Month: May 2012 | n*Studio

Colors Are Your Friends or let’s talk a bit of “my” Color Theory IV

I have listed the first 3 posts in this series the bottom of this post in case you are joining a tad later :)

OK- so in the last thread we talked about the color wheel and you might think, great…so what am I supposed to do with this round thing of colors? Well well…don’t forget, I am a Kraut…so this is an organized series- LOL. First things first.

Now…sometimes when you have a paint media – things get a bit confusing – like when you buy PanPastels:

OK- so Phthalo Green – and then the same color in a tint and a shade- but what the dillio- what does it mean?

Here is a simple explanation: A tint is any mixture of a bright “pure” color with white. A shade is any mixture of a “pure” color (also referred to as a hue) with black. A tone is a mixture of gray (white + black) and the “pure” color. (source Wikipedia)

So that actually means if you would just buy PanPastels in the colors Phthalo Green, White and Black- you could actually mix four other colors with those colors:

And because I am a lazy girl- I buy ~~sometimes~~ often the Shades and the Tints too. But if you are totally into mixing or you are on a budget….this is quite good to know, isn’t it?

So now…if you take into account the last post on Colors Are You Friends:

When my students for the PanPastel Class ask me, which colors they should buy for the class – what do you think my answer might be?

Exactly – I tell them to get for the beginning five colors: Yellow, Blue, Red, White and Black. Because…they cannot only mix all the Secondary Colors and the Tertiary Colors with those colors- no no….they can also mix all the Shades and Tints and Tones with those colors. That leaves them with how many possibilities?

Exactly- LOL- I have no clue- but it is a lot ;)

BTW – if you are interested in my Über*Media PanPastel Online Class- you can find it here.

Now that we have talked about the attitudes of our friends, their relationship on the color wheel and their tones and shades behind us- we can really turn our mind to more fun things – and try to answer the question:

But hey- this post today and yesterday was a lot to take in, wasn’t it? Tell you what, I give you a little break and come back next week, singing for you ;)

Have an amazing day with lot’s of tints and shades :)

Nat

Comments (8)

Marsha.

June 1, 2012 at 11:28 am | #

Aha! Thanks Nat, this is a great lesson!

Reply
Antje

May 31, 2012 at 5:11 pm | #

I love your thoughts on color…. Please keep going… ;-)

Reply
Nancy Sapp

May 31, 2012 at 5:11 am | #

I’ve been painting, sketching & playing with color ever since I was a little girl & I never knew this! I’ve learned SO MUCH in these “Color Friend” blogs.
Many Thanks!

Reply
Denise Morrison

May 31, 2012 at 12:45 am | #

thank you for your awesome post Nat!

Reply
Lisa Flaherty

May 30, 2012 at 5:33 pm | #

Truly helpful, Nat! Can’t wait for the next post!

Reply
Sue Clarke

May 30, 2012 at 4:58 pm | #

New information for me…thanks Nat.

Reply
Riikka

May 30, 2012 at 3:52 pm | #

I love this series – I always share the link in my blog’s Facebook page as a good source of color theory :)

Reply
france papillon

May 30, 2012 at 3:05 pm | #

Awesome post (just like all your color-theory-posts) !!! off to add a new link of the day on my page ;)
bereknuffel :)

Reply

Hide Comments

Colors Are Your Friends or let’s talk a bit of “my” Color Theory III

Now we have talked about our friends in the last two parts…they are quite a handful, aren’t they? I also got introduced to your friends…Loved what I was reading:

Sue Clarke: Purple…so royal and yet playful!…

Dottie: Loved your posts on color! Made me think that black and white are sort of like the adults. All the other color children are running around on the canvas displaying all their glory and exuberence in their own personality and style, The adults come in to offer a little containment and accent…

Caroline: you could do white, even if it is a bit the same as black some people say it’s not a color. But there are a lot of other voices that are saying that white is the color that means pure, hope, innocence, clean, …Then there is pink that is totally “think pink” Red the color off passion and warmth…

So now that we have thought a bit about their personality we might wanna study our friends a bit more. Kind of like the CSI of colors ;)

Remember the Color Wheel?

Good old color wheel – that is how I started years ago exploring colors. I made one for you…actually the plan was that you could download it…but you know…smarty-pants forgot that her scanner is not THAT big – so the color wheel is bigger than the size of my scanner…and …oh well…

BUT- you can definitely make your own …*snigger* or you just google color wheel if you are lazy and you will find thousands and can just download one of them.

So let’s start with some basics here and we talk about pigment colors…because color theory is so much more complicated (just open your printer and look which colors are in there to be mixed- different world!)…we keep it easy, ok? – for most of you it is a refresher I’m pretty sure- but it is never bad to get some refreshing, right?

Primary Colors:

Your friends Red, Blue and Yellow carry the last name Primary. Those guys cannot be created by mixing any of the other colors out there. But- they have super powers ….they can be mixed to create all kinds of other colors on the color wheel.

Check out where they are located on the color wheel.

So what does that mean for you if you love to play with Paint Media?

Well…I would recommend to really have those three colors, because you simply will never be able to create them on their own with other colors. I know, sounds like obvious….but sometimes the obvious is hidden ;)

Secondary Colors:

Now these guy’s last name is ….Secondary…Ding Ding Ding Ding ;)

Not the coolest name right? Always the second…never the first….LOL. That doesn’t make them less attractive or nice though. In fact I love the Secondary Guys :) mmmh- why my friends are all of a sudden guys, no idea..let’s roll with it.

So they are Secondary because they come out when you mix the Primary Guys.

Yellow and Red = Orange

Blue and Yellow = Green

Blue and Red = Purple

So check out where they are on the color wheel ? EXACTLY :)

And because you see it- you know already who is missing on the color wheel and you might assume right why they are called:

Tertiary Colors:

So Tertiary are those colors that are the result of mixing a primary and a secondary color. Those friends are Yellow-Orange or Blue-Green and so on. That is why they are located in between the Primary Colors and the Secondary Colors. Pretty nifty those friends- just as in real life- sometimes your friends fall in Love with each other and produce a new little one ;) LOL- sorry- couldn’t resist.

Now off to you:

If you take one paint media you own – say all your acrylic paints colors or waterbased spray paints or one company for example, which of the colors on the color wheels do you have covered and which would you be able to mix if you take in account what we already said about mixing?

Now if you think about this way- you might realize that you have way more options then you thought you would have – or you just figured that you definitely need some more colors to cover your possibilities. What you think do you need more or are you good to go?

Next time we talk about how we make colors sing :)

Have a gorgeous colorful day!

Nat

Comments (4)

Marsha.

June 1, 2012 at 11:38 am | #

Sorry… Playing catch up while traveling by train… You are making me want to create my own colour wheel… Which is difficult right now as I’m on said train LOL!

Reply
Sue Clarke

May 30, 2012 at 5:04 pm | #

Funny…when I find a new product to buy I usually buy the deep blues and yes, purples and I must change my approach if I am to play with all of your friends. LOL

Reply
Riikka

May 29, 2012 at 3:36 pm | #

Heh, when I find a new paint media I like, I always try to get the primary colours bought first. :D Great post!

Reply
Milagros

May 29, 2012 at 12:25 pm | #

Your tutorial is very interesting, yesterday I was doing a book signing for a christening watercolor on white paper, blue boy embossing seal of dylusions, proof of first use yellow color and a lighter brown, but turned off the blue not to vibrate, finally use the NEOCOLOR II and the colors yellow, green and brown and completely change the page they made those colors stand out and vibrate more the blue and white embossing of the page.
If you want to see is here http://cleoscrap.blogspot.com.es/2012/05/el-summun-de-la-originalidad.html
hugs

Reply

Hide Comments

Go out and start creating or…Life is short

I loved the messages in this video

[vimeo 34414313 w=400 h=300]

What is your inspiring dream?

Have a gorgeous sunny sunday :)

Nat

Comments (7)

Vicki Chrisman

May 28, 2012 at 7:47 pm | #

hugs Nat!

Reply
Sue Clarke

May 28, 2012 at 1:09 pm | #

How wonderful. I feel like I should watch it every morning!
My passion right now is going to the dog park and meeting new dogs and people.
I have met two wonderful new friends there in the past 6 months.

Reply
Bev W.

May 28, 2012 at 2:13 am | #

Thanks Nat!!! You’re the best:)

Reply
Lou

May 27, 2012 at 4:58 pm | #

Lovelovelove that!!

Reply
Judy Meeker

May 27, 2012 at 4:10 pm | #

Truely inspiring. Thanks for sharing

Reply
Mary Bennetts

May 27, 2012 at 3:50 pm | #

Thanks for sharing , that is great and so true

Cheers
Mary

Reply
Anne Porretta

May 27, 2012 at 2:25 pm | #

Thanks, Nat! I needed that!

Reply

Hide Comments

Hello Sunshine or Take a look at the Cocoa Daisy June Kit

Here is a little sneak at the Hello Sunshine Kit by Cocoa Daisy coming this June :)

The name says it all this month. Happy colors of reds and yellows, sprinkled with blues and greens will greet you when you open your June kit, Hello Sunshine. Exclusive Ormulu Flappers and Cocoa Daisy stamps meet up with paper and embellishments from Jillibean Soup, a just-released, brand new Simple Stories line, Lilybee, and Basic Grey, to name just a few of the many manufacturers represented in this kit. You’re going to want to sit back and soak it all up come June, it’s time to say hello to creativity!

And even though Hello Sunshine is packed to the brim full of scrappy goodness, once you see the FOUR add ons this month, you’ll want to get a couple of those too.

Check out the patterned paper add on, Shades:

Then there’s Wide Brim, because you might need more of the new Summer Fresh from Simple Stories, frames from American Crafts, and bits and pieces from Jillibean Soup and Lilybee.

All this sunshine leads to Freckles, but not the sunkissed variety, instead the add on has lots of Pink Paislee and a dash of Basic Grey and American Crafts.

Finally, there’s the Embellishment Pack featuring more Basic Grey, some Echo Park and, well, we’ll let you try to figure out the rest. We promise it’s fabulous!

And a little peek at the June Stamps:

Can’t wait to dig into the kit and start playing :)

Have a wonderful day and see you Monday for a new episode of “Colors Are Your Friends”

Nat

Comments (1)

Birgit Kunte

May 26, 2012 at 8:01 pm | #

Mhhh, sieht sehr lecker aus, da möcht ich gleich mitspielen :-), hab ein schönes Wochenende, liebe Grüße Birgit

Reply

Hide Comments

Sgraffito or Make Your Mark Video

Sgraffito is an art term describing a technique used e.g in plaster, pottery, glass or paint. Basically one or several layers of the medium are revealed by scratching into the top surface. The term comes from the Italian word sgraffiare and means to scratch. Not sure if that will help me with my next Italian vacation but hey… you never know ;)

Now why is that something that might interest me? It is cool because you can create TEXTURE- yum yum! Do you need to have more reasons?

You actually saw some stuff already where I used the sgraffito technique- like on this piece from a post here playing with the Derwent Artbars. I used a tool that Derwent especially made for this, called the scraper.

But there is more…Scratching into still wet acrylic paint – Texture heaven. You can use all kinds of tools for it – like a plastic fork, the end of your brush, palette knifes…ah there are many many possibilities.

It is fun to add some sgraffito marks to your backgrounds or art journal pages – Let’s do a quick background video – I have a list of all supplies used below :) :

I love to use Liquitex Heavy Body Paint with the Sgraffito techniques, because they are – as the name might give it away ;) – heavy bodied paint.

I already have something in mind where I will use this background as a foundation – you will see it soon.

And if you want to learn more about acrylic paint techniques and a LOT of background techniques with them…

well….;) I can recommend my Über*Media Acrylic Paint Workshop. You don’t have to have Heavy Body Acrylic Paints….but I will show you how you can overcome that problem of having none anyway so you can still do sgraffito. But hey- Sgraffito is only one of more than a 100 techniques in that workshop :)

I just love Acrylic Paint :)

Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Acrylic Paint	Letter Jumble Stencil	Wonky Circles small Stencil	Poppy Foam Stamp	7 Gypsies Collage Tissue Paper
target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”> Liquitex Painting Knife texture	Liquitex Large Paint Knife	Liquitex Acrylic Ink	Liquitex Splatter Brush	Ranger Heating Gun
Foam Brushes	Palette Knife

InLinkz.com

Hope you enjoyed the little video :)

Nat

For the Love of Acrylic Paint (nathaliesstudio.com)
On a Paint Media High (nathaliesstudio.com)
Weckruf (Wake-Up Call) or…A FAST Forward Making off a Canvas (nathaliesstudio.com)

Nat

Comments (24)

windinn

January 13, 2015 at 6:32 pm | #

What fun to watch this, and wonderful results. That background ROCKS!

Reply
Connie Permenter

October 28, 2014 at 10:39 am | #

Wonderful Techinques and I am going to purchase some of those Liquidtex Heavybody paints … Could you tell the the colors you used ? Thanks so much for sharing!

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  October 31, 2014 at 12:56 pm | #
  
  thank you Connie, I do not recall all the colors I used but you can see the range of colors they have at Liquitex: http://www.liquitex.com/ Have fun!
  
  Reply
Denise

August 21, 2013 at 5:04 pm | #

Great technique, even better your use of color. Thank you

Reply
Jessica

June 21, 2012 at 6:17 pm | #

This was such a great video. Thank you so much! It helped inspire this page and I linked to your blog too. Thanks again for all you do! http://jessicasporn.blogspot.com/2012/06/mashup-wednesday.html

Reply
Jo Murray

June 20, 2012 at 8:19 pm | #

WOW!!!! That is gorgeous…. how could you possibly improve it?

Reply
pamplamoussejuice

June 20, 2012 at 3:07 pm | #

Background?! I would have been done with it after all that! I think it looks fabulous all by itself!

Reply
ajsartjournal

May 28, 2012 at 11:14 pm | #

Great video Nathalie, thanks for sharing.
AJ

Reply
Lisa crofts

May 25, 2012 at 2:10 am | #

what a fabulous video. Nathalie I love the look of all the liquetex paint and tools. I “need” that splatter brush too.

Reply
Daniela

May 24, 2012 at 9:45 pm | #

Danke für den tollen Artikel – und den Tipp mit dem kostenlosen Muster :-)
LG Danny

Reply
Lisa Flaherty

May 24, 2012 at 8:17 pm | #

What a great technique, Nat! I love the possibilities of the different things you could use to scratch through the paint. The printed tissue paper layer adds nice depth to your wonderfully colored and textured piece! Also, I wanted to tell you how I much I enjoy your videos. Your fun, whimsical nature comes through in the production. Also, how amazingly clear the close-ups of your work are! What is the video camera that you use? Can’t wait to see more!

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 25, 2012 at 9:22 am | #
  
  Lisa, I use a Logitech Camera Vision Pro – it is a really good camera- I like it a lot.
  
  Reply
jjsobeyj

May 24, 2012 at 7:28 pm | #

Well, now I need to go look for one of those splatter brushes – that made me all kinds of happy watching that! (I’ve tried with regular brushes, and wasn’t that excited about the effect)

Reply
kittybg

May 24, 2012 at 5:07 pm | #

I went to a WS on Friday and we did sgrafitto with Golden Open acrylics. If you like sgrafitto, you’ll love Golden Open. (No, Golden doesn’t pay me :D Also, I prefer liquids better because I need my acrylics to dry quickly and open takes a whole day.)
Bye, Kitty

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 24, 2012 at 5:16 pm | #
  
  Interesting :) I do know Golden Open Acrylics – but I feel the effect that I want to archive texture wise is more beautiful and more me with the Liquitex Heavy Body. And I do use all kinds of acrylic paints too ;) They do dry quick- but that is then when you can use a Retarder to mix in for longer opening time. I guess every artist has their own loves ;) Thanks for your comment, Kitty
  nat
  
  Reply
Dottie

May 24, 2012 at 3:17 pm | #

Love this piece!! The colors and the texture are wonderful and fun. Need some heavy bodied acrylic paints. Thanks again for sharing you expertise.

Reply
Bev W.

May 24, 2012 at 3:15 pm | #

I’m in acrylic heaven:) Thanks for the vid Nat!! Your such an inspiration!

Reply
Irma

May 24, 2012 at 2:11 pm | #

Danke für den Link! Ich habe die Probe einfach mal angefordert und hoffe jetzt ganz dolle, dass ich zu den Glücklichen gehöre…
Sonnige Grüße – Irma

Reply
Jan B

May 24, 2012 at 1:59 pm | #

Gah! I just LOVE your videos, love watching you work. Amazing piece! (I’m loving your Acrylics class by the way…working through at my own pace and having fun playing with paint and color.) You’re SO inspiring! :)

Reply
Anne Porretta

May 24, 2012 at 1:44 pm | #

This looks like so much fun! I have lots of acrylic paint but not heavy body. Off to the store and off to creativity. Thanks for great post, Nathalie!

Reply
Catherine (scared of gold paint) Scanlon

May 24, 2012 at 1:04 pm | #

Simply amazing, I need to get some heavy body’s too…great video Nat!

Reply
Riikka

May 24, 2012 at 11:59 am | #

Love <3

Reply
france papillon

May 24, 2012 at 8:49 am | #

i’m in love. once more! girl your productivity amazes me!!!
one question: what surface are you working on? doesn’t seem to be paper…

off to get inky!!!

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 24, 2012 at 9:42 am | #
  
  I used a paper block for acrylic and gouache painting with 250g. It is block made for the art supply store in my hood. I love that it is still thin enough that you can use it in an artjournal- but total sturdy and it is adhered on all four sides to the block- so you have to cut it off, which prevents wrapping. Not sure which real paper company stands behind it.
  
  Reply

Hide Comments

Colors Are Your Friends or let’s talk a bit of “my” Color Theory II

If you missed the first part of this series – you might want to check out this post first, so you know what me crazy girl is talking about ;)

So I introduced you to my friends Yellow, Blue and Red…let’s see who else is there.

My buddy Orange is pretty social and communicative. Most of my friends like Orange. Orange also makes other friends stand out, Orange pushes them, but in a good way. Orange is warm and fun.

Next up is

Green is actually one of my very best and oldest friends. It is variable and contradictory at times. Green likes to blend in with my other friends, which makes it very easy to get along with green. Green doesn’t like conflicts and it is a good mentor to ease things. Green stabilizes. It is my most constant partner :)

Now next

I know, I know…some evil tongues say Black is not a friend aka color. Pah…that is bullying! Black is an awesome friend. It is all friends! Black is serious, and sometimes a bit humorless, but Black can be such a great supporter if you do not take Black to serious. Black also has this amazing ability to make other friends shine. Black in doses is awesome….but if you are around Black too much it might make you depressive so you have to pick your time with Black wisely ;)

Well…now that I introduced you to my friends- I will be talking about mixing and matching in the next “Colors are Your Friends” Post. Hope you enjoyed the first two parts :)

Now…is there a color I didn’t introduce that you think has a certain personality?

Nat

Colors Are Your Friends or let’s talk a bit of “my” Color Theory I (nathaliesstudio.com)

Nat

Comments (12)

marjiekemper

June 17, 2012 at 1:25 am | #

What a fantastic post! I have been ‘saving as new’ about 14 of your posts as life got in the way and I didn’t want to miss one, hoping I could catch up. I was tempted over the last month to just clean out my inbox and chalk it up but I am SO glad I didn’t. Have totally enjoyed the last hour and change browsing, ogling, smiling, inhaling your art.

This one is stunning with the way you’ve colored in the letters on STREET as one of about a dozen details that just pulls me in. Thanks for sharing, Nat – you are such an inspiration and you know if one person says it, there’s a ton more out there feeling it. Have a great weekend!

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  June 17, 2012 at 10:31 am | #
  
  ahhhh Marjie!!! Thank you for your sweet words- you comment just made my sunday morning. Thank you so much! Huge hugs to you and have a wonderful relaxed sunday!
  
  Reply
Lisa Flaherty

May 24, 2012 at 8:24 pm | #

This is a great series! Your descriptions are perfectly metaphorical! I feel like I KNOW these friends! P.S. I am very drawn to that green elk with the orange framing him. Love it!

Reply
Marja Seidemo

May 24, 2012 at 8:15 am | #

you know me – where´s turqouise?? But i know it´s not really a color, it´s a mix but anyway, it´s so vibrant, calling my name…and maybe yours ;-)

Reply
Sue Clarke

May 23, 2012 at 3:21 pm | #

Purple…so royal and yet playful! Love the last two posts Nat.

Reply
Irma

May 23, 2012 at 3:02 pm | #

Danke, das hat wieder Spaß gemacht zu lesen…genau ich dachte auch sofort an lila…und an weiß (wenn du eh schon schwarz dabei hast ;-))
LG – Irma

Reply
Dottie

May 23, 2012 at 2:49 pm | #

Loved your posts on color! Made me think that black and white are sort of like the adults. All the other color children are running around on the canvas displaying all their glory and exuberence in their own personality and style, The adults come in to offer a little containment and accent. Thanks for making color so fun!

Reply
Milagros

May 23, 2012 at 1:31 pm | #

I love how you describe the colors ………. is fabulous, and looking forward to receiving the next post.
hugs

Reply
france papillon

May 23, 2012 at 11:53 am | #

and that my colorfull friend, is how YOU convert people to color. :)

(not many words, but lot’s of meaning in this comment)
bereknuffel!
france

Reply
Marianne Johansson

May 23, 2012 at 11:30 am | #

once again, love your talk about colors and the way YOU think about colors. Makes me smile :)

Reply
Caroline

May 23, 2012 at 11:05 am | #

This is a great idea.
you could do white, even if it is a bit the same as black some people say it’s not a color. But there are a lot of other voices that are saying that white is the color that means pure, hope, innocence, clean, …

Then there is pink that is totally “think pink”

Red the color off passion and warmth
…

Every color has it own personality I think.

Reply
Birgit Kunte

May 23, 2012 at 10:56 am | #

Wieder ein genialer Post. Wie wäre es mit lila, grau?? Liebe Grüße Birgit

Reply

Hide Comments

Colors Are Your Friends or let's talk a bit of "my" Color Theory I

What I hear most often about my work…and sometimes I am not sure if it is meant as a compliment- hahahaha- is that my color combinations strike as unusual. Sometimes I get asked how I thought of putting those colors together. Truth is…I do not think that much about it anymore…but …I came a long way experimenting and trying things ;) So I thought I would share with you my philosophy of colors in a couple blog posts and also refresh some color theory stuff.

My philosophy which I often share in my classes is:

If you want to work with paint media- wether it be acrylic paints or others – you have to treat colors as if they are your friends. They have different personalities and there is a different time and a different place where you want to spent time with a certain friend. I could also say – Colors are LIKE my friends, but hey…I don’t want to start explaining which friend of mine reminds me of which color- LOL. I wanna keep my friends ;)

So before I go into the whole lot of color theory, color wheel and mixing …let’s look at those colors lightly first…let me introduce my friends to you, meaning the colors that I tend to meet often.

Yellow is a pretty new friend of mine, I am still a bit cautious with Yellow…I am never sure where yellow is heading to with my other friends. Yellow is light and a very positive friend. Yellow is kind of extrovert…boy…yellow is really really loud sometimes. Yellow is always intruding but mostly in a happy way. Yellow is my outspoken friend. My friend yellow can be pretty negative too though…sometimes jalous and sometimes a coward.

Here are some samples where I used yellow prominently:

As you can see I use yellow to make statements a lot.

Blue is an old friend of mine. Blue is a bit passive, calming and refreshing. What I like about Blue is, that Blue is open to everything. I like that I can bring blue in with most of my other friends and that Blue is never really overpowering. Blue makes me also sad sometimes…but Blue is a good sport…

Ah Blue….

Red is a handful! Red is so passionate and polarizing. Pretty much a drama queen when with others, sometimes also aggressive. Red is always overpowering, always wants to be in the foreground. Can’t be quiet…can’t be in the background too much. But Red is warm and it is so much fun to be around Red…it is sometimes the life of a party ;)

My first round of friends – more of my close friends will come tomorrow.

What are your favorite colors that you tend to use the most often?

Nat

Comments (18)

Micki

May 26, 2012 at 3:31 am | #

I love pretty much all colors but tend to love the bold ones. Red is definitely one of my favs. :-).

Reply
suzannebouchard

May 22, 2012 at 9:58 pm | #

I love to use all the colors at once but a combination of blues and greens is a favorite. Thanks for the articles on color.

Reply
Nydia Dominguez

May 22, 2012 at 8:23 pm | #

I am a colorist! I love colors, bright and bold. My favorite combinations are yellow, lime green and pink. Sometimes I swap the lime green and pink for turquoise and/or orange but always keep some yellow. My thoughts are to keep ME happy and full of SUNshine/light. That’s not to say that I don’t use any of the other colors. My latest Art Solo Exhibit was titled Visions of Color at the Stanley-Whitman House in Farmington, CT.

Reply
Lisa Flaherty

May 22, 2012 at 6:13 pm | #

Colors personified–love it! Green has been my favorite color since forever! I find myself using every shade of turquoise and orange in the last few months, however. In my art journal I try to vary my starting/background colors; I begin every spread by trying something in a completely different color scheme than the spread before. Yesterday I started a spread with brown and purple. Today, blue and green.

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 23, 2012 at 10:34 am | #
  
  What a great idea with the spreads…and now you have me longing to create something with brown and purple- yum yum!
  
  Reply
Anne Porretta

May 22, 2012 at 3:02 pm | #

Nathalie, I loved this colourful post! In my home, I decorate in shades of pale sanctuary green, I paint in golds, plums, aquas, and cranberry reds, and quilt in all the colours of fall. It’s a complex way of loving all the colours of the rainbow. (By the way, I love the posts in German–it’s fun seeing how much I can figure out after so many years!)

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 23, 2012 at 10:35 am | #
  
  That sounds like you have a lovely decorated home Anne- love your color choices!
  
  Reply
Dottie

May 22, 2012 at 2:37 pm | #

Thanks for your thoughts on color. I love the yellow, turquoise, and orange layout!!

Reply
Milagros

May 22, 2012 at 1:18 pm | #

I love the blues, turquoises and earth colors.

Reply
Sue Clarke

May 22, 2012 at 12:51 pm | #

Blue and rust/earth tones are my usual. You may have inspired me to try more though.

Reply
pearlmaple

May 22, 2012 at 12:29 pm | #

Well done, a great visual explanation of how to make friends with colour

Reply
Riikka

May 22, 2012 at 12:10 pm | #

It seems I have colour periods – when I have a brown period every LO seem to have brown and when yellow is the thing, Lo’s turn into yellow. But I think pink, turquoise and yellow are the colours I use the most. I hardly ever use purple.

Reply
Irma

May 22, 2012 at 11:15 am | #

Das ist wirklich mal interessant. Bis vor 1-2 Jahre habe ich gelb als Farbe gehasst…inzwischen kann ich die beim Werkeln mit Farbe kaum noch wegdenken…und am Liebsten in Kombination mit türkis…aber anderseits nervt es mich auch, dass ich so hingezogen bin zu diesen Farben…ich habe das Gefühl dass alles gleich ausseiht…
Ich freue mich auf die folgende Runde – Irma

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 23, 2012 at 10:36 am | #
  
  Ja – aber das ist ja immer phasenweise- Deine nächste ist bestimmt schon im Kommen ;) Liebe Grüße
  nat
  
  Reply
Marianne Johansson

May 22, 2012 at 10:43 am | #

Love to read about your friends ehhh…colors! And your gorgeous work! Must say, the yellow one on top.. wow!!!!
I love colors, more and more but my all time favourite must be turqoise I think.

Reply
Birgit Kunte

May 22, 2012 at 10:33 am | #

Danke für die super genial geschriebene Vorstellung deiner Freunde, ich liebe deine Posts. Und ich habe keine Lieblingsfarben, weil alle Farben auch meine Freunde sind und ich es einfach bunt mag. Liebe Grüße, bin schon gespannt auf die nächste Vorstellungsrunde, Birgit

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 23, 2012 at 10:36 am | #
  
  Es ist halt gut viele Freunde zu haben, ne? ;) LOL- sei gedrückt, Süße
  Nat
  
  Reply
- Martha Richardson
  
  May 22, 2012 at 2:14 pm | #
  
  I love color…all colors but I love the blue ranges…sea, ocean…space…calm!
  
  Reply

Hide Comments

Lullaby Canvas or I better post this later in the day ;)

Some very good friends of mine have a new addition to their family – I am sooo excited for and with them :)

For the little one I made this Lullaby Canvas – truly hoping they will like it…cause …I am sure the little one will not start throwing its rattle against it…or maybe it will? LOL

The canvas was inspired by the amazing Sue Pelletier and an old German Lullaby song “Weißt Du wieviel Sternlein stehen?” which means translated “Do You Know How Many Stars There Are?”

Here is the song for you…please do not listen to it before you finished your day tasks- LOL- remember it is a Lullaby song and I don’t wanna be responsible for your head falling down onto the keyboard…;)

weisst_du_wie_viel_sternlein_stehen

ah …you know…I better make this post an evening post ;) …oh wait…evening in which part of the world? ….LOL

I used heaps of paint media – eager as always seeing how they work together ;)

PaintMedia: Liquitex Gesso, Derwent Inktense Blocks and Derwent ArtBars, Liquitex Acrylic Inks, Liquitex Heavy Gel Medium, Liquitex Super Heavy Body Paint – FUN!

It was fun to work a bit more with burlap – I love that material and a new material for me: paper clay- which is what Sue Pelletier is very well-known for. Love the possibilities of this. The rest is old news…some tissue paper, metal pieces, wire, ephemera, fabric, canvas fabric and yet putting it all together and getting excited each day as a project evolves is fun. And my fave is thinking I make this for friends I love during the process. This canvas is full of fun memories of times I spent with the amazing parents of the little one. I so miss them here! Now hope they don’t read my blog- LOL- because the package is still traveling overseas.

Speaking of Lullabies…which comes to your mind?

Wishing you sweet dreams tonight :)

Nat

Comments (19)

sue pelletier

May 23, 2012 at 2:36 am | #

hey art chica…..it looks wonderful! thanks for the shout out. would love to pick up some international art girls with on line classes.

love your work and your spirit!
xx
sue pelletier

Reply
Peg Hewitt

May 22, 2012 at 2:23 am | #

Love this project, so bright and beautiful!
My mum would always sing to us ‘I gave my love a cherry’ at bedtime :-)
http://www.myspace.com/music/player?sid=28591174&ac=now

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 23, 2012 at 10:37 am | #
  
  oh how sweet- love it- thanks for sharing Peg! huge hugs to Australia!Nat
  
  Reply
Bev W.

May 21, 2012 at 6:57 pm | #

Love the eye candy when I visit!! What a fun canvas!

Reply
Sue Clarke

May 21, 2012 at 3:46 pm | #

I just woke up so I won’t listen to the song yet, but that is such a wonderfully bright and textured gift!

Reply
Milagros

May 21, 2012 at 2:09 pm | #

I love the colors so vivid and so many together and all the texture that you have given of course that will have a very sweet little sueños.Gracias to you I discovered the Derwent and are fabulous.
a hug

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 23, 2012 at 10:38 am | #
  
  Mila- so glad you like the Derwent- they are awesome – you will have lot’s of fun with them!
  
  Reply
Kathy Gledsdale

May 20, 2012 at 9:37 pm | #

It is a really lovely present. I adore all the texture and colour!

Reply
Kim Heiden Kayser

May 20, 2012 at 8:48 pm | #

It’s lovely,Nathalie.Thanks for sharing!

Reply
Birgit Kunte

May 20, 2012 at 6:43 pm | #

Sooo schön geworden, die Farben einfach der Hammer. Was bitte ist Paper Clay? Lullaby: Lalilu … natürlich! Liebe Grüße Birgit

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 20, 2012 at 6:46 pm | #
  
  Danke schön :) Bei uns -lufttrocknende Tonmasse- super cooles zeuch :) Schönen Sonntag Abend noch :) Nat
  
  Reply
Lisa Flaherty

May 20, 2012 at 6:01 pm | #

Such great texture and color! My mom is from Germany (Kassel) and would sing “Guten Abend, Gute Nacht” to my sister and I. We also had a little pull-string music box with a Hummel painting on it that played the same. :)

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 21, 2012 at 8:51 am | #
  
  Oh how fun – Kassel – I went to school there for some time when I started working at the law office. Kassel is the “party” city of my youth ;) Love Guten Abend, Gute Nacht!
  
  Reply
  - Lisa Flaherty
    
    May 22, 2012 at 5:18 pm | #
    
    Ha! That’s great! Sounds like some good memories (and stories!) you have of Kassel!
    
    Reply
jjsobey

May 20, 2012 at 5:36 pm | #

You have me looking around for scraps of burlap to ’embed’ in things now. You are an enabler in the best possible way.

I love this canvas – perfect for a little boy!

Reply
Not Just A Mummy

May 20, 2012 at 4:24 pm | #

beautiful colours and textures

Reply
Riikka

May 20, 2012 at 3:49 pm | #

Gorgeous!
I have always sung “Pieni tytön tylleröinen” to my daughters as a lullaby.

Reply
- nathalie-kalbach
  
  May 21, 2012 at 8:51 am | #
  
  Lol -I have to look that up Riikka ;)
  
  Reply
M. Carmen - Cuchy

May 20, 2012 at 1:01 pm | #

awesome colours! and the texture… yummy. Love the canvas. I’m sure the little one will have sweet dreams having it hanging on the wall.

Reply

Hide Comments

Upcoming workshop in June: ArtMesa 2012 in Madrid, Spain

Only one more month and the second edition of Art Mesa in Madrid, Spain is happening. Carmen Sanchez and I will teach two workshops on June 23rd and it sure is going to be lot’s of fun :)

There are only a couple spots free – if you are thinking of coming…let me show you this video created by Carmen about last year’s ArtMesa

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zJb0OzmxcKg]

Check out the Mixed Media Workshops we are teaching here

Looking forward seeing you :)

Besos

Nat

Hide Comments

Blog: May 2012

RELATED ARTICLES

Comments (8)

Leave a comment

Related articles

Comments (4)

Leave a comment

Comments (7)

Leave a comment

Comments (1)

Leave a comment

Related articles

Comments (24)

Leave a comment

Related articles

Comments (12)

Leave a comment

Comments (18)

Leave a comment

Comments (19)

Leave a comment