Face Painting Colors

COLORS

While early 19th century Seminoles would paint their face and hands for special occasions, this practice was no longer done in public by the late 19th century.
Note that it was done on special occasions only, to augment one's appearance and power. All face painting should be done sparingly, and with high regard for the occasion. It might not be out of place at a battle re-enactment or for a serious ceremony, but would be entirely inappropriate for an encampment or for a casual demonstration. A reenactor would be misplaced if he painted himself while he lounged around camp, or while stomp dancing in any except a Green Corn Dance.
It would be a big mistake to put on face painting without having a genuine reason or need. Face paint was a way the Seminole drew upon the natural powers in his world to add to his own. A rough parallel might be the personal strength many Christians find in a crucifix hung from their neck.
Few things will cheapen a reenactor's appearance faster than inappropriate or garish face painting. Painting on a death's head or zebra stripes or modern camouflage patterns are cheap and showy, and indicate the wearer's ignorance, disregard, and disrespect for the culture he is trying to represent.

Seminoles were more likely to use powder than grease paint (Capron, 1956), which could be mixed with a little fat.

The use of colors might be as follows:
RED was the color of war. The Red Stick Creeks were the warrior villages. This was especially true among the Hitchiti speakers, who formed the nucleus of the Miccosukee Seminoles. It would be painted in bands or stripes on the face, as well as on the backs of the hands and on knife handles. The Red Stick Creeks might also favor red turbans.
WHITE was the color of peace. The White Stick villages were the peace party among the Creeks. If a group of Seminoles wore a strip of white around their red turbans, they were ready to talk truce. If Billy Bowleg wanted to parley, he made a sign of white beads and tobacco leaves on the trail leading to his camp.
BLACK was a "living" color, worn on the face to prepare for war.
GREEN worn under the eyes was supposed to empower the wearer with night vision.
YELLOW represented death, as it is the color of "old bones." Care should be taken not to wear a lot of yellow.

QUOTES

(Osceola on his deathbed) "He then called for his red paint, and his looking glass, which was held before him, when he deliberately painted one-half of his face, his neck and throat, -his wrists- the backs of his hands, and the handle of his knife, red with vermilion; a custom practiced when the irrevocable oath of war and destruction is taken." Dr. Frederick Weeden, quoted by Catlin, 1844

"Several of the Indians' fighting techniques were calculated to strike terror. Some warriors entered battle naked except for a loin cloth, but their bodies were streaked in bizarre examples in red and black paint... (In council) there might be a half red circle of paint under each eye and silver rings in the nose. A few famous braves had their ears elongated and slit." Page 123, Mahon, 1967.

"The men do not paint their faces, but occasionally wear ornaments when visiting a white man's camp or going to a town or on a trading expedition. I am told they sometimes paint their faces during the ceremonies of the Green Corn Dance, but was unable to get any definite information on this subject." Cory, 1896

"Co-lo-waw-la-nee....... Co-lo-wa-lus-tee...... Co-lo-wa-chaw-tee......
..... Paint (yellow)
-....Paint (black)
..... Paint (red)" Moore-Willson, 1914

"Yellow paint says a warrior is ready to die. Red war paint signifies blood; green under the eyes makes for 'see better at night.' Yellow, the color of death, means a man has lived his life and will fight to the finish." Capron, 1956.

FACE PAINTING

by David Mott and Rick Obermeyer (Dec., 1990)

http://www.nativetech.org/seminole/facepainting/index.php

More on Face Painting

http://www.face-painting-fun.com/cultural-face-painting.html

Native American Colors by Assorted Authors

Native American Tribal Colors (Rainbow Clan and it's promise)

Clans and Tribes wear colors that speak from their heart and where they have migrated to (point of view), in the great dreaming we share together. Hearing each other is the hope of every child, to help them learn to smile.

In the East the winds blow and down deep below, the dark blue of Mother's love, that creeps and crawls to show us how to bee (dream impossible dreams) like doves (peaceful hearts). She shines her love and puts it deep inside the rines (peel away) of yesterday we find we are lost in love's display. Mother gifts her love away. Here stands the blue, on the eastern shore. We look above, Father White adores, the stars of many who shine to serve.

• East meets Blue/Black Mother below (SOUTHEAST) and White Father above (NORTHEAST), where the snow comes to greet the air, all is starting a stir. I feel your love next to me. Where the tree stops to gloat and puts a smile on all the load. Let me keep warm until the sun shines, because right now, I am dreaming for awhile.

In the South the heart of what we knew, comes into what is shining and true, the Child is born, to sweep the hearts away,  a daughter, a delight in Father White's eyes, to shine some true, to me and you. She serves the world, the Red Man calls, that's our position to heal and shove (them the right way, as Sisters dew guide us through).

• South meets Red Daughter westerly (SOUTHWEST) and Blue Mother easterly (SOUTHEAST), where the earth comes to seed, a sprout is growing within that bleeds and when the dream arises, the steams starts to find the chasm, where life is born, the breath is a stone, a smile shines in the heart, because it's straight like a dart. She is the beauty of mine eyes. 

In the West, the looming begins, twins. Hear the noise of all the toys, to fill their hearts with gold. Brother and Sister, who find all the glitter, the shining hearts of each heard/herd/clan. It's yellow and red, that finds all that rest, the children who guide all the world. Time now to step towards, the dreaming of heards, where all the children will want a ride, high to the limits of the sky (embraced).

• West meets Yellow Sun northerly (NORTHWEST) and Red Daughter southerly (SOUTHWEST), where the West greets the sunrise, the sudden surprise, the Morning Star that shines, the place of honor, to vision towards the east (the path is clear), where the Sun will set in front of our eyes. 

In the North, the Sun does rise, to beam all colors far and wide. The dawning has come to set down like a sun, a warrior sow true, now setting/sitting with the true, the fantastic flight, now bows with delight. The passion of life, springs true with delight. Brother Yellow and Father White are glued, bonded to help all relatives true. The dream takes flight, because it's a family plight, to get through towards another day, to heal all that we say. Yellow Chief says, "I accept this challenge". It's the way, we struggle wide, to find all the family who are left aside, to guide them home, from the ever rolling stone, the River will heal the load, when family stand next to each stone (you or me, relatives or the leaves on the tree of life).

• North meets White Father easterly and Yellow Sun westerly (NORTHWEST), where the blooming is ripe and the setting sun knows the wipe, where dreams start to die and one must realize, it's time to pass down to the children for a new dawn, the place where all are the fawns (deer running blissfully free under the breeze). The Sun/Son and the Father trade gifts for what matters, the plains and fields need be cleared (blessings) for another day, "Let us remember, we always had today".

White Buffalo Calf Woman Sings the four directions of the Native American Tribal story of what is important to the world, that Rainbow Colors are fulfilled.

Colors of the Rainbow and Their Meaning: By Kashmira Lad
 
As a child, I often remember getting the jitters as far as remembering the colors of the rainbow was concerned. An easy way to remember it was memorizing the term VIBGYOR. This helped one to remember the colors of the rainbow in order.

V-Violet:
Violet is a combination of the colors red and blue. This is the highest and the subtlest specialization of light. This is because it is at the opposite end of the red color. This color is viewed as the completion as well as the beginning of the energy vibration. Different shades of violet have varied meanings. A deep purple symbolizes high spiritual attainment and a pale shade symbolizes love for humanity. The shade violet brings about a stabilizing factor to the frenzied shades of red.

I-Indigo:
The color indigo means infinity. It also symbolizes wisdom and self-mastery. The indigo color is known to be the bridge between the finite and the infinite.

B-Blue:
Blue is known as the color of divinity. This is the color of the open skies and the oceans. Using the color blue in our daily lives is said to bring about a peace and understanding. This color also helps to soothe and relax.

G-Green:
The color green is formed with the merging of yellow and blue. Therefore, this is located in the center of the spectrum. The color green, symbolizes harmony, balance, growth and good health.

Y-Yellow:
The color yellow is vibrant in itself being close to the color of the sun. This is known to be full of energy. Yellow also means something bright and happy and the usage of this color is know to bring about a proper clarity of thought in a persons mind and also improve the decision making skills.

O-Orange:
The color, orange is a combination of red and yellow. This is not as fiery as red and but symbolizes a lot of energy and wisdom as well. Although dynamic, the color orange is more thoughtful and controlled. This color can increase the creativity of the person and bring about equilibrium in life.

R-Red:
This is the color of energy and enthusiasm. This is also the color with the longest wavelength. Red symbolizes passion, energy, vibrancy and success.