On the seventh day, when God had finished his laborious task of Creation and took a well deserved rest, Legend says that He had free time to do just what He liked the best: to Paint! So just for fun, God gave colors to everything He had created. He painted the Sun and the Moon, the clouds and the stars; the deserts and woodlands, the highest peaks and the gentlest slope; and all living creatures and plants. Indeed, He took great pleasure in painting some birds, flowers and fish in the gaudiest colors ever. Finally, when even the smallest thing on Earth had its own color and God saw it was good, He signed his artwork by drawing a Rainbow in the sky...

However, once finished, God realized in amazement that nothing He had painted had colors as beautiful as the ones left on His palette. So that mankind could enjoy these colors as well, He gently let the palette float over the waves of the sea...

    The place where God's palette came to rest is a funny, round-shaped island named Colorland. That is also why its circular lake is called Lake Thumby - and why once there was an enormous thumb-shaped rock on its shore! The legend also says that the wonderful, sparkling gemstones that shine at the bottom of the lake fell from God's Ring.

Whether these gems ever belonged to God, or whether they simply are pirates’ plunder, no one knows. However, legend also warns that whoever dares take any of these precious stones - without being pure of heart and without having the highest purpose - will be struck down by a bolt of lightning! In any case, there is no reason to do so.

 Every day, a Rainbow announces an afternoon shower that makes the middle of the country so fertile that Hunger is an unknown word.

 And Thirst is also unknown, as these raindrops are collected in the brooks and streams of crystalline waters, which run down the hills and across the green valleys to fill the lake to overflowing. There is no happier land in the whole wide World. And no more peculiar, either!

Not too far from Lake Thumby, a gentle river empties its waters into the ocean through the bay formed by the large cape. Here, on a hill, the colored buildings of the only village on the island spread out under the dominating presence of the fabulous Palace of the King of Colorland. Behind it and over the cliff, a spiraled lighthouse twists up into the deep blue sky. On top of the whimsical tower, a double cross points out the four cardinal points to sailors, and powerful beams of color illuminate the ocean surface all night – and all day, too – so ships can always sail safely across the reefs that keep the turquoise waters calm all around the island.

Although this kingdom has no enemies at all, and the word “War” has been forgotten also, the Royal Palace and the entire village are surrounded by peculiar tall walls, creating one of the most amazing fortresses ever seen: the Castle of Chameleot. The name comes from the “chameleots”, tiny mythical lizards that possess an extraordinary chameleonic power which makes them invisible. The walls, topped with wavy white battlements, together with the millions of dots of all colors on the roofs, make the fortress look like a fabulous gingerbread cake. But then, after all, the walls were not built to protect the town, but merely to add more beauty! 

In this wonderful land, the creation of Beauty is the most important thing. Everyone here is a true artist! As no time is ever wasted on foolish wars, and it is not really necessary to work very hard, people here have lots of free time for painting, drawing, writing, sculpting, playing music ...

... and for any other artistic activity, including designing and coloring their own hair and clothes! Every Sunday, all the artwork is proudly displayed in Arts Square, in front of the King’s Palace.

    However, because the colors are brighter and more vibrant on this island than anywhere else in the World, coloring is what people love to do the most. Painting is the principal art form. It is so important that the Chancellor of the kingdom is proclaimed as “he who paints best” at the yearly “Golden Brush” Painting Contest. He must win the painting contest that opens the Floral Games every spring, and whose prize is the “Golden Brush”, the Chancellor's Cane and symbol of his authority. Everyone on the island takes part in the contest!

Once upon a time, when the thumb-shaped rock still rose from the lake's waters to scrape the sky, and the island's starry nights were beautiful but not as impressive as now; when there were no soft watches hanging from the branches of the trees and the leaves of the plants did not look like pigeons; when no horse was blue and no body’s skin was green, orange or violet yet, the amazing events of this story took place. For the first and only time in all the history of Colorland - during the reign of His Majesty King Charcoal the Third, the same painter had won the contest... twenty-four times in a row!