I recently found this great post which helps quilters understand color. This has been something I personally don't struggle with, but find that many of my members do. I know I have written my own version of this several times in several of my online classes, and even may have done a post or two on my blogs about it as well.
When I find a good resource, I just feel it is important to share. Even if I have discussed this topic before. This is one of those times. Color can make or break a quilt design, and is an area that you just have to understand in order to be successful in your quilts. (Or in any art form)
So with out any further adieu, Check out this post Color Theory for Quilters - Color Theory Simplified which was written by Judy Bellingham for Bella Online. It is very well written and yes it has great pictures too!
For more useful quilting knowledge written by Judy, check out her other articles here.
Showing posts with label color wheel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label color wheel. Show all posts
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Need help with matching colors?
Do you need help with matching colors when it comes to quilt making? Then Here is a quilting lesson online that will truly benefit you.
How about a virtual color wheel using real photos? This site is so cool. You can select up to 10 colors, and they extract images from the web using your color choices. It is fast and fun! (ok you could waste a bit of time here playing around) But it could also give you a real idea of how your colors will look together in a quilt too.
Take a look at the Multicolor Search Lab and you will see what I mean.
It really is fun, and I think for the color challenged quilter this could be useful. If it exists in nature, it must be right?
How about a virtual color wheel using real photos? This site is so cool. You can select up to 10 colors, and they extract images from the web using your color choices. It is fast and fun! (ok you could waste a bit of time here playing around) But it could also give you a real idea of how your colors will look together in a quilt too.
Take a look at the Multicolor Search Lab and you will see what I mean.
It really is fun, and I think for the color challenged quilter this could be useful. If it exists in nature, it must be right?
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Color wheel, learn to use one!
Take a look at my latest video recording. It helps take the guess work out of using a color wheel. Learn to use one, and you will never have trouble matching fabrics again!
I do apologize for the choppiness, I had trouble with the stream the night I recorded this. I did it several times and this was the best one. Let me know what you think.
I do apologize for the choppiness, I had trouble with the stream the night I recorded this. I did it several times and this was the best one. Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Are you a Quilter who struggles with color?
Do you Struggle with Color?
Are you a quilter who seems to struggle with matching colors? Why is it so difficult for some and yet others seem to match their fabrics without a care in the world. If you are one of the people who struggle, then you need to read on and find out how to unlock the secrets of the color wheel. The color wheel is something that is used by many artists, painters, fabric designers and yes quilters! Once you know how to use one, your trouble will be over! No more “ugly mismatched” quilts again!
Color is everywhere.
It goes beyond the fabric in our cloths, and quilts. It touches us in every thing we do, and is in every part of our world inside and out. So if we are so exposed to colors, then why do we have such a hard time matching colors in our quilts? You would think this would be easy and a no brainer. (No offense here, I am not trying to insult anyone.) I was one of the strugglers too in the beginning.
The color wheel is as easy as 1....2.....3.....4
One - the primary colors
All colors start with the primary color, (which are red, yellow, and blue) from there we can mix to create other secondary colors like: yellow and blue make green, red and yellow make orange, and red and blue make purple. From there we can add our black to darken a color, or white to lighten the color which is where the various shades come in red mixed with white makes pink.
Two - pick a primary color and find it's complimentary color.
Using a color wheel is quite simple and it takes the guess work out of what goes with what. In a two color quilt pick your first color, let’s say red, now look directly below that color, what do you see? Green is the complimentary color for red. If you only made two color quilts you could easily find the matching color. But I know that would be pretty boring. So let’s take this a step further.
Three find the "Triad"
If you want to make a quilt with say three colors, then look at the “triad” which is marked on your color wheel. For those of you who do not have your own wheel (might I suggest you get one, they are not expensive and it would help you in the long run).
The “triad”, is 3 colors that are evenly spaced from each other on the color wheel. For example: red, yellow and blue. Go ahead take your wheel for a spin pick a color and see where the triad lands. What did you get?
And four - find the "tetrad".
The "tetrad" is four colors that are evenly spaced from its complimentary color on the color wheel. Let’s see if you can find four colors for a quilt, starting with red. Did you get red, green,yellow and purple? Or did you get red, green, yellow orange and blue violet? No worries here as they are both right! You see in the first example take the complimentary color green then the next color was 2 spaces to the right and 2 spaces to the left. While the second example takes the green, and then moves 3 spaces left and right. So you see they are both right because they are evenly spaced from the complimentary color!
I do hope this sheds some light on color and the use of a color wheel. May you never struggle with color again!
Help like this and loads more can be found at my online quilting classroom. Where we never cancel a class and there is always room for one more!
If you found this helpful please let me know by commenting on this post. Or if you really like my blog consider subscribing to it so you will not miss another important tip again!
Are you a quilter who seems to struggle with matching colors? Why is it so difficult for some and yet others seem to match their fabrics without a care in the world. If you are one of the people who struggle, then you need to read on and find out how to unlock the secrets of the color wheel. The color wheel is something that is used by many artists, painters, fabric designers and yes quilters! Once you know how to use one, your trouble will be over! No more “ugly mismatched” quilts again!
Color is everywhere.
It goes beyond the fabric in our cloths, and quilts. It touches us in every thing we do, and is in every part of our world inside and out. So if we are so exposed to colors, then why do we have such a hard time matching colors in our quilts? You would think this would be easy and a no brainer. (No offense here, I am not trying to insult anyone.) I was one of the strugglers too in the beginning.
The color wheel is as easy as 1....2.....3.....4
One - the primary colors
All colors start with the primary color, (which are red, yellow, and blue) from there we can mix to create other secondary colors like: yellow and blue make green, red and yellow make orange, and red and blue make purple. From there we can add our black to darken a color, or white to lighten the color which is where the various shades come in red mixed with white makes pink.
Two - pick a primary color and find it's complimentary color.
Using a color wheel is quite simple and it takes the guess work out of what goes with what. In a two color quilt pick your first color, let’s say red, now look directly below that color, what do you see? Green is the complimentary color for red. If you only made two color quilts you could easily find the matching color. But I know that would be pretty boring. So let’s take this a step further.
Three find the "Triad"
If you want to make a quilt with say three colors, then look at the “triad” which is marked on your color wheel. For those of you who do not have your own wheel (might I suggest you get one, they are not expensive and it would help you in the long run).
The “triad”, is 3 colors that are evenly spaced from each other on the color wheel. For example: red, yellow and blue. Go ahead take your wheel for a spin pick a color and see where the triad lands. What did you get?
And four - find the "tetrad".
The "tetrad" is four colors that are evenly spaced from its complimentary color on the color wheel. Let’s see if you can find four colors for a quilt, starting with red. Did you get red, green,yellow and purple? Or did you get red, green, yellow orange and blue violet? No worries here as they are both right! You see in the first example take the complimentary color green then the next color was 2 spaces to the right and 2 spaces to the left. While the second example takes the green, and then moves 3 spaces left and right. So you see they are both right because they are evenly spaced from the complimentary color!
I do hope this sheds some light on color and the use of a color wheel. May you never struggle with color again!
Help like this and loads more can be found at my online quilting classroom. Where we never cancel a class and there is always room for one more!
If you found this helpful please let me know by commenting on this post. Or if you really like my blog consider subscribing to it so you will not miss another important tip again!
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