okay guys thanks so much for having me and the name of this talk is called
and the name of this talk is called
and the name of this talk is called colorblind your skin is green so we have
colorblind your skin is green so we have
colorblind your skin is green so we have this idea that seeing is believing
this idea that seeing is believing
this idea that seeing is believing perhaps and one notion about creative
perhaps and one notion about creative
perhaps and one notion about creative people that I’d like to challenge
people that I’d like to challenge
people that I’d like to challenge tonight is that creative people of a
tonight is that creative people of a
tonight is that creative people of a once you see things that aren’t there
once you see things that aren’t there
once you see things that aren’t there that the Tim Burton’s of the world the
that the Tim Burton’s of the world the
that the Tim Burton’s of the world the folks that see Pixies that see dragons
folks that see Pixies that see dragons
folks that see Pixies that see dragons that see ghosts but what I’d like to
that see ghosts but what I’d like to
that see ghosts but what I’d like to suggest instead is that creative people
suggest instead is that creative people
suggest instead is that creative people and creative thinking might actually
and creative thinking might actually
and creative thinking might actually help us see things more vividly and more
help us see things more vividly and more
help us see things more vividly and more clearly so I think one thing that tends
clearly so I think one thing that tends
clearly so I think one thing that tends to happen to us as we get older is that
to happen to us as we get older is that
to happen to us as we get older is that our brains kind of become hijacked by
our brains kind of become hijacked by
our brains kind of become hijacked by everyday routines and I usually point to
everyday routines and I usually point to
everyday routines and I usually point to around fourth grade or so is that period
around fourth grade or so is that period
around fourth grade or so is that period where we start becoming a little bit
where we start becoming a little bit
where we start becoming a little bit more self-conscious about what our
more self-conscious about what our
more self-conscious about what our friends think and might be a little bit
friends think and might be a little bit
friends think and might be a little bit more comfortable just deferring from
more comfortable just deferring from
more comfortable just deferring from activity so every teachers challenge I
activity so every teachers challenge I
activity so every teachers challenge I think sometimes is dealing with students
think sometimes is dealing with students
think sometimes is dealing with students that say oh I can’t do this I can’t do
that say oh I can’t do this I can’t do
that say oh I can’t do this I can’t do that you know in other words perhaps not
that you know in other words perhaps not
that you know in other words perhaps not willing to try or too afraid to try but
willing to try or too afraid to try but
willing to try or too afraid to try but it seems that we get a particular a
it seems that we get a particular a
it seems that we get a particular a particularly strong reaction when it
particularly strong reaction when it
particularly strong reaction when it comes to the arts for example if we ask
comes to the arts for example if we ask
comes to the arts for example if we ask people are you an artist for instance
people are you an artist for instance
people are you an artist for instance over and over again it’s almost like
over and over again it’s almost like
over and over again it’s almost like asking someone if they’ve robbed a bank
asking someone if they’ve robbed a bank
asking someone if they’ve robbed a bank or done something horrible they say oh
or done something horrible they say oh
or done something horrible they say oh no no you know not me you know my
no no you know not me you know my
no no you know not me you know my brother’s an artist you know my aunt you
brother’s an artist you know my aunt you
brother’s an artist you know my aunt you know she likes to draw I don’t have a
know she likes to draw I don’t have a
know she likes to draw I don’t have a creative bone in my body but then it you
creative bone in my body but then it you
creative bone in my body but then it you know they don’t want to sound in your
know they don’t want to sound in your
know they don’t want to sound in your insulin yeah you know I go to museums
insulin yeah you know I go to museums
insulin yeah you know I go to museums sometimes so I guess if that’s your
sometimes so I guess if that’s your
sometimes so I guess if that’s your reaction I would just you know sort of
reaction I would just you know sort of
reaction I would just you know sort of challenge you to open your mind that’s
challenge you to open your mind that’s
challenge you to open your mind that’s really what our teaching is it’s a judo
really what our teaching is it’s a judo
really what our teaching is it’s a judo trick really to try to flip people’s
trick really to try to flip people’s
trick really to try to flip people’s minds to accept new things I want to try
minds to accept new things I want to try
minds to accept new things I want to try a little bit of an exercise here I’d
a little bit of an exercise here I’d
a little bit of an exercise here I’d like everyone in the audience if they
like everyone in the audience if they
like everyone in the audience if they would for a moment to think of a dinner
would for a moment to think of a dinner
would for a moment to think of a dinner plate okay so once you think of a dinner
plate okay so once you think of a dinner
plate okay so once you think of a dinner plate now can we see a quick show of
plate now can we see a quick show of
plate now can we see a quick show of hands how many folks have thought of a
hands how many folks have thought of a
hands how many folks have thought of a white dinner plate
white dinner plate
white dinner plate dinner plate okay that’s a lot of hands
dinner plate okay that’s a lot of hands
dinner plate okay that’s a lot of hands okay so from what I could see in here
okay so from what I could see in here
okay so from what I could see in here the the lights are in my eyes but it
the the lights are in my eyes but it
the the lights are in my eyes but it seems like a lot of hands went up okay
seems like a lot of hands went up okay
seems like a lot of hands went up okay now I want to try something else okay
now I want to try something else okay
now I want to try something else okay I want you guys to think about the last
I want you guys to think about the last
I want you guys to think about the last sporting event the last concert that you
sporting event the last concert that you
sporting event the last concert that you went to last time you were in an arena
went to last time you were in an arena
went to last time you were in an arena okay and I want you to think of an
okay and I want you to think of an
okay and I want you to think of an adjective to describe the size of that
adjective to describe the size of that
adjective to describe the size of that place so you walk into a stadium right
place so you walk into a stadium right
place so you walk into a stadium right and the stadium is okay so think about a
and the stadium is okay so think about a
and the stadium is okay so think about a word okay so how many folks said large
word okay so how many folks said large
word okay so how many folks said large okay see some largest huge big enormous
okay see some largest huge big enormous
okay see some largest huge big enormous gigantic all right so it seems like we
gigantic all right so it seems like we
gigantic all right so it seems like we have a very large verbal vocabulary
have a very large verbal vocabulary
have a very large verbal vocabulary right but often times our visual
right but often times our visual
right but often times our visual vocabulary can be limited we tend to
vocabulary can be limited we tend to
vocabulary can be limited we tend to kind of reduce it to one a prototype and
kind of reduce it to one a prototype and
kind of reduce it to one a prototype and that’s certainly something that we can
that’s certainly something that we can
that’s certainly something that we can expand upon okay so now it’s time for
expand upon okay so now it’s time for
expand upon okay so now it’s time for the heart of of our matter and that’s to
the heart of of our matter and that’s to
the heart of of our matter and that’s to talk a little bit about color okay so on
talk a little bit about color okay so on
talk a little bit about color okay so on three guys okay grass is grass is green
three guys okay grass is grass is green
three guys okay grass is grass is green okay so grass is green okay so let’s
okay so grass is green okay so let’s
okay so grass is green okay so let’s take a look at that if we could for a
take a look at that if we could for a
take a look at that if we could for a moment I don’t know with st. Patrick’s
moment I don’t know with st. Patrick’s
moment I don’t know with st. Patrick’s Day approaching how many folks thought
Day approaching how many folks thought
Day approaching how many folks thought of that leprechaun green perhaps four
of that leprechaun green perhaps four
of that leprechaun green perhaps four grass well we look at an actual sample
grass well we look at an actual sample
grass well we look at an actual sample of grass actually I don’t know where
of grass actually I don’t know where
of grass actually I don’t know where well Prem Roo as I saw him hiding around
well Prem Roo as I saw him hiding around
well Prem Roo as I saw him hiding around here at some point this is his photo in
here at some point this is his photo in
here at some point this is his photo in here well we see that there’s actually
here well we see that there’s actually
here well we see that there’s actually very few greens so even in the
very few greens so even in the
very few greens so even in the springtime on the grass a little bit
springtime on the grass a little bit
springtime on the grass a little bit more vibrant that it is now we’re gonna
more vibrant that it is now we’re gonna
more vibrant that it is now we’re gonna see olive tones will see purples we’ll
see olive tones will see purples we’ll
see olive tones will see purples we’ll see golden colors but we’re actually not
see golden colors but we’re actually not
see golden colors but we’re actually not gonna see too many greens in fact in
gonna see too many greens in fact in
gonna see too many greens in fact in this photograph areas that I could swear
this photograph areas that I could swear
this photograph areas that I could swear were green the fringes of the trees
were green the fringes of the trees
were green the fringes of the trees those are actually sort of a purplish
those are actually sort of a purplish
those are actually sort of a purplish green a dark dark I don’t know if you
green a dark dark I don’t know if you
green a dark dark I don’t know if you it’s the farc the color on the far right
it’s the farc the color on the far right
it’s the farc the color on the far right so I don’t doubt that that’s the green
so I don’t doubt that that’s the green
so I don’t doubt that that’s the green that people thought of one thing that I
that people thought of one thing that I
that people thought of one thing that I frequently have to refresh with my art
frequently have to refresh with my art
frequently have to refresh with my art classes when they come in is the Sesame
classes when they come in is the Sesame
classes when they come in is the Sesame Street topic of primary colors you know
Street topic of primary colors you know
Street topic of primary colors you know and from there the secondary colors
and from there the secondary colors
and from there the secondary colors complementary colors so hopefully this
complementary colors so hopefully this
complementary colors so hopefully this is a nice cheat sheet of the color chart
is a nice cheat sheet of the color chart
is a nice cheat sheet of the color chart for you but in some ways the basic color
for you but in some ways the basic color
for you but in some ways the basic color wheel
wheel
wheel just do us a disservice if we kind of
just do us a disservice if we kind of
just do us a disservice if we kind of limit it to the conventional color wheel
limit it to the conventional color wheel
limit it to the conventional color wheel that we see on the left for example just
that we see on the left for example just
that we see on the left for example just mixing colors with whites muted colors
mixing colors with whites muted colors
mixing colors with whites muted colors you see that there’s an array of
you see that there’s an array of
you see that there’s an array of possibilities and it doesn’t stop there
possibilities and it doesn’t stop there
possibilities and it doesn’t stop there B we could mix colors over blacks over
B we could mix colors over blacks over
B we could mix colors over blacks over grays over opposite colors colors really
grays over opposite colors colors really
grays over opposite colors colors really do some phenomenal things when you’re
do some phenomenal things when you’re
do some phenomenal things when you’re using wet media so bleeding techniques
using wet media so bleeding techniques
using wet media so bleeding techniques like watercolor we see all kinds of
like watercolor we see all kinds of
like watercolor we see all kinds of color possibilities there layering
color possibilities there layering
color possibilities there layering colors on top of each other in fact
colors on top of each other in fact
colors on top of each other in fact there’s so many color mixing
there’s so many color mixing
there’s so many color mixing opportunities and it’s just so vast that
opportunities and it’s just so vast that
opportunities and it’s just so vast that I think that’s one reason you might be
I think that’s one reason you might be
I think that’s one reason you might be familiar with a sort of stereotypical
familiar with a sort of stereotypical
familiar with a sort of stereotypical messy artist palette at a certain point
messy artist palette at a certain point
messy artist palette at a certain point it’s almost more intuitive to mix colors
it’s almost more intuitive to mix colors
it’s almost more intuitive to mix colors in the manner that you see on the
in the manner that you see on the
in the manner that you see on the palette on the left intuitively for
palette on the left intuitively for
palette on the left intuitively for those of you guys that were around back
those of you guys that were around back
those of you guys that were around back in the 60s
in the 60s
in the 60s you might remember that the peach crayon
you might remember that the peach crayon
you might remember that the peach crayon was initially called the flesh crayon
was initially called the flesh crayon
was initially called the flesh crayon and then Crayola you know thoughtfully
and then Crayola you know thoughtfully
and then Crayola you know thoughtfully responded to the fact that they had a
responded to the fact that they had a
responded to the fact that they had a diverse audience who liked to use their
diverse audience who liked to use their
diverse audience who liked to use their crayons and so they made more skin tones
crayons and so they made more skin tones
crayons and so they made more skin tones and they also changed the flash color it
and they also changed the flash color it
and they also changed the flash color it became known as peach but there’s some
became known as peach but there’s some
became known as peach but there’s some problems with that if we look at the
problems with that if we look at the
problems with that if we look at the peaches off to the right that we’re done
peaches off to the right that we’re done
peaches off to the right that we’re done with color pencils so almost like a
with color pencils so almost like a
with color pencils so almost like a crayon in there I mean you’ll see that
crayon in there I mean you’ll see that
crayon in there I mean you’ll see that there’s quite a variety of colors so
there’s quite a variety of colors so
there’s quite a variety of colors so there’s really no way that that peach
there’s really no way that that peach
there’s really no way that that peach could be you know selected and sort of
could be you know selected and sort of
could be you know selected and sort of accurately describe a peach and it
accurately describe a peach and it
accurately describe a peach and it certainly couldn’t describe a skin
certainly couldn’t describe a skin
certainly couldn’t describe a skin either one experience that I had when I
either one experience that I had when I
either one experience that I had when I walked into museum when I was younger
walked into museum when I was younger
walked into museum when I was younger and we went and were checking out some
and we went and were checking out some
and we went and were checking out some of the early Renaissance work you know a
of the early Renaissance work you know a
of the early Renaissance work you know a lot of it’s a little bit creepy you know
lot of it’s a little bit creepy you know
lot of it’s a little bit creepy you know you have these gone figures one thing
you have these gone figures one thing
you have these gone figures one thing that was sort of surreal about it as I
that was sort of surreal about it as I
that was sort of surreal about it as I remember seeing a green madonna and
remember seeing a green madonna and
remember seeing a green madonna and child and I later realized I was
child and I later realized I was
child and I later realized I was explained to me by a professor that it
explained to me by a professor that it
explained to me by a professor that it was actually the paints on the surface
was actually the paints on the surface
was actually the paints on the surface that were appealing off so the green
that were appealing off so the green
that were appealing off so the green with the green undertone so there’s cool
with the green undertone so there’s cool
with the green undertone so there’s cool undertones underneath representing the
undertones underneath representing the
undertones underneath representing the unoxidized blood underneath the skin so
unoxidized blood underneath the skin so
unoxidized blood underneath the skin so your skin actually is green the Mona
your skin actually is green the Mona
your skin actually is green the Mona Lisa
Lisa
Lisa world’s most famous painting in many
world’s most famous painting in many
world’s most famous painting in many respects but famous for a reason you
respects but famous for a reason you
respects but famous for a reason you might not know Leonardo da Vinci
might not know Leonardo da Vinci
might not know Leonardo da Vinci actually used 40 glazes so 40 thin
actually used 40 glazes so 40 thin
actually used 40 glazes so 40 thin glazes that he many of them he actually
glazes that he many of them he actually
glazes that he many of them he actually invented himself but he painstakingly
invented himself but he painstakingly
invented himself but he painstakingly layered them on top and that’s why he
layered them on top and that’s why he
layered them on top and that’s why he gets a soft texture of the skin and it’s
gets a soft texture of the skin and it’s
gets a soft texture of the skin and it’s also how he gets that mysterious
also how he gets that mysterious
also how he gets that mysterious atmosphere in back so certainly no
atmosphere in back so certainly no
atmosphere in back so certainly no singular crayon would have done there
singular crayon would have done there
singular crayon would have done there though
though
though Impressionists for example like Renoir
Impressionists for example like Renoir
Impressionists for example like Renoir they were actually initially despised
they were actually initially despised
they were actually initially despised for making work that wasn’t finished
for making work that wasn’t finished
for making work that wasn’t finished that wasn’t layered quite in the same
that wasn’t layered quite in the same
that wasn’t layered quite in the same way for revealing those colors
way for revealing those colors
way for revealing those colors underneath but since then you walk into
underneath but since then you walk into
underneath but since then you walk into a museum those become I think one of our
a museum those become I think one of our
a museum those become I think one of our favorite rooms often times in the most
favorite rooms often times in the most
favorite rooms often times in the most popular rooms to walk into just for the
popular rooms to walk into just for the
popular rooms to walk into just for the beauty of the colors that we see in
beauty of the colors that we see in
beauty of the colors that we see in there so we’re talking about skin and
there so we’re talking about skin and
there so we’re talking about skin and color I can’t help but pause and I’ll
color I can’t help but pause and I’ll
color I can’t help but pause and I’ll point out the strange phenomenon that we
point out the strange phenomenon that we
point out the strange phenomenon that we have as human beings this idea of
have as human beings this idea of
have as human beings this idea of labeling in terms of skin especially an
labeling in terms of skin especially an
labeling in terms of skin especially an idea of for instance black and white you
idea of for instance black and white you
idea of for instance black and white you guys are sitting in the black box right
guys are sitting in the black box right
guys are sitting in the black box right now if you were to use the color sampler
now if you were to use the color sampler
now if you were to use the color sampler that’s the tool in Photoshop that you
that’s the tool in Photoshop that you
that’s the tool in Photoshop that you could sample pixels and you would not
could sample pixels and you would not
could sample pixels and you would not see any black for instance in this
see any black for instance in this
see any black for instance in this entire room so true black almost never
entire room so true black almost never
entire room so true black almost never occurs in nature the snow that was
occurs in nature the snow that was
occurs in nature the snow that was falling today if you were sample that
falling today if you were sample that
falling today if you were sample that with the sampler you’re not really gonna
with the sampler you’re not really gonna
with the sampler you’re not really gonna see any white and there either so when
see any white and there either so when
see any white and there either so when we think of the term racism for those of
we think of the term racism for those of
we think of the term racism for those of us who haven’t been on the receiving end
us who haven’t been on the receiving end
us who haven’t been on the receiving end maybe just seems like a word but I want
maybe just seems like a word but I want
maybe just seems like a word but I want to challenge the audience to do
to challenge the audience to do
to challenge the audience to do something for a second and I want you to
something for a second and I want you to
something for a second and I want you to think about that term to feel that term
think about that term to feel that term
think about that term to feel that term as much as you can and I want you to
as much as you can and I want you to
as much as you can and I want you to think about every single act of racism
think about every single act of racism
think about every single act of racism in history every single act of
in history every single act of
in history every single act of discrimination humiliation brutality
discrimination humiliation brutality
discrimination humiliation brutality bigotry the worst possible crime slavery
bigotry the worst possible crime slavery
bigotry the worst possible crime slavery murder crime just to unspeakable to
murder crime just to unspeakable to
murder crime just to unspeakable to imagine just millions of Tears tremors
imagine just millions of Tears tremors
imagine just millions of Tears tremors torments just live shattered over what
torments just live shattered over what
torments just live shattered over what justified by what by this strange
justified by what by this strange
justified by what by this strange concept of of skin color the strange
concept of of skin color the strange
concept of of skin color the strange artifact artificial construct of skin
artifact artificial construct of skin
artifact artificial construct of skin color so that um for me has hit home
color so that um for me has hit home
color so that um for me has hit home more recently my wife is in the audience
more recently my wife is in the audience
more recently my wife is in the audience right now along with our adoptive son is
right now along with our adoptive son is
right now along with our adoptive son is here and he’s been with us since he’s
here and he’s been with us since he’s
here and he’s been with us since he’s been a baby and one interesting thing is
been a baby and one interesting thing is
been a baby and one interesting thing is when we go to fill out forms when we’re
when we go to fill out forms when we’re
when we go to fill out forms when we’re at either the doctor’s office or we’re
at either the doctor’s office or we’re
at either the doctor’s office or we’re filling out legal forms we’re asked to
filling out legal forms we’re asked to
filling out legal forms we’re asked to check off an ethnicity and the awkward
check off an ethnicity and the awkward
check off an ethnicity and the awkward thing that we’ve had to explain over and
thing that we’ve had to explain over and
thing that we’ve had to explain over and over again is we don’t know and it’s
over again is we don’t know and it’s
over again is we don’t know and it’s it’s also strange because you know it
it’s also strange because you know it
it’s also strange because you know it makes a little sense to me friends
makes a little sense to me friends
makes a little sense to me friends neighbors strangers come up they are
neighbors strangers come up they are
neighbors strangers come up they are taken by how handsome he is and
taken by how handsome he is and
taken by how handsome he is and invariably they like to start guessing
invariably they like to start guessing
invariably they like to start guessing what his origin is and it is a little
what his origin is and it is a little
what his origin is and it is a little interesting that people are so
interesting that people are so
interesting that people are so preoccupied with it i I do doubt you
preoccupied with it i I do doubt you
preoccupied with it i I do doubt you know if he was identified for example as
know if he was identified for example as
know if he was identified for example as Caucasian that there’d be the same like
Caucasian that there’d be the same like
Caucasian that there’d be the same like oh is he Slavic or Scandinavian I just
oh is he Slavic or Scandinavian I just
oh is he Slavic or Scandinavian I just have to know you know so but but you
have to know you know so but but you
have to know you know so but but you know I’ve heard guesses
know I’ve heard guesses
know I’ve heard guesses you know Central American Indian or no
you know Central American Indian or no
you know Central American Indian or no he must be from the South Pacific maybe
he must be from the South Pacific maybe
he must be from the South Pacific maybe he’s you know Mimi’s Asian and there’s
he’s you know Mimi’s Asian and there’s
he’s you know Mimi’s Asian and there’s also a lot of a fascination out of the
also a lot of a fascination out of the
also a lot of a fascination out of the possibility he might be black we don’t
possibility he might be black we don’t
possibility he might be black we don’t know some quadrants from mixed family my
know some quadrants from mixed family my
know some quadrants from mixed family my mixed family this is actually coming
mixed family this is actually coming
mixed family this is actually coming from from my son and I standing next to
from from my son and I standing next to
from from my son and I standing next to each other in the same photograph and I
each other in the same photograph and I
each other in the same photograph and I don’t want to back up and just say my
don’t want to back up and just say my
don’t want to back up and just say my typical response by the way when people
typical response by the way when people
typical response by the way when people ask would they say well what is he I
ask would they say well what is he I
ask would they say well what is he I typically say well he’s a toddler now
typically say well he’s a toddler now
typically say well he’s a toddler now that he started to walk he was a baby
that he started to walk he was a baby
that he started to walk he was a baby before that and then they go no you know
before that and then they go no you know
before that and then they go no you know what but where is he from
what but where is he from
what but where is he from and I say Massachusetts which is true
and I say Massachusetts which is true
and I say Massachusetts which is true and again I’m not trying to be flippant
and again I’m not trying to be flippant
and again I’m not trying to be flippant with that answer and I don’t want to you
with that answer and I don’t want to you
with that answer and I don’t want to you know undermine a cultural heritage
know undermine a cultural heritage
know undermine a cultural heritage but again it’s a sort of fascination I
but again it’s a sort of fascination I
but again it’s a sort of fascination I think with with skin color that we’re
think with with skin color that we’re
think with with skin color that we’re interested in and so that’s why I wanted
interested in and so that’s why I wanted
interested in and so that’s why I wanted to put my skin color up next to his skin
to put my skin color up next to his skin
to put my skin color up next to his skin color we’re both standing next to each
color we’re both standing next to each
color we’re both standing next to each other and I sample three areas I sampled
other and I sample three areas I sampled
other and I sample three areas I sampled highlights mid-tones and darks the
highlights mid-tones and darks the
highlights mid-tones and darks the purple actually represents our
purple actually represents our
purple actually represents our fingernails we weren’t wearing nail
fingernails we weren’t wearing nail
fingernails we weren’t wearing nail polish that’s I sampled it several times
polish that’s I sampled it several times
polish that’s I sampled it several times just to just to be sure of that but the
just to just to be sure of that but the
just to just to be sure of that but the darker one is actually mine you know
darker one is actually mine you know
darker one is actually mine you know people use the term color blind in a
people use the term color blind in a
people use the term color blind in a positive way to mean to look beyond skin
positive way to mean to look beyond skin
positive way to mean to look beyond skin color however I’m very aware of color as
color however I’m very aware of color as
color however I’m very aware of color as an artist if you’re taking a watercolor
an artist if you’re taking a watercolor
an artist if you’re taking a watercolor class the tree shimmer with color the
class the tree shimmer with color the
class the tree shimmer with color the people around you dance with color and
people around you dance with color and
people around you dance with color and if someone ever asks or if if my son
if someone ever asks or if if my son
if someone ever asks or if if my son ever asks what am I the answer so simple
ever asks what am I the answer so simple
ever asks what am I the answer so simple you’re my son I think that art and being
you’re my son I think that art and being
you’re my son I think that art and being a parent both share in common that they
a parent both share in common that they
a parent both share in common that they revealed a world of beauty to me that I
revealed a world of beauty to me that I
revealed a world of beauty to me that I would not have known existed otherwise
would not have known existed otherwise
would not have known existed otherwise thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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