On my first visit to Taos Pueblo in 1967, blue doors and window frames reflected color brilliantly against adobe walls. Still do. Never outlandish in my opinion, the blue gave an even more mysterious quality to the north and south pueblo complexes. I read that the Taos blue or Taos green, as it might also be designated, prevented evil and witchcraft from entering the dwelling. The color surrounded the window or door frame with a protective halo. It was also a beautiful color by itself, the security notwithstanding.
Blue Front Door, Flying Hat Ranch
When we decided to paint our gray doors, we looked up photographs in our books of the Taos blue and green, settling on the color you see in these photographs. Brenda painted all three of our doors. We got the paint from Sherwin Williams in Weatherford, Texas. She took in a swatch that she had compared with photos in Christine Mather and Sharon Woods, Santa Fe Style, p. 25, lower right-hand photograph. Sherwin Williams designated the color, Turquish, No. 6939. She bought a gallon, using a third of the gallon to paint the doors twice. I am trying to get her to paint the tack room door of the barn. Course, there are no evil spirits down there. Not with the horses chasing away bad dreams.
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Notes:
Christine Mather and Sharon Woods, Santa Fe Style, New York: Rizzoli, 1986.
Red Door at Taos, Courtesy Gary Thompson, Photographer
Sage to Meadow ~ Jack Matthews 