This is one of those days when I haven't come to class prepared. ;o) During yesterday's free time, I felt more like making scrapbook pages than typing at the computer, so this morning I have to start from scratch-- not even an idea as a jumping-off point. Let's see if I can make it to ten before I give out. (g)
Ten on Tuesday: Ten "Colorful" Links
1. Lindly Talking Color-- Lindly Haunani's blog about polymer clay and color.
2. Smashing Color-- "Maggie Maggio's blog for the color curious" (including tutorials)
3. Maggie Maggio's Color Scales in Polymer Clay video tutorial. (There are also parts II and III.)
4. Polymer Clay Cyclopedia entry on color recipes and tips.
5. Here's something to look forward to! Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio are writing a book on polymer clay and color. It's due out about a year from now.
6. Color-related links collected by "beadyeyedbrat" (aka Tommie Howell). She has links to color recipe charts and more.
7. Here's an earlier post I wrote about places to find color inspiration.
8. Even though translucent clay starts out almost colorless, there's no reason it has to stay that way! ;o) One of my favorite things to do with clay is adding inclusions to translucent (or lightly tinted translucent) clay. (Here are a couple more related links, too.)
9. The Glass Attic page about color offers plenty of information on all aspects of color and polymer clay.
10. Betsy Baker (of Stonehouse Studio) wrote this interesting article for her blog after taking a class with Maggie Maggio. (Funny how a couple of names keep popping up in this list, isn't it? ;o) They're the acknowledged experts on teaching polymer clay in terms of color.)
Well, there they are-- all ten of them. And they even kinda sorta make sense as a group! ;o) (Well, maybe the inclusions link was a bit of a stretch. . .)
Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Showing posts with label colors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label colors. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Ten on Tuesday: Springtime Palettes
I don't know what the weather's like where you live, but around here, it's starting to feel more and more like spring. When that happens, my thoughts gravitate toward Easter egg pastels and the fresh greens of baby plants.
If your home town is still facing weeks of bitter cold, maybe you need a boost of cheery color even more than I do! And for those of you in the southern hemisphere. . . Well, any time's a good time for a springtime palette. (g)
Ten on Tuesday: Ten (or so) Springtime Palettes
1. springtime chic--
I'm mainly drawn to the apple green and aqua/robin's egg blue combo (I have a real thing for those colors, it seems), but I think the addition of the coral pink and warm brown is nice, too. This combo is cheerful and gives a nod to classic springtime pastels, but it's not "plastic Easter egg"-y, if you know what I mean. (g)
2. Lady Beetle's House--
Here's something a bit brighter. Those greens paired with peach and berry hues look sweet to me. I can almost taste fruit-flavored candy!
3. Spring's Premiere--
This palette looks like a sunny day to me. I love how simple and fresh it is. It reminds me of clean laundry flapping on the line-- little lambs frolicking on the lawn-- little puffy clouds drifting lazily across a baby blue sky. . . Well, you get the idea. ;o)
4. Spring Forth--
This one starts from a similar place as the last one-- the classic combination of yellow, green, and blue-- but it progresses into darker shades of blue. For me, the darker blues take the palette from the sunny afternoon through the twilight and into moonrise (with a liberal sprinkling of stars and a soundtrack of frog song ;o)). Maybe to someone else they're a reminder that there can still be a chill in the air in early spring. . .
Now that I look at this again, I'm getting some Starry Night (Van Gogh) vibes. Maybe not quite greenish enough in the blues, though. . .
5. spring1--
More yellow, green, and blue. I must not be the only one who loves these colors together. ;o) These are all pretty warm, I think, which is fitting for spring, I guess.
6. Spring Salad
These colors do remind me of a salad with lots of lovely, colorful lettuces. Taken on their own, some of these colors (the dark teal and especially the plum) may not seem particularly springlike, but who says you can't have dark colors in a springtime palette? Spring doesn't have to be all pastels (unless you like it that way, of course). A little variety can spice things up.
7. springforward and spring spirits--
This palette is proof that you should "never say never" about a color. As fashion trends shift-- and as our perceptions shift with it-- we sometimes find ourselves liking colors we once thought we hated. If you had told "Teen Me" that I'd someday like "harvest gold" and tints of mustard, I probably would've laughed at you. ;o) While they still aren't my favorite colors in the world, I have to admit that they have a definite appeal in certain applications. For example, this gentle progression from softest pink to champagne and gold warms me right up.
For a golden palette that's less delicate, how about this one?
8. spring velvet and spring--
I'm a sucker for combinations of dark red and light green or pink and green. With these rather bronzey greens, the combo isn't at all childish or "1950s ice cream parlor-ish" (not that I don't like that style, too!). Instead, it has a certain maturity. Or maybe I'm just won over by the word "velvet". ;o)
Ok, I can't leave it at just one, so here's another "red and green" combo:
(sighs) Ah, the perfect "complimentariness" of the spring green with the wine reds. . . Anyone else ever read The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery? I've always coveted Valancy's dress. . .
9. Spring Meadow and spring--
Here's something a bit more "rainbowy". I'm very fond of the softness of these colors in contrast with the medium periwinkle blue. . .
But if you like something a little bit bolder, try this one:
10. vernal woods--
Let's close with something that puts most of the focus on green, the most abundant color of springtime. The ColourLovers site overflows with lovely palettes that demonstrate a very gradual shift in color. These generally appeal to me, but today, I was drawn to this palette with a little more variety.
Also on the subject of springtime color--
If you'd like to see what you're supposed to like this season ;o) have a peek at a couple of color forecasts for spring-summer 2008: Fire Mountain Gems and Pantone Fashion Color Report.
If your home town is still facing weeks of bitter cold, maybe you need a boost of cheery color even more than I do! And for those of you in the southern hemisphere. . . Well, any time's a good time for a springtime palette. (g)
Ten on Tuesday: Ten (or so) Springtime Palettes
1. springtime chic--
I'm mainly drawn to the apple green and aqua/robin's egg blue combo (I have a real thing for those colors, it seems), but I think the addition of the coral pink and warm brown is nice, too. This combo is cheerful and gives a nod to classic springtime pastels, but it's not "plastic Easter egg"-y, if you know what I mean. (g)
2. Lady Beetle's House--
Here's something a bit brighter. Those greens paired with peach and berry hues look sweet to me. I can almost taste fruit-flavored candy!
3. Spring's Premiere--
This palette looks like a sunny day to me. I love how simple and fresh it is. It reminds me of clean laundry flapping on the line-- little lambs frolicking on the lawn-- little puffy clouds drifting lazily across a baby blue sky. . . Well, you get the idea. ;o)
4. Spring Forth--
This one starts from a similar place as the last one-- the classic combination of yellow, green, and blue-- but it progresses into darker shades of blue. For me, the darker blues take the palette from the sunny afternoon through the twilight and into moonrise (with a liberal sprinkling of stars and a soundtrack of frog song ;o)). Maybe to someone else they're a reminder that there can still be a chill in the air in early spring. . .
Now that I look at this again, I'm getting some Starry Night (Van Gogh) vibes. Maybe not quite greenish enough in the blues, though. . .
5. spring1--
More yellow, green, and blue. I must not be the only one who loves these colors together. ;o) These are all pretty warm, I think, which is fitting for spring, I guess.
6. Spring Salad
These colors do remind me of a salad with lots of lovely, colorful lettuces. Taken on their own, some of these colors (the dark teal and especially the plum) may not seem particularly springlike, but who says you can't have dark colors in a springtime palette? Spring doesn't have to be all pastels (unless you like it that way, of course). A little variety can spice things up.
7. springforward and spring spirits--
This palette is proof that you should "never say never" about a color. As fashion trends shift-- and as our perceptions shift with it-- we sometimes find ourselves liking colors we once thought we hated. If you had told "Teen Me" that I'd someday like "harvest gold" and tints of mustard, I probably would've laughed at you. ;o) While they still aren't my favorite colors in the world, I have to admit that they have a definite appeal in certain applications. For example, this gentle progression from softest pink to champagne and gold warms me right up.
For a golden palette that's less delicate, how about this one?
8. spring velvet and spring--
I'm a sucker for combinations of dark red and light green or pink and green. With these rather bronzey greens, the combo isn't at all childish or "1950s ice cream parlor-ish" (not that I don't like that style, too!). Instead, it has a certain maturity. Or maybe I'm just won over by the word "velvet". ;o)
Ok, I can't leave it at just one, so here's another "red and green" combo:
(sighs) Ah, the perfect "complimentariness" of the spring green with the wine reds. . . Anyone else ever read The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery? I've always coveted Valancy's dress. . .
9. Spring Meadow and spring--
Here's something a bit more "rainbowy". I'm very fond of the softness of these colors in contrast with the medium periwinkle blue. . .
But if you like something a little bit bolder, try this one:
10. vernal woods--
Let's close with something that puts most of the focus on green, the most abundant color of springtime. The ColourLovers site overflows with lovely palettes that demonstrate a very gradual shift in color. These generally appeal to me, but today, I was drawn to this palette with a little more variety.
Also on the subject of springtime color--
If you'd like to see what you're supposed to like this season ;o) have a peek at a couple of color forecasts for spring-summer 2008: Fire Mountain Gems and Pantone Fashion Color Report.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ten on Tuesday: Valentine Color Schemes
Valentine's Day may still be a month away, but if you're planning to make Valentine-themed objects from polymer clay, the time is now! (Or better yet, a month or two ago, if you're selling them online.) I made another visit to ColourLovers.com in search of Valentine-themed color schemes, and I didn't come up empty-handed.
Whether you think of Valentine's Day as a 24-hour love fest-- a good excuse to eat lots of chocolate-- a commercial nightmare dressed in pink and red-- or a painful "rub it in my face, whatdoncha" taunting of single folks everywhere ;o)-- there's a color scheme for you! (g)
Note: I find that the color palettes are much more powerful when viewed larger and against the darker background of the original site. To get a better feel for the colors, click the palettes to open up new windows.
Ten on Tuesday: Ten (or so) Valentine-Themed Color Schemes
1. Hardcore Valentine. Reds tending toward black, with a nice watermelon-y punch in the mix.
For a similar (red-themed, going from dark to light) palette, take a look at MBV Loveless. Again, we start with an almost black shade of red, but this time we lighten toward magenta for a very different look.
2. Still My Valentine. Here, we turn the whole focus on those delicious watermelon and salmon pinks. Sweet and warm, but more mature and restrained than you'd expect from a palette so dominated by pink.
3. Restless Valentine. Purples and dark mauves are cooler (in tone) than the traditional reds and pinks.
4. Valentine Kiss. Spicy orange-reds, sophisticated pink, and rich scarlets.
5. My Secret Valentine. A different take on Valentine pink. I'm fond of the way this muted pink fades into a soft, minty green.
6. Atomic Bombshell. Youthful, fresh, and full of energy! This combination of pinks and purples-- with a dash of bold red-- screams "teenage girl" to me, but I don't think you have to be a teen to appreciate this palette.
If you like the excitement of Atomic Bombshell, but prefer to leave purple out of the equation, why not try Heart Beat. Lots of steamy hot pink grounded by a maroon that's flirting with pitch black.
7. Neutral Valentine. Dark, velvety reds accented by understated golds. They combine to make a palette that is understated, mature, and elegant.
8. Chocolate Valentine. This palette uses pink very sparingly, instead putting the emphasis on sweet-toothed creams and browns. The single rosy accent is all that's needed to define this as a Valentine color scheme.
9. Nostalgia Valentine. Muted colors, with a couple of pastels. There's more grey and blue in this palette than you'd usually find in Valentine-themed color schemes, which gives it that slightly sad feeling you'd expect from something described as "nostalgic". ;o)
10. Love Hate Love. Ranging from dark, plummy purple to red-hot red, this color scheme can go either way-- passionate love or hatred. ;o) Personally, I love it.
Didn't see one here to suit your personal tastes? Why not go over and run a search of your own? Or better yet, make up some of your own! :o)
Whether you think of Valentine's Day as a 24-hour love fest-- a good excuse to eat lots of chocolate-- a commercial nightmare dressed in pink and red-- or a painful "rub it in my face, whatdoncha" taunting of single folks everywhere ;o)-- there's a color scheme for you! (g)
Note: I find that the color palettes are much more powerful when viewed larger and against the darker background of the original site. To get a better feel for the colors, click the palettes to open up new windows.
Ten on Tuesday: Ten (or so) Valentine-Themed Color Schemes
1. Hardcore Valentine. Reds tending toward black, with a nice watermelon-y punch in the mix.
For a similar (red-themed, going from dark to light) palette, take a look at MBV Loveless. Again, we start with an almost black shade of red, but this time we lighten toward magenta for a very different look.
2. Still My Valentine. Here, we turn the whole focus on those delicious watermelon and salmon pinks. Sweet and warm, but more mature and restrained than you'd expect from a palette so dominated by pink.
3. Restless Valentine. Purples and dark mauves are cooler (in tone) than the traditional reds and pinks.
4. Valentine Kiss. Spicy orange-reds, sophisticated pink, and rich scarlets.
5. My Secret Valentine. A different take on Valentine pink. I'm fond of the way this muted pink fades into a soft, minty green.
6. Atomic Bombshell. Youthful, fresh, and full of energy! This combination of pinks and purples-- with a dash of bold red-- screams "teenage girl" to me, but I don't think you have to be a teen to appreciate this palette.
If you like the excitement of Atomic Bombshell, but prefer to leave purple out of the equation, why not try Heart Beat. Lots of steamy hot pink grounded by a maroon that's flirting with pitch black.
7. Neutral Valentine. Dark, velvety reds accented by understated golds. They combine to make a palette that is understated, mature, and elegant.
8. Chocolate Valentine. This palette uses pink very sparingly, instead putting the emphasis on sweet-toothed creams and browns. The single rosy accent is all that's needed to define this as a Valentine color scheme.
9. Nostalgia Valentine. Muted colors, with a couple of pastels. There's more grey and blue in this palette than you'd usually find in Valentine-themed color schemes, which gives it that slightly sad feeling you'd expect from something described as "nostalgic". ;o)
10. Love Hate Love. Ranging from dark, plummy purple to red-hot red, this color scheme can go either way-- passionate love or hatred. ;o) Personally, I love it.
Didn't see one here to suit your personal tastes? Why not go over and run a search of your own? Or better yet, make up some of your own! :o)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
ColourLovers patterns--
This isn't necessarily related to polymer clay, but you could apply it to clay.
ColourLovers.com, a website I've mentioned a few times before as one good place to find color schemes (or generate your own), now has a pattern feature. You can choose from a number of patterns (everything from flowers to plaid) and select the colors you'd like for different elements of the design.
Just be aware that it's addictive:
Here's another cool feature that I just now noticed: If you find a palette (or pattern-- or just a single color) that you lovelovelove, you can easily select it for your desktop background. Just look for "Get This Pattern Image"-- or "Palette Image" or "Color Image", depending on what you're looking at-- to the right of the pattern, palette or color. What a great way to remind yourself of a great palette that you want to incorporate into your next project!
Hope everyone's had a wonderful weekend! :o)
ColourLovers.com, a website I've mentioned a few times before as one good place to find color schemes (or generate your own), now has a pattern feature. You can choose from a number of patterns (everything from flowers to plaid) and select the colors you'd like for different elements of the design.
Just be aware that it's addictive:
Here's another cool feature that I just now noticed: If you find a palette (or pattern-- or just a single color) that you lovelovelove, you can easily select it for your desktop background. Just look for "Get This Pattern Image"-- or "Palette Image" or "Color Image", depending on what you're looking at-- to the right of the pattern, palette or color. What a great way to remind yourself of a great palette that you want to incorporate into your next project!
Hope everyone's had a wonderful weekend! :o)
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Ten on Tuesday: Winter-Inspired Color Schemes
I'm taking it a little easy this week. (I've got things to do around the house and at the clay table! (g)) Just for a little fun, I revisited ColourLovers came up with this week's list. . .
Ten on Tuesday: Winter-Inspired Color Schemes:
1. Norwegian Lake
When I think of winter, one of the first things to come to mind is snow. That reminded me of the snow we saw this summer in Norway, so I decided to play around with that idea.
My first try didn't quite capture the feeling I was going for, so I gave it another try:
2. Ice Cave
While looking for inspiration photos, I came across one of an ice cave. The beautiful aquas in the ice surprised me. I had forgotten that ice can be aqua, because I generally associate that color with warmer climates. I guess it can "do" for both!
3. Snowy Birches
Thinking about Norway reminded me of Sweden and a couple of macros I took of birch bark. Those birches weren't snowy when I saw them, but I imagined they'd be lovely in snow-- the cream and grey (with just a bit of brown) against the white. . .
4. Snowless Winter
Despite all this talk of snow, I really haven't seen that much of it, myself. Where I live, near the Gulf of Mexico, we don't get snow very often. So that made me think of a "snowless winter" as a theme. . .
5. Winter Sunset / Winter Twilight
I know I'm not alone in feeling that sunset (and the twilight that follows) is a magical hour. It's the end of a winter's day. The still, silent air is cold-- maybe even a bit damp. You know you probably shouldn't stay out much longer, but those colors in the sky!
6. Glowing Embers
After being out on a cold evening, it's nice to warm up again. While nothing's so merry as a blazing, crackling fire, the hypnotic glow of embers is also inviting.
7. Christmas
I can't think of winter without thinking also of Christmas. I made a few different Christmas-themed palettes-- and then I found one I'd already made that could also pass (with a shove) as "Christmasy":
And then Christmas made me think of toys, so. . .
8. Winter's Night
Just a couple of palettes inspired by the idea of a wintery night. . .
9. Tartan
Thinking of cold makes me think of scarves, which makes me think of plaid/tartan. . .
10. Happy New Year!
Festive color schemes based on celebrations of the new year:
Have a great Tuesday! :o)
Ten on Tuesday: Winter-Inspired Color Schemes:
1. Norwegian Lake
When I think of winter, one of the first things to come to mind is snow. That reminded me of the snow we saw this summer in Norway, so I decided to play around with that idea.
My first try didn't quite capture the feeling I was going for, so I gave it another try:
2. Ice Cave
While looking for inspiration photos, I came across one of an ice cave. The beautiful aquas in the ice surprised me. I had forgotten that ice can be aqua, because I generally associate that color with warmer climates. I guess it can "do" for both!
3. Snowy Birches
Thinking about Norway reminded me of Sweden and a couple of macros I took of birch bark. Those birches weren't snowy when I saw them, but I imagined they'd be lovely in snow-- the cream and grey (with just a bit of brown) against the white. . .
4. Snowless Winter
Despite all this talk of snow, I really haven't seen that much of it, myself. Where I live, near the Gulf of Mexico, we don't get snow very often. So that made me think of a "snowless winter" as a theme. . .
5. Winter Sunset / Winter Twilight
I know I'm not alone in feeling that sunset (and the twilight that follows) is a magical hour. It's the end of a winter's day. The still, silent air is cold-- maybe even a bit damp. You know you probably shouldn't stay out much longer, but those colors in the sky!
6. Glowing Embers
After being out on a cold evening, it's nice to warm up again. While nothing's so merry as a blazing, crackling fire, the hypnotic glow of embers is also inviting.
7. Christmas
I can't think of winter without thinking also of Christmas. I made a few different Christmas-themed palettes-- and then I found one I'd already made that could also pass (with a shove) as "Christmasy":
And then Christmas made me think of toys, so. . .
8. Winter's Night
Just a couple of palettes inspired by the idea of a wintery night. . .
9. Tartan
Thinking of cold makes me think of scarves, which makes me think of plaid/tartan. . .
10. Happy New Year!
Festive color schemes based on celebrations of the new year:
Have a great Tuesday! :o)
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