Pantone.® has recently announced their color of the year for 2009: Mimosa (Pantone 14-0848 TCX) I wrote about the 2008 color Blue Iris last December (link), and have sort of started a tradition in following it now. . And you are thinking – what influence does color of the year have?. . It seems to have quite a bit – from fashion designers to interior decorators – they are always looking for what’s “in”. . . Here is a link to an article about Blue Iris in the New York Times On the ColourLovers website, Blue Iris ended up being ranked #3,894 out of 1,605,487 at the time of this post. . This is a site where many interior designers experiment with color palettes – sharing and ranking them.
So now we move on to Mimosa for 2009, a yellow with a tinge of orange. For those interested, the technical RGB values are : R 238, G 192, B 80. . The color opposite of Mimosa is actually a blue very simiar to Blue Iris..hmmmm. – coincidence?. 
. . Given everything that has gone on in 2008 as far as the economy and the world, perhaps heading in the opposite direction isn’t such a bad idea. . A few quotes from Pantone’s executive director:
The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance, explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.®. Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation. – source Marketwatch
“I think it’s just the most wonderful symbolic color of the future,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “It’s invariably connected to warmth, sunshine and cheer ” all the good things we’re in dire need of right now.” – source Yahoo News
I am also starting another new tradition in creating a special gallery dedicated to the color of the year. . I also played with a few new images in blending this color with them. . These leaf images in this post are the result.
As the year looks forward to hope, enlightenment, and inspiration – perhaps we just need reminders that these colors are already there and around us in nature – and sometimes it helps just to get lost in them for a little bit. . So I hope you enjoy this little gallery of about 44 images, perhaps view it while drinking a Mimosa. (orange juice and champagne). . . Goodbye Blue Iris – you are sooooo 2008!
p.s. Here is a cool link to explore on colors for your next stop..colorstrology!
You work is amazing! Thank you for so much positve inspiration. I sincerely admire your work.
TB
If I hadn’t been sold on Mimosa, your gallery would have turned me around. Your gorgeous photos inspire me to work, work, work ”not because I think I could match what you do, but because your work helps me to keep in mind what is possible.
Lovely leaf photos, but I’ll miss Blue Iris!
Hey Mark, I took most of the yellows out of my booth at the art shows because I couldn’t sell anything with yellow. I read this same article also, and not convince everone going to start buying my yellows, but it would be nice.
Todd, Anita, Lana Thank you.
Mike – well of course, Mimosa isn’t until 2009.
I’d put some back in for next year!
Hi Mark – this is a wonderful idea. As you know I am “terribly” into colours as well. With “Mimosa” I am yet very much irritated because one should assume that the colour fits the blossom but it does not. I have been in the south of France many times during the blooming of the mimosa and the colour is a completely different yellow – the REAL one is much more brilliant and does NOT inherit that touch of orange but rather the yellow of a ripe lemmon. Check out the internet – there is no orange – at least not with the plants in Europe…
Petra, well that flower is going to have to get its act together, it should know Pantone is the authority here.
That’s OK, I think a lot of the yellows in my dedication gallery are only “close approximations” – but closer than Banana Peel. Ha!
Thanks for the Pantone link – the Mimosa gallery was a nice browse, lots of great things.
My memories of mimosas in Virginia were of a tree with pink flowers, all stamens, like a bottlebrush. Turns that tree is borderline invasive a “least wanted” tree that competes too well with natives.
Mark, it seems that any requests for images that I get anymore from the consultants that I work with will almost always have something to do with yellow/gold coloring.
Has pretty much been this way for the past 3 years.
The one color that does not work well with the clients, and has always been one of my favorites, … are the magenta colors.
Maybe 2010 will be more magenta in nature!
Michael
Interesting post. Thanks for the 2009 Mimosa gallery — it was a real pleasure!
Mark, thanks for the update and links. I haven’t really considered what color seems most popular in my work. It would be interesting to try to characterize my work and track it. It is always tempting to self assign a color project, if only I knew a year in advance right? The leaf images are especially powerful!
Mark, the gallery is beautiful! Yellow is my favorite color; but not in nature, usually. Your gallery turned my thinking on that.
(Haven’t been here in awhile, site looks great.)
Michael – I would have never guessed magenta! Not a favorite color of mine personally – not to mention how rare I find it!
Paul – I have been mostly tracking it by keywords – haven’t really noticed any patterns for colors, but don’t doubt that some clients may shop that way.
Micki – glad you stopped by again.
Tom, Michael, John, Paul, Micki – thanks!
Mimosa is quite a lovely color. Reminds me of walking in the woods in the middle of fall.
I must admit I find it insightful to read your blogging. Keep up the good work. I really love reading about how color can influence so many things.
Who in the erath can live without a sun shine. Mimosa color reminds me of a new day which britten the entire world, so charming.