One of our most popular jewellery workshops is on again next week at
our Newtown bead shop for intermediate to advanced beaders. (see jewellery workshop schedule www.etelage.com )
As a jewellery design teacher the most frequently asked question is how
do I combine colours?
History of Pigments:
Traditionally, based wherever they lived, artisans used local organic
colour agents and natural materials to create their adornments. Today’s colour
palette is new and exciting. However, disappointingly beads are still seen far
too often in only a basic selection of colours and finishes.
As
a bead store owner, jewellery designer and buyer of beads, my vision is to
offer variety in tone, hue and intensity along with seasonal colour palettes. I
do this by buying different finishes and lighter and darker shades of a colour.
Finishes, especially in Czech glass, offer extraordinary colour combinations.
MIxing Colour:
Choosing and
matching bead colours can be overwhelming without some in store guidance at
your local bead shop. Countless
opportunities confront you when you enter a bead store. The main problem is the
huge leap of imagination from seeing the range of colour before you and
interpreting that or visualising it in your creation. Some people play it safe with something undoubtedly tasteful
but possibly unadventurous. I hope with a few pointers you can have the
confidence to start experimenting with different colour combinations in your
beaded jewellery.
These are the tips I give when teaching
colour in my jewellery design workshops which will give you the confidence to
start to explore and to experiment with different coloured bead combinations.
Certainly personal preference is always a good starting point.
1. Use a multi-coloured bead or pendant as
your colour palette. It guarantees great results every time!
- Add
black or white to your favourite colour.
- Be
inspired by nature eg use autumn shades of olives, rusts, oranges and
browns. Or be inspired by a country eg Mexico use bright fuchsias,
cobalt’s, yellows and limes. You could even be inspired by your favourite
printed dress or a striped cushion.
- Organise
colours according to the colour wheel. This is a traditional visual device
for representing the colour spectrum and demonstrating the relationship of
the colours with one another. Its origin lies in the different wavelengths
of light that produce the colours we see in a rainbow. Purchase from an
art store.
Where
only one hue (colour) is used the colour combination is called monochromatic.
Use the entire spectrum of one colour, for
example red, from pinks, deep maroons, berry reds and lipstick red. The result
of unity, depth and vividness could not be achieved in any other way. This is
the easiest and most successful way of working with one colour.
Mood Boards;
Mood Boards are creative tools used by
most designers from fashion to interiors.
A mood board is a visual story that is used to inspire a design team, or
to explain to a client a certain design concept. Select your own collection to inspire you and help you
choose colours, patterns and combinations.
Collect
magazine clippings, paint swatches and photographs to create it.
I hope these few tips will give you the confidence inspiration
and enthusiasm that you can make colour work for you! Select your own beads
& create your own masterpiece. You are the designer!
Etelage n/ adornment ™
beautiful beads and bespoke jewellery
430 king st (south)
newtown nsw 2042
p: 02 9557 9089
e: info@etelage.com
www.etelage.com
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