Saturday, September 25, 2010

Color Play

I love thinking about color, learning about color, and just plain playing around with color. Most books on color that I look at are the same old, same old--color wheel, analogous colors, complimentary colors........ This one is refreshingly different.


Most of the exercises in the book have you working with color intuitively. I liked this exercise of making a simple grid, starting by choosing the center square color, and then working out from there quickly with whatever color feels right. I did them with a small, cheap box of crayons, so I didn't get much range of color. They'd be a lot of fun with a nicer set of colored pencils or paint. These are suppose to be the elements fire, water, air, and earth.


She also works with designer color samples, which seemed like they would be great to have until I found out they cost $100. I decided to make my own by cutting up paint chips (yes, I just happened to have that many paint chips lying around--I never can resist a handful when I see them.)


I started ad libbing my own exercises and pulling palettes based on color schemes that surprise or inspire me.

Fallen plums--came from seeing plums on the ground in the alley. The plums were cracked open and sitting on dirt and stones.

Bakery Bar--the decor of a favorite haunt:


Enchiladas--self-explanatory:


I often fall back on favorite color combinations, so it's a fun way to stir things up a bit.


6 comments:

arlee said...

I too love and collect paint chips--great little palettes on their own or for inspiration---i like the idea of creating from a real inspiration, shall have to try that!

Jacky said...

I love the colour grids...might play around with that in my journal (thanks for the insiration). Love the sound of that book and creating intuitively.

Home from holidays now, so about to start a special little owl.

Jacky xox

Suzanne Reynolds said...

I like the way you made your own palettes by using paint chips on hand, Robin.
Here's another place for color inspiration
http://color-collective.blogspot.com

Robin Olsen said...

Oh that's a fun site Suzanne--thanks! Good idea to use magazine pages for palette ideas too.

I seem to slip into color ruts so easily, so I love hearing new ideas to come up with new combos.

Anja said...

Dear Robin, yesterday I ordered the book. I am not so creative as you but I am trying to find my roots of creativity, perhaps you understand what I mean with that. Thank you for the tipp and thank you for your nice comment on my blog. Have good times! Anja

Dreamcicle Journeys said...

Color fascinates me, too. The exercises in the book look good along with the ways to play with new palettes. Thanks for the book recommendation.