A Color Story - Off the Wall Friday

Ahhhhh - our Christmas Rush is over and I have some time to create.  Well, just a little time, since it still is Christmas. . . not to mention all the things I let slide the last three weeks.  Yet, it wasn't a bad idea letting my next project "cook" a bit.  I've been thinking of values and colors - so I pulled out my color pencil collection.

As an aside - for a "Non-Drawer" - I have a pretty big collection of color pencils. I mean doesn't everyone need 5 different sets to the tune of 200+ pencils?  And what set do I like the best and its my go-to set - yep - you guessed it - my Crayola Pencils.  Not only were they the least expensive  ($6) but they color smooth, sharpen nicely and the 50 pencil set has a nice range of colors.  Just perfect for utility coloring of the design process.

So last month I came up with my sketch for Sacred Threads.  Since you should always make visual decisions visually - I've been coloring up some mock ups.

UGH!!  Can you say edit??  Too many colors - but I do like the way the yellow moves through it.  Also not enough value changes.

Again to many colors  - the yellow creates a nice focal point - the lighter cross makes it stand out more.  Do I want the cross to be the highlight of the piece or the abstracted people?  hmmmm

I started to limit the palette a bit - I like the cross in the neutral and the nice dark background - but it all seems a bit too much blue and dark.  I wanted this to be a happy piece - needs more happy colors.

This is getting closer - I like the idea of putting the cross in the same color family as background - using three bits of yellow to create movement and focal points.  The color palette is working nicely too. I'm getting closer.

After 4 - I called uncle.  I mean my hand was starting to cramp up!  But I still want to try some more trials since I made a lot of copies of the sketch.  The thing about this process is it makes me decide what do I actually want to say and how do I want to say it.  Color and Value play a huge part in that. 

I've learned the better you plan out a project, the easier it will go in the end.  Besides there are worse things to do than color in front of the Christmas tree.

I will be running Off the Wall Friday the next two weekends - even with the holidays for anybody who wants to link up. Right now my studio looks like Wrapping Central but I do expect to get some time back in there soon!

No matter what your beliefs -

Let me just wish you Blessings of the Season.  

So what have you been up to creatively

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