In the Pink: Celebrating Valentines Passionate Colour

In the vast palette of emotions that colours evoke, there's one that stands out for its duality—the ever-charming pink. It's the 'pretty' colour, the hue of all things cute and sweet. Picture candyfloss and cupcakes, Barbie dolls, and the elegance of flamingos. But let's not get carried away. While often associated with frivolity, pink can also be a serious colour too, a refined cousin in the red spectrum.

Dating back to the late 17th century, the term 'pink' found its place in the world of colours, primarily used to describe flowers of that delicate hue. Originating from the combination of red and white, pink spans a broad spectrum—from the gentle blush of a newborn to the vibrant depths of magenta.

You can also consider pink as the softer, less assertive sibling of red. While red carries connotations of passion and action, pink evokes a sense of physical weakness. Since the colour's historical association with gender, the infamous 'pink for girls, blue for boys' dichotomy, arose in the 1920s. Interestingly, pink for men has had its moments in and out of fashion to this very day, challenging conventional norms, which I think is awesome. If everyone can wear blue then then should be able to wear pink too right!

Pink shares the representation of love with red, but while red symbolises hot passion, pink embodies a more romantic and charming notion of love. When paired with light purples or other pastel tones, multiple shades of pink maintain an aura of softness, delicacy, and playfulness.

Here's a fascinating tidbit: pink flamingos, those iconic symbols of grace and colour, are not inherently pink. They derive their rosy hue from the shrimp and algae they consume. Nature's own palette at work!

Creating Pink

Now, let's explore the artistry of combining pink with other colours. All shades of pink take on a touch of sophistication when paired with black or grey, although the combination may trigger memories of the vibrant 1980s, good or bad!

For a contemporary twist, experiment with medium to darker shades of blue in abstracts, infusing hints of pink into the sky of landscapes, even when a sunset isn't on the agenda. And beleive it or not, the juxtaposition of medium to dark green with pink creates a surprisingly harmonious combination.

In the world of paint colour combinations, here's a list to ignite your creative spark and produce the perfect shade of pink:

Baby Pink: Blend red and white in equal parts for a gentle, pastel baby pink.
Magenta Magic: Combine red with a hint of blue for a deep and vibrant magenta.
Cotton Candy: Mix white with a touch of red and a hint of blue for that whimsical cotton candy pink.
Rose Petal: A combination of red and a drop of yellow creates the perfect rosy hue.
Fuchsia Fantasy: Blend red with a splash of purple to achieve a bold and enchanting fuchsia.
Cherry Blossom: Mix red with a dash of white and a touch of blue for a delicate cherry blossom pink.
Bubblegum Bliss: Combine red with a generous amount of white and a hint of blue for a fun and vibrant bubblegum pink.

Just For Fun: Whats a Good Pink?

In the pink - healthy
Tickled pink – extremely happy
Pink Ribbon – symbol for breast cancer awareness
Pink collar - female office worker (can be used in a derogatory manner)
Pink dollar – is when gay people are considered to have lots of money due to no children and high incomes, a common term ‘chasing the pink dollar’ is used.
Pink – the singer (Real name, Alecia Beth Moore)
Pink Floyd – the band
Pink & White terraces – the famous NZ natural wonder that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption on the 10th June 1886
Pink Lady – a cocktail made with grenadine syrup and gin

And Whats a Bad Pink?

Pink collar - female office worker (see above)
Pink - cut, notch, or make a zigzag (I have some pinking shears for sewing!)
Pink Eye – or as its really called Conjunctivitis.
Pink Elephants – when you see these its means you are really drunk and/or hallucinating!

Interesting Art Things

In 1993, artist Gioia Fonda created a conceptual piece in the form of a week long holiday called pink week. The intention of pink week is to liberate the colour pink from all dogma and simply celebrate the colour pink as a colour.

Bubblegum Pink is an installation by the artist duo Bigert & Bergstrom which "confronted you the viewer with three different mental climates" involving large amounts of pink. This mirrors the use of the colour in American prisons to calm aggressive prisoners. It features a pink cell and a carpet worn by repetitive pacing.

Artist’s Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the wooded islands in Miami's Biscayne Bay with 6,500,000 square feet (604,000 m²) of bright pink fabric. Titled Surrounded Islands

Many of Franz West's aluminium sculptures were often painted a bright pink, for example Sexualitatssymbol (Symbol of Sexuality). West has said that the pink was intended as an "outcry to nature".

As we explore the world of pink, let's remember the stories painted in hues of this captivating colour. Famous pink paintings, like Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" or Mary Cassatt's "Mother and Child," showcase the versatility and emotional depth that pink can bring to the canvas.

In the end, whether you're painting the rosy cheeks of a cherub or experimenting with abstract compositions, pink is a colour that invites both whimsy and sophistication. So, dip your brush into the palette of pink possibilities and let your artistic vision bloom with the myriad shades this enchanting colour offers.

Other common names for Pink –

Fuchsia- pronounced ‘few-sha’ which is a pink/purple colour is also named after the fuchsia plant which has flowers in that colour. Fuchsia is used as an alias for electric

Magenta - is a bright hot pink colour is a mix of red and blue. The name magenta comes from the dye magenta, not from the place Magenta in Italy.

I think Pink is a great colour. Here are some pink Jandals, an artwork from my New Zealand art series