“Stepping Out” in the Quilt World - Part 2
By Maureen Goldsmith
 
Note: The article first appeared in the "Connections For Quilters" Newsletter, Vol.10 No. 2, March 2008.
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So how far did you get with your “First Step”? Did you make any observations? What were they? Did they involve shape, texture, colour, line…etc.? Whatever your progress, I hope you are excited about going a little further or stepping out for the “second date”! Keep in mind that it’s ok to feel a bit anxious or apprehensive, as after all, this is very early in your “stepping out” relationship!

For the second step, you will be taking an in-depth look at the colours in your design study. Over the years as both a quilter, and an instructor, I believe the most frequently voiced complaint I’ve heard from quilters is, “I’m not good at picking colours for my quilt”.

While choosing colours may be difficult, it is my experience, that quilters are quite definite about what they do and don’t like. I wish I had a fat quarter for all the times I have heard comments like these at a quilt show; “Why would anyone combine those colours?” , “Oh my gosh what was she thinking?”, or “I would never have thought to use those two colours together but they really work”,  and the list goes on. We all see colour differently. Sometimes our reaction is based on our culture, while at other times it’s just a matter of choice. Colour might evoke excitement, anger, sadness or calmness.  I think sometimes we need to accept, just as on a date, we are not all attracted to the same partner. Of course that wouldn’t include beautiful people like Sean Connery or Matt Damon.

As a result, I believe that many quilters experience some form of anxiety when choosing colours. Perhaps because we are trying to “think”  colour combinations in our heads, rather than using a visual guide.  While some quilters might look for colour guidance in a quilt magazine, at a quilt show or from a shop, others might experience problems because they lack any guidance. They have only to look at the world around them for help in choosing colours. The irony is guidance is all around them. Mother Nature has certainly set many beautiful examples. So have a variety of famous artists.

In this session I am going to guide you thru working a colour study based on your design research. This can then be used to create a personal colour palette. Many of you may have experience in colour mixing with Acrylic paints and if so, I hope you will use your existing knowledge as a starting point or reference.

As in most cases before you can begin a new experience you have to do some preparation. Remember the painted nails for the date?  For this experience you will need to gather some painting supplies. I suggest the following to get you started.

 
Acrylic Paint:

I use both Liquitex Artist QualityTM and GoldenTM but there are many other brands available (avoid the Dollar Store brands)

  • Acrylic Paint: one each of the primaries - Red - Yellow - Blue   plus  Black & White

  •  Paint brushes – to begin I suggest buying the inexpensive ones from craft shops etc.
    • 1 acrylic paint brush – approx. ½” wide
    • at least 3 - 1” bristle brushes
    • at least 3 – 1” to 2” sponge brushes

used
  • Acrylic Paint: one each of the primaries - Red - Yellow - Blue   plus  Black & White

  • Sketchbook and papers – I prefer either the Robert Bateman 110lb Sketchbook or The  Great Canadian   Sketchbook 110lb as there is much less distortion in the paper when used with water based media
    • an 8 ½ x 11” sketchbook or larger if desired - as noted above
    • collect magazine pages and other coloured papers
    • good quality white photocopy paper
    • a couple sheets of cardstock or 300lb watercolour paper

  • Miscellaneous
    • glue stick or double stick tape
    • plastic drop sheet to protect the work surface – ask your local quilt shops if they’d like to recycle the plastic wrap from large Quilt Batt rolls as it makes a great drop sheet
    • rags/paper towels for cleanup
    • good fitting rubber gloves –– can be purchased at a drug store or art store apron or old work clothes
    • white artist paint palette or tray or used white plastic containers such as yogurt containers

If you wish to pursue further studies in colour, you may want to purchase another set of primaries - e.g. if you already have a Naphthol Crimson then add a Cadmium Red Medium Hue, or if you have a Cadmium Yellow Light Hue add a Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue etc.

 
primary_red
 
Basic Terms:

  • Colour – hue     

  • Value - lightness or darkness of a colour 

  • Primary - pure colour - red - blue – yellow          

  • Secondary - colour halfway between the primary colours red/yellow – orange   blue/yellow – green   red/blue – violet

  • Tertiary Colors: colors achieved by a mixture of primary and secondary hues yellow/green   yellow/orange   red/orange   red/violet   blue/violet   blue/green 

  • Complementary colour - colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel red/green    blue/orange    yellow/violet

  • Tint - colour plus white

  • Shade - colour plus black
 
colourwheel_paintes
 

Visit the following sites for more information on colour:

 
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