color
January 15, 2007I love color… that is pretty obvious I guess. I feel confident in saying it is my forte… what I’m really good at. In college professors always said that I had a knack for it, and I blushed and thought: “yeah, I do.” I can see that the apple is not red, but blue and purple and yellow in parts. Greens have gray and brown mixed into areas. My eyes can pick out those subtle variations like a wine taster can pick out the fruits and spices in a particular wine. (I wish I could do that!)
This is a pretty limited talent to possess unfortunately. I mean, there are not too many applications where color makes much difference in the world. No one ever cured a disease or stopped a war with color as far as I know. But you gotta use what you’re good at I guess… (thank god there is illustration as a career!)
Anyway, I’m off the point a bit. Color… yeah. I’ve been really excited about getting into the new house where I get to put my color ability to use. I’ve played around with a lot of different palettes… some that evoke energy and some that are sleepy. Slow palettes and fast ones. Rich colors and subdued… But I ultimately decided that I would like a calm, natural space. Something that brings the outdoors in because that’s what makes us the happiest. And I went on to pick out some cool blues, light oranges and whites. I have yet to see these colors in the spaces where I’ll be able to see the light, but my head has been dancing with dreams of this palette. So yummy!
Here are the chips I pulled:
…Sunday it was unusually warm outside. I decided to go to the beach for a walk with Vince. We moseyed up to some palms lying on the sand, which always inspires me to take pictures (how boring is my photo library?) and I noticed they had the same palette I picked out for my house… so pretty and calm and natural.
Just a little coincidence that made my day.
January 15th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
I love the chips you selected! And it’s amazing how you find the color palettes you like in real life. You really have to be aware of what you’re looking at to do that!
January 15th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I can’t believe how cool that picture is after you realize the connection…
January 15th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I could sooooo use your sense for colour at my place, Penelope! I’ve been staring at little paint swatches for weeks now and I can’t decide! Agh! Your photo of the driftwood and sand is absolutely beautiful.
January 15th, 2007 at 9:24 pm
The match of the colors and beach photo is uncanny!
January 15th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
I freakin’ love that picture.
January 16th, 2007 at 12:13 am
oh wow, penelope, that is so beautiful.
:)
the world would be a really dull place without colour…
and you are a colour connoisseur! how cool is that
January 16th, 2007 at 7:20 am
Yes, the light is very different in the south. I would imagine your palette would have to change with your new geography.
January 16th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
Miss Penelope–
Loved the picture — blow it up and frame it, and decorate a room around it. The gold on the paint block looks like the silk curtains I made, and the grey/black velvety upholstery fabric matches, too. Oh, and this weekend I picked up 10 more yards of the greatest “green/gray” silk fabric that looks like it’s quilted upon itself — another room, perhaps. We’ll see.
Did you measure the windows? I need to get started on the dining room curtains, and if you have measurements and fabric in mind for any more rooms, let me know.
‘Can’t wait to see you and Colin.
Love and hugs
YMIL
January 16th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Nice colors that you picked! I can see the oranges and the blues in that driftwood from the beach. Very purdy! I’m actually in the midst of re-doing our bedroom. I was hoping that it would be a 1 day project, but it looks as if it’s gonna be more like a 2 and a half. (And we’ll be sleepin’ in the guest room tonight!) The colors I picked were more of a warm, cozy, “farm or barn” kind of feel. Hehe! I’ll post pics to my blog of the before and after.
January 17th, 2007 at 5:11 am
What gorgeous colors, and how very cool that you were drawn to them in the driftwood. I too think you should frame it! I actually have similar swatches sitting next to me as I write, but they don’t go together as nicely as yours. Color not so much of a strongpoint for me…now you know why I have only one room painted! :)
January 18th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
this is such a great post, penelope. you really do have an incredible eye for color. i wouldn’t doubt the power of color to heal. from sacred healing space to hospital rooms, i see the clever selection of color subtly working on those within it all the time. in my opinion, your color intuition is a highly developed spiritual gift! i do not want to hear you disounting your contributions to the world as an artist, naughty naughty girl. i am inspired to think of all of the applications in which color DOES make a difference in the world. think your readers want to join in?
xoxoxoxo pix
January 18th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
you have a wonderful eye for color, and i disagree that it doesn’t have that many appications that are really important, when i see people who have NO eye for color, you realize what a big deal it really is! i love your new prints, i am trying to figure out which to get!
January 22nd, 2007 at 7:34 am
love love love your colors, pen…
i want to do a nice warm nude/peach room in our upcoming house–we just need to find it.
hope you are well:)
May 8th, 2007 at 7:37 am
[...] no secret that I love color. How it interacts and shifts, how it can affect one’s mood, change the feeling of an entire [...]