Many years ago, when I first ventured beyond a 5-colour student grade paint set, one of the first artist-quality paints I bought was Cadmium Yellow Deep. With a twisted tube and a dented cap, it was on sale for only a dollar. Post-purchase, I discovered that its deformities had allowed air inside the tube and only a small bit of the paint had not dried out -- but the colour was so inviting, I kept the tube around long after it was usable.
Cadmium Yellow Deep is a scrumptious warm dark yellow, perhaps best equated by some of the pleasures of an autumn garden. I've thought of my old paint tube lately as I've looked out our kitchen window at the volunteer cucurbit vines shown above. They sprouted in early July -- from a squirrel's cache? For whatever reason (too much shade?), there's been no development of squash or melon, but the advancing vine and the gorgeous simple flowers are a joy.
A similar deep yellow can be found in variegated marigolds, JT's favourite. (The orange of the traditional marigolds of elementary classroom projects is closer to Cadmium Orange).
I'm always pleased when, on my own, I discover the insights or teachings of master artists. From our first spring in Vancouver, I've loved the sight of the city's abundant roses, rhododendrons, and cherry blossoms viewed on a grey day. Not too long ago, I read about a man who visited Monet in his original Giverny garden. The visitor was disappointed that the day was so dreary but thrilled that Monet enthusiastically toured him around -- until sun broke through the clouds. "We might as well go in now," said the artist, "the flowers can't compete with full sun."
It's an elementary principle of painting: Crowd the canvas with unrelieved intense colours and it's an overwhelming blur OR set the brights off against greyed or muted colours and it's a marvel.
As I write this post, the seasonal rains have begun, but still blooming in the garden is one of our great favourites and a prime example of Cadmium Yellow Deep -- Black-eyed Susans, popping right out of the dull landscape of autumn. Monet would have loved these grey days.
