Orange Flowers for Benjamin

/ Jodi

Orange Flowers for Benjamin 11×14 Watercolor 140lb Cold Press

Orange Flowers for Benjamin.

Some of you may remember my little friend Benjamin.  He is the sweet little guy, who reads my blog with his “Gem” most every day and was a huge inspiration to me in writing my book, Klaus the Mouse, and other Silly Animal Animal Tales (available on Amazon here).

Well, the other day when I posted my Blue Reflections painting, Benjamin told Gem,  “It is a pretty blue picture, but can my Jodi do orange too?”

Apparently, orange is Benjamin’s favorite color.  So, though I didn’t do the same painting in orange, I did paint some orange flowers I hope my Benjamin will enjoy when he visits here with Gem next week.

Orange is such a happy, cheerful color!

According to Color Wheel Pro:

Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation.

To the human eye, orange is a very hot color, so it gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted among young people. As a citrus color, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the color of fall and harvest. In heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance.

Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design.

Well…. no wonder my Benjamin loves orange!

Wishing you all an “orange” kinda day!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

This painting and others available at McKinneyx2Designs.

69 thoughts on “Orange Flowers for Benjamin”

  1. Like little Benjamin, I too love orange. In fact, my car is an “ignition orange” KIA Soul, which is a kind of warm coppery orange. The warm tones of your painting are wonderful–who says orange is mostly a fall color.

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  8. What a sweet little boy. Orange is also one of my favorite colors – I had an orange ten speed bike as a teenager.

    Your artwork is really very nice. Thanks for sharing. You inspire me to try painting – then I try and it’s not very good lol. But it’s fun !

    Suz

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    • Thank you Lynne! Little Benjamin is such an amazing little boy. He is certainly destined to do and be an amazing man! He has touched so many already with his joy and love and kindness!

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  14. There are times when the words thank you are not nearly enough…this is one of them! This post has touched the deepest recesses of my heart. I turn to Shakespeare for assistance : “I can no other answer make, but, thanks and thanks; and ever thanks.” THANK-YOU! P.S. Benjamin will love his “or-nange” flowers from “My Jodi”!

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    • Oh Ellen! So many times you touch my heart! I am so glad I was able to touch yours. I do so adore you and our little Benjamin! And it was so fun and happy to paint OR-NANGE! xoxo

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  18. Love this Beautiful Hot Mess.
    Your composition with lights and darks are Spectactular! Like 4th of July going off!
    Extremely “Octanic” to define in Jeanne Dobie-isms.
    Today is a double Sunny Day ! Most welcomed with 28° at 7am. We got Sunshine and we got YOU.!

    Beautiful work, perfect melting and infusion of water, pigments, and white space. Excellent Composition of shapes and lights and darks. Love this Beautiful Hot Mess.
    This is JODI “O’Keeffe”. ……
    And to quote O’Keeffe: Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.

    Good work my (on-line ) friend in all that you do.
    You know me, facinated with color; what colors did you use in this Magnificient Explosion ?

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    • Wow Dena!!! I am blown away by this note from you! Thank you so much! I had to look up who Jeanne Dobie is. Wow – interesting. I wish I knew more about what I am doing. I just paint and “feel” if it works. LOL!!

      For this painting I used Cad Yellow, Cad Orange, Pyrol Orange, Aliz Crimson, Prussian Blue and Burnt Umber.

      Where do you live Dena? We got above freezing today for the first time in weeks. Even the birds were singing in the sunshine today!

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      • I live in Northern California. Sierra Foothills. About 2 hours North East of Sacramento. Mailing address is Foresthill a small town in gold country. i think population is under 1500. We live atop a mountain nearer to a place called Michigan Bluff not a town anymore but shows up on maps. We are about 4,000 feet. Snowfall a few times a year, most is above 5,000 ft. We have been in the 50’s til the other night, tonight we are at 31° snow is expected tonight. But we had an absolutely beautiful sunny day today. We are rarely at freezing, maybe 2-3 days 4-5 times during Nov-April. Just enough to break pipes. We live in the forest, 700 acres? my spouse is the Director of a Church Camp that rents out weeks mostly in the Summer as a retreat center/camp (rustic) no glamping. Then weekends the rest of the year, however December – March is mostly vacant due to cold weather, rain and snow.

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      • Oh Dena that sounds so wonderful and beautiful where you live! (and hoping your pipes did not break last night!)Thank you for sharing! Have you studied a lot in watercolor?

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  23. I love this post Jodi, how sweet of little Benjamin! I am a big believer of color influence and I have new respect for orange now, it’s never been my first choice, but your description of it’s power has me rethinking orange! No wonder I love living in Orange Beach!

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  25. From Benjamin to My Jodi : “I love my or-nange flowers! You made them just for me?! I told Gem, or-nange is my favorite color forever. I knew that my Jodi could paint or-nange too. Thank-you! P.S. He gave the screen a “humongous” hug and kissed your “little face” with an “I love you” added!

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    • I’m so glad you liked your or-nange flowers my Benjamin! You have surely shown me and many others what a special color or-nange is!! AND what a special boy YOU are! xoxo

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