2021 Colour Challenge: February: Yellow

HeyJude’s 2021 Colour Challenge considers a different hue each month.

Following on from January’s study of earthy Brown, February’s focus is more effusive – Yellow.

A fine choice for Spring, and this spring particularly.

After the uncertainty of last year, and the cold isolation of winter, we all need hope to look forward positively. Time to embrace a brighter, warmer spring & feel strong as we embrace the year/s ahead.

Yellow is a warm, happy colour of confidence. A popular choice for nurseries & children’s bedrooms, it could be thought of as such a simple colour, but is also one with so many different significances.

New beginnings

Synonymous with Spring and Easter, yellow evokes feelings of renewal, fresh starts, joy and strength.

Attention grabbing

The brightest colour of the visual spectrum, therefore the easiest for the human eye to notice, in nature and the man made world, yellow draws our attention, and its purpose is often to ‘alert’ us.

The iconic choice in America for their classic School busses and taxis, as well as many road signs.

Richness & health

In nature, bees and butterflies favour yellow flowers (along with blue, purple, violet, white). It’s bright glow draws them to pollen and nectar rich blooms.

Energising, positive

Some colour therapists recommend the use of yellow to aid cognitive agility and help with practical problem solving, believing that it aligns with the left side of the brain, responsible for analytical thinking, logic and reasoning.

Some believe that yellow healing crystals such as Citrine & Yellow Tiger’s Eye increase energy and offer relief from burnout.

Mellow

In song and poetry, ‘mellow yellow’ epitomises relaxation, whilst fading yellow is often the colour that signifies age. The golden yellow of autumn leaves and soft wrinkles on the yellowing surface of the apple harvest both herald the season’s gentle close.

Enlightenment

In the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz, the colour of the Yellow Brick Road marked it out for the uncertain travellers against other possible routes. Chosen on the basis that immigrants hoping to make a new life in the US referred to ‘pavements paved with gold’, the Yellow Brick Road signifies the travellers’ journey of self realisation.

The phrase ‘yellow brick road’ made it into the Oxford English Dictionary, defining a course of action which result in a desired goal.

Reflective

Elton John borrowed the phrase in his 1978 album & song ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road‘, which turned out to be one of his greatest hits. The song reflects upon, and challenges the materialistic lifestyle that fame and adulation has brought. It highlights the negative exploitation that can be attracted by such ‘success’. Challenging the surreal, unfulfilled life that valuing and continually chasing material goals can result in, the words of the song suggest that a return to a simpler way of life (‘life on the farm’), may, in fact, be richer and more fulfilling.

Again, in 2018, Elton utilised the phrase when planning what was to be his final tour: ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’.

Hope

Yellows in our vegetable garden last summer…

… and in the drinks cupboard …

Yellow is with us, evoking powerful emotions throughout life’s cycle.

The joys of bright yellow for Spring’s fresh starts, youth and optimism.

More graceful, golden hues evoke the season of Autumn, and the gentle autumn of life.

Shared on HeyJude’s Travel Word blog: Life in Colour:

This post is inspired by HeyJude’s 2021 COLOUR CHALLENGE, introduced by the very talented photographer, Jude, for other bloggers to join in with. See here for more colourful contributions

See January’s Brown post, here