Sunshine 2020: Prompt Five (Part Deux)

[bloodydemonic]

Prompt 5: Blue
Blue is a tranquil color that is associated with a variety of things including: balance, discovery, peace, calm, openness, patience, honor, grace, trust, depression, recovery, prophecy, respect, empathy, flexibility, and water.

Sun-bleached bones were most wonderful against the blue – that blue that will always be there as it is now after all man’s destruction is finished. – Georgia O’Keeffe

Blue is often introspective and deep in its calm stillness. When you have been blue, have you been patient with yourself? Have you taken the time to explore your inner self and discover ways to progress?

Please feel free to answer in whichever way comes naturally to you, be it a memory you share or an artwork you create. If you’d like a more specific idea to kick things off: share with us some songs or albums that remind you of the color blue or its theme.

THIS is the art/history nerding & fandom post you've been looking for.

Blue. So, in the 12th Century the Roman Catholic Church dictated that painters in Italy (and the rest of Europe consequently) to paint the Virgin Mary blue. Why? Because ultramarine was the new, most expensive pigment from Asia (and made from ground lapis lazuli). And that's why the Madonna is so often pictured in blue - and in the middle ages the colour became associated with holiness, humility and virtue.

I'm also going to do my usual pointing out of some Van Gogh paintings because at this point we've very much cemented the fact that I'm a bit of a fan so why the hell not! Yes, there's Starry Night, but there's also and there's , but you should also look at his paintings of irises!

Fandom-wise, I go to two main places.

The first one is Stargate and that gorgeous rippling blue of the Event Horizon.

My dad is a sci-fi fan, he's the one who introduced me to everything as a child that I still love as an adult - Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Stargate etc etc. I still remember the first time I watched original Stargate movie and how incredible it seemed the first time the gate was dialled and we got the kawoosh. In fact it still fills me with glee every time.

And in SG1 Children Of The Gods, Sam's reaction to it was just as awe-inspiring, that smile on her face and the way she was geeking out and touching it and Jack just pushes her through. I'm grinning just thinking about it.

Dialling the gate never fails to inspire excitement in me - it's the adventures it leads to and, despite MALP telemetry, never really knowing what's on the other side.

The second fandom place really has to be Sexy herself: the TARDIS.

Again, it's the adventures she promises - it's all of Time and Space at your fingertips. I always say that I would run away with the Doctor in a heartbeat. The new series essentially shaped my teenage years, I don't know how much of my interest in history and art is inspired by the idea of being able to go there, and the things the show introduced me to - combined with some super passionate teachers of the subjects in school. (Not that I'm an artistically creative person but I love learning about art which Miss Albert fully encouraged).

There's just something about "Hello. I'm the Doctor. Basically. Run" that speaks to me like nothing else has!

Comments

[smallhobbit]

I saw the starry nights painting at the van Gogh exhibition, and it was only then I realised the light reflected wasn't starlight, but from the buildings.

[shadowhive]

Ohh pretty!

Aww yay I love stargate🖤 you’re so right about it

The TARDIS! I dunno how I forgot that in my post, especially since I knew when I made it I was gonna watch Who today. I’d love to go on an adventure in it, though I’d be a little worried something would go wrong

[bloodydemonic]

Of course something will go wrong when you adventure in the TARDIS, that's the whole point of it. Where would the fun be if it didn't? Besides, you'll have The Doctor there and they'll save you!

[shipperslist]

Ohhhh, the Stargate event horizon that looks like water... I love that.

And blue van Gogh... *sigh*

Tardis and Paint

[writedragon]

Thanks for the art history lesson! I didn't know that. And, hello, Sexy! :)

[corvidology]

LOVE Van Gogh and Don McLean's 'Vincent' as a result.

As to the Tardis, like most Brits I have no recollection of life without the Tardis.

💙

[oldtoadwoman]

Love that first Van Gogh painting. There's something about light on water that always feels a bit magical.

[tippetariuswrites]

Van Gogh's paintings really do feel like they're capturing the feeling or essence of things. Some of my most favorite and surreal memories involve watching reflections of light on water late at night.

[bemused_writer]

Oh, I love the paintings and I didn't realize that about the color blue! I knew it was an expensive color to make and I knew it was associated with purity, but I didn't piece the two together.

And the sci-fi references: love all those series you mentioned and the TARDIS and the Stargate are both perfect to represent the color. (^^)

[silveradept]

Those paintings are gorgeous. Also, isn't it just like the Catholic Church to insist that the expensive new pigment be used for holy depictions?

Hooray for the TARDIS,. I'd always have to wonder, though, whether that adventure was going to be the last one I took, because the longer you stay with the Doctor, the more likely it is that you're going to end up past the point of no return.