! I didn’t know the S.M. pier was yours! Color does play a huge part. (Today I’m wearing a shirt that I bought online…and looking at it today, I wished I had returned it!! Puts me in a bad mood!!)
Love that lion! Gorgeous photos.
😀. Wonderful, VJ. Thanks!!
Welcome
I remember those Blub images in Florence from years ago. Some of them were so creative. Lovely post!
Glad it brought back good memories, Margaret. I love them! I was always hunting around for more!!
Me too!
The Blub photos brought back memories of Florence, Patti! The mosaic was spectacular too. Art has a way like none other to open your senses . Beautiful!
I was thinking of you when I posted Blub!! And yes, the mosaic is just wonderful! Glad you like them.
I adored your blue- green selections, Patti. Your posts on Florence were the first that made me look at the city as more than one that favours only renaissance art. Thank you for pointing me towards Blub . Hunting for it on the streets made my trip even more incredible.
Beautiful cool colors!
Glad you like those cool blues and greens, Beth!😀
Lovely….I feel a chill coming on from all these cool blues!
😀. Yes, Sandy….a chill!! I love that.
Love that mosaic
So, do I, Sue. I love his work!!
Excellent! 😊😊
Oh Patti, what gorgeous and unusual greens and blue you were able to capture. I love the lion’s head. 😀
Hi, Cee. Many thanks. I thought the lion was so unusual and great art on a protective shutter, no less!! Glad you liked it, too!
Great assortment of images. That street art in Florence is beautiful, a lovely find!
Hi, Sarah. It really caught my eye. I was so surprised to see such wonderful art on the grates/gates of stores! Glad you like this one and the others, too!
Stunning photos for this challenge Patti!
😀. Big smile, Aletta! Thanks.
You’re welcome 😃
I do like blue and green together, Patti, and as you illustrate they can combine in so many ways. I love both the palms and that lion is very cool 🙂 🙂
Hi, Jo. You must see a lot of ocean blue and green where you are!! Glad you enjoyed the lion and the palms. Enjoy the week and the sunshine. Thanks as always for stopping by!
The Italian street art is beautiful
Hi, Nora. Yes, it is! I loved it! Glad you do, too. I guess you’re all moved in by now?
Not quite – we are staying with our daughter until the apartment is available on June 2. Thanks for asking!!
Soon you’ll be in!
I greatly enjoyed your choices, Patti, especially the lion in Florence. The desert has many very vivid colors but they generally don’t come in great clumps/bunches but are individually situated. It’s been so interesting to come back to Illinois after being in Arizona for 14 months. Talk about overwhelming greens and then so many trees and bushes and so much grass!! 🙂 It’s quite a change but in an enjoyable way. Happy Monday.
janet
Oh, I bet you’re overwhelmed by the lush greenery in IL. It’s so different in the desert. Are you staying in AZ for long? Enjoy your visit! (Glad you like the lion, too.)
I think you meant how long will I be in Illinois. I’ll be here through Memorial Day, Patti, and yes, the lushness is overwhelming. I spent 2 1/2 hours in the park this morning walking mostly the back paths. It was marvelous to be there again. That place and our friends are what I miss most, even though I’m enjoying Arizona. Kind of forgot what a difference the humidity makes, though!
Oh, a nice visit. Enjoy! Makes me think about all the great places we’ve enjoyed in Chicago.
I’m having fun. I won’t actually get into Chicago but that’s just fine. Plenty to do here.
Wow Patti, what varied examples of cool colors. This was a beautiful and fun post to see. Loved it.
Why thank you, Anne! I’m smiling for sure!!
Marvelous photos with the “cool” colors. I really love the street art especially the lion doorway.
Hi, Anne. Isn’t that lion very cool? It really caught my eye. The street art in Florence is marvelous. I can’t wait to go back and see if anything has changed. I hope all’s well with you. Have a good week.
All good here apart from my husband putting his back out lifting something without proper care! You have a good week too Patti!
Oh….so sorry to hear that. I hope you have some remedies that are working.
He has been to a chiropractor and that has helped him a lot. That plus heating pad and walking with the dog ( “activity is your friend” is what the Chiro told him!)
Great photos, Patti… all of them!
You know how to make me smile, Teresa!! I hope all’s well with you.
Yes, new cases in Melbourne but all is good with me and the fam.
Wonderful about you and the family. Sorry to hear about the new cases. I’m sure your local government is being very proactive.
Oh yes they are proactive but it is still not a good feeling. Have a good day Patti!
Hi Patti
The cotton-ball-like clouds in the photo from Tempe are really interesting and pique my curiousitty. Do you know what kind they are? And what creative choices you included, especially the fun Van Gogh with goggles and the street art from Florence. I think you had fun with this challenge.
Here’s my entry for this week’s challenge even though Great Blue Herons aren’t really blue at all:
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/05/23/beautiful-great-blue-heron-at-an-exhibition-quirky-artist-stories-nbr-19/
Best, Babsje
Hi, Babsje! Thanks so much! I did have fun. I don’t know what type of clouds they are. My 1 class in meteorology in college hasn’t helped me find the answer! I’ll look at your post next. Enjoy the week.
Thanks Patti. I secretly think even some meteorologists misses things in class. 😊
I really like those pieces of graffiti, especially the two from Florence. And the other photos are such a wonderful reminder of what nature gives us. I love the calmness of the photo you took on a walk in Tempe.
It really was a beautiful walk in Tempe. We did it every morning. A beautiful way to start the day! Glad you like the art in Florence, too. It’s such a wonderful artistic city. I hope all’s well, IJ.
I would do that walk daily too, if I was there. And yes, Florence is a fun city to walk about in. one year I noticed that every no entry sign on the roads had been changed by a guerilla artist into a picture of a man in chains.
a great mix of blue & green patti what you present us here i like them very much .
many greetings robert
Hi, Robert.😀. I’m delighted!! Thank you!!
Superb images specially of nature- Grand in each expression
https://anjumwasimdar.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/for-lens-artist-tina-r-schells-photo-challenge-149-cool-colors-blue-and-green-fun-at-topi-rakh-ayub-park-rawalpindi-pakistan/
Thanks so much, Anjum! Much appreciated!!
Great selections Patti. I LOVE that Scottsdale sky!
It’s so blue, isn’t it?? No Photoshop added!!
You betcha’.
Nice mix of blues and greens Patti…of course the Santa Monica basketball court shot is my favorite 🙂
😀. I love the blue court against the blue sky. Glad you like it too!! I hope all’s well.
Great collection of blue and green, Patti. The door is amazing.
Hi, Ana. Isn’t it fabulous? I loved it, too and had to capture it. Glad you enjoyed it, too. I hope all’s well and you’re having a good week.
Santa Monica is a always a favourite, but also love the “mural doors”, great find 😃
Thanks, Jez. Isn’t that pier in SM so much fun? There’s so much street life (beach life). Glad you like the doors, too! I hope all’s well.
OK, I love that door in Florence. It makes me want to go to Narnia! Cool colors, all!
Hi, John. Yes, Narnia! I’m delighted you like them all! Wow. 😀
Love the palm tree and Italian street art
All clicks are lovely.
Enjoyed reading your narration Pattimoed
Thanks so much, PTP! I appreciate the smile you gave me!! I hope all’s well.
You are most welcome
Yes.
Things are much better in India
Thank you
Ohh, what a marvellous collection. I said Jeeeesus Christ when I saw one of them, and I’m not religious. 😀 Guess which one. 😉 It was the lion door! May I ask when you took it and if you know – and wish to disclose – the microlocation?
Hi, Manja. Your comment made me smile. Glad you like that one. I shot it in 2018 with my cell phone. I’m not sure where it was in Florence. But I’m sure it was in the “centro.” I hope all’s well with you.
Thank you! I wonder if it’s still there.
Absolutely gorgeous choices, Patti! Street art and the palm trees are great favourites!
Hi, AC. Wonderful! I’m delighted. It’s be a crazy week…we move soon, but I’ll be sure to visit your site. I hope you have a good weekend, too.
You are a busy woman! Are you in Canada now? Hope you are greatly enjoying the freedom and space!
Hi, A-C. No, we’re still in the USA. Canada is hopefully in mid-July. There are still quarantine requirements (14 days), but we’ll see if the restrictions loosen before then.
Let’s hope!
I love the painting on the doors. Cool colors and composition.
Hi, Siobhan. I’m delighted you like that one! I hope all’s well.
I’ve enjoyed browsing all of your wonderful selections, Patti.
The 1st photo of the sky is mesmerizing in its beauty. Mother Nature
at its best with your photographic talent to capture it. I had a chuckle with the Van Gogh Portrait.
I always enjoy viewing street art. The image of the lion is awesome. Great talent … Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎
https://isadoraartandphotography.wordpress.com/2021/05/22/lens-artists-photo-challenge-cool-colors-blue-and-green/
Hi, Isadora. You know how to make me smile, don’t you?? Thanks! I’m glad you included a link to your post. We are moving, so things are crazy! I’m catching up as best I can… Take care. I hope all’s well with you.
Nice it’s good 👍👌👌👌👌😊😊😊
Thank you!
Patti, I wonder if you’d give me permission to repost your lion with the link to this post, with your name, of course. We are to post our favourite photos. Three will be by you and two other bloggers, the rest will be mine. I would do it tomorrow, if it’s okay. But don’t hesitate to say no.
Hi, Manja. Yes, of course! I’m happy you’re posting it! Please include the link and my name–as you said. Is it for a challenge?
Yesss, you made me so happy! Thank you so so much!! It’s for Judy’s Favourite Photo challenge, here: https://judydykstrabrown.com/2021/05/27/this-is-my-favorite-photo-that-ive-ever-taken-show-us-yours/
Hi Patti
I hope you forgive me for playing with this challenge. It’s Saturday night and the birds are having their baths. The bonus bird Rubber Ducky was a huge inflatable that got loose on the lake not far from the heron’s bathing spot. How funny.
https://babsjeheron.wordpress.com/2021/05/29/great-blue-heron-and-friends-saturday-night-baths/
Best, Babsje
This was a fun post, Patti for more than the colors. We live less than two hours from Scottsdale, and that picture is stunning. The skies in AZ are amazingly blue. I love the Van Gough picture. The humor is dry if the picture is not. A blogging friend and I visited the Melbourne Graffiti Alley. That was amazing. I thought I had a post on it, to share with you, but alas, I can’t find it.