STS #32- Color Scheme Ideas

Coming up with color scheme ideas is one of the things that artists are very often preoccupied with.

It’s not surprising that this is the case, because usually when you see a great piece of artwork, what do you notice? Color!!  Although a lot goes into making art, the color almost always seems to take the credit for a great design.

Just like any other artist, I’m always trying to come up with color scheme ideas for my work. This week,  I came up with new color scheme ideas that I’m excited about. This happened as I worked through a variation of episode 31. My new approach to coming up with different color scheme ideas takes advantage of two things I love – surface design and stitch.

 

Color Scheme Ideas Reveal

Ok, so here’s the big reveal. First of all, I throw a few colors of procion dyes on cotton fabric. Then I watch and see how the colors mix and what new colors they create. At the end of the day, whether I use immersion dyeing or dye painting, I know I’ll get some gorgeous fabrics . This “naturally” occurring color scheme is going to be what I base my new color scheme ideas on.

If you’re into surface design, this is right up your alley.  You should try creating a color scheme you love with dyed fabric.  Then select the portions of the dyed fabric you like, and use those portions to come up with new color scheme ideas for your other work.  If you’re not into dyeing or painting your own fabric, don’t be dismayed. You can still do this.  Buy already hand-dyed fabric to use this way.

 

A Set of Rich Colors and Tones to Work With

Starting with dyed fabric gives you  a set of rich colors and tones to work with in your new color scheme ideas for two reasons. One, there’s a gentle transition from one color to the other that’s found  in hand dyed fabrics. Two, color mixing occurs naturally, creating new colors that you didn’t start with. The variations in value and the creation of tertiary colors in the hand dyed fabrics is what you’re after. This is what’s going to form the basis of your new color scheme.

I’m very excited about this way of coming up with color scheme ideas.  We all have fabrics that we love. So this is really easy. All you have to do when struggling to decide what colors you want to use in a project, just choose one of your fabrics. Then distil the colors in that fabric down to a couple of colors and values you can use in your project. Try it out. I’m sure you’ll not be disappointed.

 

How have you come up with color scheme ideas in the past?  What do you think of this approach to new color schemes? Do share below.

Warmest Regards,

 

 

Watch and read about the entire Stitch The Sketch series.