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I’ve just published the latest Color Report for Bead Artists Spring/Summer 2009. Its is chock full of exciting new colors to work with, including some of my all-time favorites (which I’ll tell you more about in future posts).
The 3rd in a series, the report gives bead artists specific instructions, descriptions, and ideas on how to use the 10 new colors of the season as designated by Pantone, the global authority on color. Pantone chooses its seasonal colors for the fashion, interior, graphic design, and marketing industries.
This season’s palette is my favorite in years. One of the most unusual colors is Lucite Green, a lovely tint with a retro feel bringing to mind the 50’s and the pastel revolution. It is cool, light, breezy, and very casual,and funky. Look at this Dorothy Perkins belted batwing tunic that is slightly dark version of Lucite Green. 
Lucite Green – by The Stylish Geek on Polyvore.com
How fun is that?! I love how The Stylish Geek combined it with black and white.
Kristy Nijenkamp and I spoke to the Southern Flames last week. The topic was “Finding Inspiration Anywhere.” Among many things, I addressed the importance of proportions of colors in a smashing color scheme. Here’s what I consider a good starting point for a 3-color palette. Often 2- and 3-color palettes make the strongest, most memorable schemes.
Here are photos of Kristy and I presenting the colorful material.
Oh how I love the hues of the new Apple iPod Nanos. And their ad campaign! How fun, how colorful, how exciting! Watch the ad, and notice that the first two colors to enter the screen make a complementary harmony based on the C-M-Y color wheel that I advocate, use, and sell on http://www.MargieDeeb.com (and write about in The Beader’s Guide to Color). Magenta and chartreuse are one of my favorite combinations, and I’ve got the wardrobe to back that up.
Look to Apple for inspiring, truly functional design in both their products and marketing.
I had the honor and pleasure of teaching color and beading classes at the Great Lakes Beadworkers’ Guild. What an energetic, generous, and talented group of bead artists live up in Michigan! It was a joy-filled week, and I came back to my studio recharged and inspired.
One class I taught was the “Collar of Glass and Light” project from my book, The Beader’s Color Palette.
One of the class participants, Rhonda Gross, approached the project uniquely. I so enjoy the effects Rhonda achieved by repositioning the color arrangement in her version that I wanted to share it with you and note the differences. You can read the full version in the October 2008 installment of my FREE monthly color column PDF: Margie’s Muse.
Here’s a brief summary:
The book version of the “Collar of Glass and Light” distributes colors throughout the piece in such a way that each color gets equal focus, resulting in a mass of sparkling color and light with a tesselated patterned effect.
- “Collar of Glass & Light” necklace by Margie Deeb
Rhonda Gross ordered the same group of colored triangle beads in a dark to light gradient from the neck outwards, creating the illusion of depth. Her arrangement is a bit more quiet and gentle, and the use of cool-toned silver rather than gold adds to the calm.
Rhonda Gross’s version of “Collar of Glass & Light”
You can see close-up photos and understand more when you read the October 2008 Margie’s Muse.
Thank you, Rhonda, for letting me feature your work, and for inspiring me. Rhonda can be contacted at: r12dz@comcast.net
Materials kits for the “Collar of Glass & Light” will be available online after Oct 5, 2008 at
Margie
I’m a bit late on this, but I found the graphics and use of color in this summers’ Olympics the most stunning and effective ever. They were also downright beautiful. How brave to use graceful swirls of movement and gradient washes of color for an athletic event. Most often flat bold colors are used. I realize the motifs were inspired by jade carvings. And the lucky cloud symbol found its way onto the torch and other collateral. I was thrilled to watch not only the events this year, but all the graphic design. I had trouble keeping my eyes on the swimmers because the pool banners were just so fantastic!
What did you bead and color lovers think when you saw them?
Jodie Marshall has been making beads based on palettes I offer in my latest book, “The Beader’s Color Palette.” She’s used the palettes either as they are presented, or as a starting point for her own creative color use. These are gorgeous beads! You rock, Jodie! Thanks for sharing your talent so freely.
Temple Doors. This palette was inspired by doors to a Laotian temple and use a simple yet stunning palette: crimson and gold.
The Sudan. A warm palette from across the plains or desert, and found on African wood carvings all over the continent. Topaz lifts the scheme with its light, and orange injects vitality. Matte finishes provide a chalky, dry, earthen texture.
Red is such a strong color, and it is used for so many purposes – always to drive people to some kind of action. As I wrote in The Beader’s Guide to Color:
“Red is the passionate call to action: buy this product! stop your car! exit here! do not smoke! stand up and fight! indulge in this pleasure! you’re bleeding, DO something!
Red demands attention, broadcasts danger, commands strength, declares devotion, quickens the heartbeat, incites aggression, inflames passion, and proclaims love.”
The ColorSchemer Blog posts an interesting, informative entry on the use of red in the logos of stores and restaurants that sell food. I think you’ll find it valuable:
http://www.colorschemer.com/blog/2007/07/17/why-food-companies-use-red-colors
Companies like Pottery Barn, J. Crew, and Target are catching on to what Apple has known all along: consumers love color. Brighter colors appeal to many people – and compel them to spend their money. These 3 companies are among many who are using bolder, punchier colors to increase sales, especially in this fearful climate of impending recession.
Look at some of Pottery Barn’s new colors: less neutrals and faded earth colors this season. More pop!
And get a load of some of J.Crew’s brilliant handbags! Especially the hot pinks, yellows, and magentas!
And check out Target’s kitchen store online – they let you shop BY COLOR! I see the same mixer in 6 colors, including pink. Drill down and you’ll find a:
- pink vacuum cleaner
- pink cookware
- pink dirt devil
- pink food processor
- pink stockpot
- pink bakeware
- pink ice cream maker
- pink popcorn popper
- pink teakettle and more
Ahhhh…. so much color is music to my eyes!
Artist Dale Taylor sent me a link to Chromo, a color clock that “helps your body understand what time it is.” The researchers are trying to find out if color can help you cure jet-lag and SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).
Their research states that certain colors help your body release the right amount of natural hormones at the right time. The hormones serotonin and melatonin play a vital role in balancing your body clock (daily and monthly and annually).
I’d like more explanation on the site than is given – I am not sure how I am supposed to use the information. If I learn more from their newsletters I will let you know.
As I write this, yellow-orange and pinks are the Chromo standards.
What a beautiful color scheme. I’ve always enjoyed lavenders/violets and orange together, but throw in a splash of bright yellow green… now that takes verve! (Another great photo by Andrew Castellano.)
I’ve extracted the colors from the photo and laid them out so you can better see the palette itself. I invite someone to bead a bracelet or necklace in these colors – I’ll post it here.
Celeste Fugazzotto sent me a photo of a beautiful multi-strand bracelet she made – prior to seeing this photo – that matches the palette. Using carnelian, coral, peridot, and amethyst, the proportions are different, but the color families remain that of the photo. See how the abundance of orange heats up the piece. This is a brave scheme! (Click the image to see the entire bracelet.)
Color for Bead Artists 