All the supplies are laid out, a blank piece of paper sits in front of me and it's time to create. Excitement and anxiety intermingle. There's nothing on the paper to work with, only white space. I begin to ask myself questions. What is inspiring me right now? What am I going through in life that I want to express in the form of art? What was that beautiful flower I saw the other day called?
These were the questions I asked my self when I was toying with ideas for my upcoming art collection. I wanted to create pieces that expressed a certain feeling, a phase in my life that I know so many others are going through too. I played around with subject ideas and came up with two, which will be turned into collections at a later date, but didn't seem quite right for what I wanted to express right now. Then I had a third idea, and the excitement I felt when putting it all together was a sure sign I had found the right collection to paint. Now that I found my subject, I needed to figure out my color palette.
*Although I worked on my subject first, sometimes figuring out your palette first can inspire a work of art.
Color Palette Inspiration
Color combinations are everywhere. Some of the best places I have found pleasing palettes are on book covers, Mandala and multi - color yarns, nature, Pinterest photos, mixing up paint colors, box covers, magazine photo shoots, and just about everywhere you look.
For the next few days, intentionally look at everything everywhere you go. You're sure to be amazed at the variety color combinations out there - some found in the most unexpected places.
Creating Your Palette
photo by Laura Adai
When choosing a color scheme, think about what you're wanting to convey. Do you want the warm hues of oranges and yellows, or cool blues and greens? Do you want your work to be bright and full of bold colors? No matter the subject, the colors you choose determine the feel of the work. A vase painted in light blue with white highlights gives off a very different vibe than the same vase painted in hot pink and neon yellow.
photo by Gustavo Leighton
Once you've found your inspiration photo or item(s), paint swatches of the colors you want to use onto paper or use your electronic device. If the colors you've chosen don't seem to be working for your piece or you want to add or change some of the hues, do it! You're the artist. There are no rules or limits. There is no wrong, there is no imperfection. You are free to create however you want.
photo by Bundo Kim
Abstract, fine art, illustration, ceramics, jewelry...it doesn't matter the form of your art, color palettes are wonderful tools to create work that is pleasing to the eye. So go and explore, create, have fun!
Rebecca ~
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