This question arose when I realized I had remembered a specific color incorrectly. My Sailor 1911 PG has the original blue/black cartridge. I had last used it at work and, for some reason, thought it was darker than PR DC SuperShow Blue and posted that comparison. Someone then pointed out my error. I followed up with my own comparison test and, sure enough, my original memory was in error. I had thought I was remembering accurately, but hadn't. How well do you do at remembering specific colors?

I know my memory with regards to colors can't be trusted - I once thought Noodlers Gruene Cactus and Noodlers Verdun Green (permanent) were the same color .

I hope...

When I discovered that I could look at one Burgundy Snorkel pen by itself and identify which of the two shades it was, I pretty well became confident of my color memory.

1952-1956

1956-1959

If by remembering accurately you mean being able to look at some old notes of yours and being able to tell what ink was used, I am extremely accurate; probably because I only have four inks... In chronological purchase order: MB Blue-Black, Aurora Black, Waterman Florida Blue, and Waterman Red.

I think that I'm pretty accurate in terms of my color memory. I'm very much of a visual-type learner. However, I can't say that I've ever been in a situation where I've had to test the accuracy of my color-memory. (?)

I suppose that this is the same type of phemenon in which some people have "perfect pitch" or "absolute pitch." Some people can hear a musical note and are able to tell that it is "the-G-above-middle-C", without having any other frame of reference. Most people are not able to tell what a note is without some frame of reference.

TMann

I'm an artist, way can I say? Colors are my like my chess pieces.


Cheers!

Thought you might like this -


What you need for Painting - from a letter by Renoir
(in Ultramarine by Raymond Carver)


THE PALETTE:

FLAKE WHITE
CHROME YELLOW
NAPLES YELLOW
YELLOW OCHER
RAW UMBER
VENETIAN RED
FRENCH VERMILLION
MADDER LAKE
ROSE MADDER
COBALT BLUE
ULTRAMARINE BLUE
EMERALD GREEN
IVORY BLACK
RAW SIENNA
VIRIDIAN GREEN
WHITE LEAD

AND DON'T FORGET:
Palette knife
Scraping knife
Essence of turpentine

BRUSHES:
Pointed marten hair brushes
Flat hog hair brushes

Indifference to everything except your canvas
The ability to work like a locomotive.
An iron will.