Thursday, September 27, 2007

Color Harmonies


The study of color is fun and interesting. Did you know there are actually 'rules' that help you with color schemes for both indoor and outdoor decor? I've always enjoyed working with a color wheel and studying color. Each color has it's own value and hue. And color harmonies are created by choosing complementary, analogous, triadic, split-complementary, tetradic, and square color schemes. Although we generally think of home decor when we think of a color scheme, take time to look around in nature. God used his own rules for color harmony when creating the earth! It's a fun activity to spend time with children, having them paint a color wheel and then taking it outside to identify color schemes found at the park, in the woods, at the lake, or the zoo! Application of these principles then become easy when applied to projects in the home --- from setting a table to painting a bedroom.

The photo above is one that really appeals to me. At first glance it draws me because of the beautiful barn red roof! Then, of course, the lavender is noted. Both colors are near one another on the color wheel. Directly across from the color between them on the wheel is green, making this a split-complementary color harmony or scheme. Look around you and see what kinds of color harmonies you can discover in things around you. Fashion, home, nature, and more all appeal most when principles of color are applied. Simple rules. . .and great pleasure in the beauty all around.

Photo: Purple Haze Lavender Farm, Sequim, Washington

9 comments:

  1. Ohh yes this pictire is an inspiration. I used recently a picture of amish children for inspiration for an amsih quilt. hope to post it today :-)

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  2. I love this picture! It's beautiful and thank you for explaining a little bit about the rules. I can almost smell the lavender.

    Love,
    Julie

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  3. what a pretty picture! I have always wanted to go to that Lavender farm :-)

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  4. Anonymous11:27 AM

    What a gorgeous photo of the barn and I love your consideration of the colors within it and how it works in the world.

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  5. Hi! Nice to meet you.
    Thanks for viviting me and commenting. I love your blog and all it stands for. Have had a quick peep through the other two also.

    When recently in the Cotswolds we visited a lavender farm Snowshill. Of course this time of year everything had been pruned but I managed to buy another five to add to my collection originally bought at another Lavender farm in Norfolk.

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  6. This is such a neat post...I love your way with words and your color knowledge....I am not a person that likes evrything to match..ie: all wood the same in a house etc...looks at the forest..they don't match...you are so knowlegeable..most the time I put what I like and pretty much so far so good..now don't ask me how many paint mistakes I have made..my poor dh will just grumble a bit and re-paint...he is a Saint that is for sure.
    Deby
    who has had a super busy week...and a busy weekend coming up...
    Will mail sometime next week.
    Please guess again...

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  7. I love barns!
    I have a photo album of "just barns" that I collect. This picture is truly awesome.

    ~Jody

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  8. What a beautiful setting to photograph- love the composition as well- thanks for sharing!
    blessings,
    kari & kijsa

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  9. I'll have to look at the color wheel and see how the colors I'm planning for a room redo fall on the wheel.

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