Ivory & Black

I love the dynamism of high contrast. Often the “starker,” the better.

In language, the juxtaposition of contrasting images creates powerful metaphors. In music, contrast (of dynamics, chords, modes) creates sublime tension. In relationships, contrasting ideas, opinions, and perspectives can bring out the best in us (sometimes opposites attract). In weather, what would we do without the contrast of seasons? Without contrasts, everything is dull and boring (Muzak and corporate wallpaper come to mind).

I’ve been having a love affair with black and white my whole life. It shows in my choice of dogs: I’ve had a Dalmatian for the last 21 years. Pepper is our second.

But lately I had been thinking about the beauty of black and IVORY instead of white. While musing over this in the car one day, an ivory and black mini-Cooper stopped next to me at the light, as if confirming the track of my thoughts.

Replace white with ivory (or off-white), and you have a combo less stark and more elegant… slightly warmer in feel, yet still powerful in its force and presence.

This classic palette has been around forever, but having been blinded by winter-white-and-black for so long, I am just opening my eyes to its seductive beauty.

So I am experimenting with ivory and off-white tones in my neutral, high-contrast palettes these days.

However… as beautiful as this combo is, I will never dye Pepper’s fur ivory.