Blog: June 2012

Hello Sunshine or…Cocoa Daisy June Kit Projects

This kit was getting me totally into summer mood and I had fun using all those patterns.

*Hello*

Loved mixing the different papers. I traced the patterns to have the flowers pop off more from the background.

*Beautiful*

Fun mixing chevron and circle patterns and then I added some splashes of Liquitex inks to break with the geometric clean patterns.

*Hello Card*

Playing a bit with packaging and Maya Mists. Love how the Jillibean Hello wooden flags take Liquitex Inks – the orange is so vibrant!

*Me Day*

I really loved this paper and didn’t wanna change it too much- plus the picture itself is pretty prominent already

I loved how the Queen & Co washi tape yellow plaid blended with the background.

I added some texture and extra with Oil Pastels and dropped some Liquitex Ink to get a bit more orange onto the paper.

How is the progress of summer (well for some of you winter ;) ) in your neck of the wood?

hugs

Nat

Comments (3)

  • Vicki Chrisman

    |

    Wow…. love all your creations! This kit looks so fun!!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Love the first “hello” LO Nat. I still haven’t had time to play with this kit yet. It’s been busy with the end of the school year activities here. Summer has brought us rain and some sun (but not as much as usual).

    Reply

  • Gunvor

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    Lovely art work! And the idea of a “me day” a month i something I’ll copy! Will plan it in from after summer vacation and the rest of the year. Thanks for the isnpiration and the great ideas!
    Hugs

    Reply

Leave a comment

The Whatevers #1 or The Bow

Are you ready for the first Whatevers? If you missed the post of what this is all about- check out yesterday’s blogpost.

Click here to see what Cat made out of this photo and which story she tells

Click here to see what Vicki made out of this photo and which story she tells

Here is my take on it

THE BOW

Seriously, a photo with his sister? She always found a way to tease him. Just before Dad was going to take the photo of them, she made fun of this stockings. He didn’t like stockings anyway. Maria, always uptight and orderly – just look at her white stockings – puh! But ha…this time he got her back – pulled her ridiculous big bow on the head. Looks all crooked now. She almost cried, but Dad told her to hold still for the photo. Her crooked bow will be forever banned on a photo – so there Maria…You are NOT perfect!

Their names: Mathias and Maria

Supplies: tissue paper, Liquitex Heavy Body gel Medium, various Acrylic Paints, Maya Mists, Dylusions Stamps, 7Gypsies Tag, Lace, transparent tape I found at a french market, 7Dots Paper, 7Gypsies Paper Tape, Prima Resins, Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze, Canvas Fabric, Gerstaecker Gesso, Heidi Swapp Chipboard Letters, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Crafty Power Tape

Here is our first photo:

Here is how it works if you want to play along:

  • Vicki, Cat and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
  • Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
  • If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you – just right click on it to safe it to download and show us your version of The Whatevers.
  • There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the length or the form of the story– it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
  • Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us andshow us your story.
  • These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
  • If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
  • You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

You can grab the blinkie here if you want to add it to your sidebar

You can share your work with us by submitting here:


Nat

Comments (20)

  • Graciela Paganini

    |

    One question? I’m on time for this poryect?? Sorry my english , I try to write in that language . I’m from Argentina , i LOVE this proyect. Kiss

    Reply

  • Stella W (scraptella)

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    Ich habe vor 2 Tage meine Version gemacht! was für eine Erlebnis!! ich warte schon das nächste Foto!

    Reply

  • Clare

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    fabulous project ladies, loving all your work! pondered this challenge and decided to give it a go…i really enjoyed it. thanks. x

    Reply

  • penny4thoughts

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    I LOVE your story and the whole art journal page!! This project is such a great idea and such fun!

    Reply

  • The Rock Chic

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    Tee hee – that story is so fun. Love it!
    And the layout is great

    Reply

  • Donna Collier

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    Such a fun concept! What a great way to stretch our imaginations and be inspired! Loved your story and wow, what creativity in your journal! Love the journal!! :) Can’t wait to watch this project grow and grow!

    Reply

  • Gunvor

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    Love your story Nat and your pages! I’m going to join this and am already thinking about what to create. Thanks for thinking this up!

    Reply

  • Peggy Lee

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    This is soooo perfect for me! Cause I am a twin, I can so relate to this photo…hahahahahah loved your story Nat. this is going to be soooo cool-love all your textures , colors….thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  • Vicki Chrisman

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    Oh seriously Nat.. this is so fun! I LOVE your page AND your story! Your use of color, texture and design… always amazes me!

    Reply

  • Marsha.

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    :-D!!!
    Nat, this made me think about something I read yesterday… Have you ever heard about Erik Kessels? He’s a Dutch creative director and he collects old photo albums (Found at fleamarkets etc). It’s fascinating! He is actually preparing an exhibition at FOAM in Amsterdam: http://www.foam.org/press/2012/erik_kessels I’m definitaly going to see it, it looks so cool!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Just love your creative story and can so see it happening that way!

    Reply

  • Cat

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    Nat — you’re story is so cute — love Mathias and Maria! Can’t wait until next time ;-) thanks for all your hard work — it’s been amazing so far!

    Reply

  • Jennie

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    A really great story – made me smile! And a great page too – love the colours and the way you printed the story on the tape. Thanks for inspiring me to have a go!

    Reply

  • Milagros

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    I really like your story to this picture, of course the girl is pulled pint. Wanting to start a story has to think and prepare the site.
    Nath I have a question, you must be a story or can be linked each photo a story???. Thank you.
    hugs

    Reply

  • Marjie Kemper

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    Great story. Love your different spins on this! The gauzy fabric strings are wonderful and I love all your rich colors. Happy to play along with you!

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    I love this!! What a great story! Thank you!

    Reply

  • msplum10

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    Hmmm.. not sure if my comment made it through or if it disappeared into cyberspace… anyway! Love your story! He really got her there! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

  • msplum

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    LOL! LOVE your story! He really got her there! Great page and great inspiration! Thank you so much for doing this and sharing. I will try to play along.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Introducing: The Whatevers – Creative Storytelling

 

May I introduce you to the The Whatevers – a creative story telling project by Cat Scanlon, Vicki Chrisman and me.

Cat and Vicki are two of my oldest Scrapbooking Friends…in fact..it is all their fault, because when I started in 2004 they were my idols. And they still are. They were oftentimes crossing Mixed Media with Scrapbooking and use all kinds of techniques, which back then was what draw me right into this whole adventure.

What all three of us have in common (besides enjoying each others company and having a blast)  is the love for vintage photos, whether it be family treasures or sometimes found ones.

Have you ever been to a flea market and then had this weird sensation of those faces from long ago times looking at you? Sometimes you find a little trace of the history on those photos, the name and city of the photographer, a scribbled note or year on the back of the photo…but that is it. There is no more ….Really…no more? They are forgotten as long as they have no name and no story…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMosGfKKsbQ&feature=player_detailpage]

We want to give those Whatevers a name- we want to make them part of our family and if you want…you can make them part of your family too. Here is my album/art journal cover

Here is how it works

  • Vicki, Cat and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
  • Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
  • If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you to download and show us your version of The Whatevers.
  • There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the length or the form of the story– it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
  • Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us and show us your story.
  • These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
  • If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
  • You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

The first Whatever Post will be up tomorrow – make sure to check out our blogs :)

Nat

Comments (26)

  • juliekirk

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    A great idea, so fun, creative + ‘human’ too. :-)

    Reply

  • juliekirkJulie Kirk

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    A really great idea – so fun and creative and ‘human’ too. :-)

    Reply

  • Peggy Lee

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    This excites me so….me too girls I love vintage photos-I collect them too-when I go into the old potato barn (the next town over from me) antique store, I am always drawn to the photo/post card section…I just love it…I often wonder- How are these people? What was their life like? Love the mistery in the photo and little hints usually scratched on the back of it…
    I am in, I can’t wait to play….maybe a trip to the antique barn is a must this weekend…
    Outstanding idea, and great way to have creative play with friends.

    Reply

    • Peggy Lee

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      sorry it’s suppose to say Who are these people? lol

      Reply

  • jencushman

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    I just love this idea! How fun Nat. I will be checking in now and then to see how it comes along. Have fun, my friend!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    What a fun idea. I collect old photos of people that I don’t know since I don’t have photos from my own family of origin. I have made up one story on a LO this past winter. I’m excited to see what you ladies do with this and will try to play along. The Whatevers need stories too!

    Reply

  • ahewe

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    That is an idea that really speaks to me. I have been wondering myself when I successfully bought vintage photos on fleamarkets or at ebay how these came to be there in the first place. I even made a quilt about this theme.
    And please, can you tell me what the music is in the video? Absolutely loved it!
    Angelika

    Reply

  • Marjie Kemper

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    You have the MOST creative ideas! I’d love to adopt a Whatever. Off to join your FB page.

    Reply

  • lenakoch

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    Great idea! How do I sign in? Would LOVE to join you… best regards from Luxemburg!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      You just check out the photo and story posted today at noon, download the photo and link back to your project on that post once you have it created, Lena :)

      Reply

  • Lena

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    hej there, would love to join , but how do i sign in? GREAT idea! best regards from Luxemburg!

    Reply

  • P

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    Oh, what a fun idea! :) I’ll definitely join you.

    Reply

    • PyssligaSara

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      …. I somehow posted this comment before entering my name and website. :/ So here it is…

      Reply

  • Cat

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    I CAN NOT wait until tomorrow. ;-) Love your cover.

    Reply

  • sarah

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    just too, too tempting….!

    Reply

  • Renee VanEpps

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    Great idea, I always see so many of these types of pictures at antique stores, flea markets, wherever. Can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with :)

    Reply

  • Marsha.

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    Curious to see how this unfolds :-)

    Reply

  • Finnabair

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    awsome idea, as always! I’m in with both my heart and hands!!!

    Reply

  • Lee Brehon

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    Very Interesting, I love a good story and a jumping off spot, great combination!

    Reply

  • MiaKL

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    Now I do not need to wait any more, lovely;). Interesting idea, will look at the blog tomorrow then. So still waiting anywhay…

    Reply

  • Milagros

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    It is a very interesting idea, I love this project and I join you. Always when I look at old photographs would think about how their lives and what they were thinking while they were doing the Photografia. Thank you for this opportunity that you offer
    hugs

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    How cool!!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Maya Road Guest Designer- Canvas- Tutorial

For my guest designer spot with Maya Road this month I created this 12 x 12 canvas using lots of Chipboard DoorwaysMaya Mists, and Gesso.

I created a video sharing how I made this canvas:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH5MHQMMgmY&feature=youtu.be]

So love those colors :)

And I totally love those doors…yum yum!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial :)

 

hugs

Nat

P.S.: psst

Comments (12)

  • Deleted User

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    I like this piece for the foyer!…like a welcome to my visitors, says a lot! tfs Nat.

    Reply

  • Marjie Kemper

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    This is fabulous, Nat! Love how you used the neg spaces on the green door and all the yummy texture you built up with the CB and gesso.

    Reply

  • Rose Curtis

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    love what you created with the doors!

    Reply

  • Liz Thayne

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    Love your use of colour and texture on this canvas. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  • Bev W.

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    Yes!!! So liking the colors and those doors are a must have and on my wish list! Congrats Anne:) Thanks for the vid Nat!
    ♥Bev

    Reply

  • Conny

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    Die Farben sind einfach der Wahnsinn und ich liebe ja die Embellish von Maya Road – absolut Genial!!!!!

    LG Conny

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Yes, you are the texture lady! I enjoyed this video while eating my breakfast. And you can use reds and oranges as well as blues and greens. The quote has me thinking
    this morning. As always, thanks for sharing your crafty knowledge Nat.

    Reply

  • Dottie

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    Love, love the door canvas!!!

    Reply

  • Erika N

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    Very clever page. I love your idea and the this page.

    Reply

  • Birgit Kunte

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    Einfach der Oberknaller, die Türen, super gefällt mir total gut, liebe Grüße Birgit

    Reply

  • enscrappersbekendelser

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    Oh, wow it’s SO über cool. Thanks for the inspiration :)

    Reply

Leave a comment

Maya Road Guest Designer Art Bag

So stoked that I was asked to be a guest designer for Maya Road.

I had heaps of fun creating this art bag using the Maya Road Alterable Canvas Messenger Bag .

I added a page from the  Maya Road Canvas Flag Banner to create the pocket.  I used lots of Maya Road Mists to get the bold colorful front of the tote.

The Deborah Chipboard was my stencil for the word “Art bag.”

Love the colors and I love that the Maya Mists can be heat set – so they are awesome to use on  fabric!

I will show more of my projects for Maya Road in the next days :)

hugs

Nat

P.S.:

Comments (4)

  • Kathy Gledsdale

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    Really fun, love it!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Super crafty and something that Julie might have made (in terms of using fabric):-)

    Reply

  • Lisa Flaherty

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    Super! And a great tip about heat-setting the mists so they can be used on fabric! I had no idea! Now the wheels are turning!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Procrastination or The Life of a Creative

sigh….so true…welcome to my life ;)

[vimeo 15182896 w=400 h=300]

Are you procrastinating too?

Nat

P.S.:

Comments (11)

  • Andrene

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    That is so me too!! I only wish I could procrastinate that creatively :)

    Reply

  • Lisa Flaherty

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    Love it! Forwarding this immediately to my hubby, who is outside with his computer and his designing partner. They are having a ball, watching a bunch of videos, and I KNOW nothing is getting done on the project they got together to focus on! Lol!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    I so love this video Nat!
    At the end it says something about a kit and I could think of was how creative I would be if I had THAT kit. Silly me, I have more supplies here then the average small store…I just need to use them!!!
    Love the quirky things that you share on your blog.

    Reply

  • mjmarmo

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    Love this!!!

    Reply

  • Jean Marmo

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    I so wish I could procrastinate like this!!! Love it!!!

    Reply

  • Martha Richardson

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    Brillant! We’ll see if I start proscratinating now that I’m officially a SAHA…that
    ‘s stay at home artist ;)

    Reply

  • samsch

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    Ich verstehe zwar den Sinn nicht *Asche auf mein Haupt*, aber das zeichnerische Talent ist ja sooo toll anzusehen. *etwasneidischbin*
    Ach ja, bist du das?
    LG samsch

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      leider bin ich das nicht- ich kann gar nicht zeichnen ;) Das Video zeigt wie jemand, der etwas kreatives auf ein weißes Blatt Papier bringen will, alles möglich malt, zeichnet und kreatives macht, aber eben nicht auf dem weißen Blatt Papier ;)

      Reply

      • samsch

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        Danke für die Aufklärung.
        Ist jedenfalls ein echt klasse Video. :0)

        Reply

  • Gillian Pearce

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    If only my procrastination looked like that video! Mi’e a more of a wandering around, white paper only type of thing. :-)

    Reply

Leave a comment

The Whatevers …or have you heard?

What could this be all about??? Any ideas ? ;)

hugs

Nat

Comments (3)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Don’t know but I liked it!

    Reply

  • Bev W.

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    just liked the whatevers on fb!!! don’t know but i’m sure it’s going to be lots of fun….does the word fun count as an ides…lol

    Reply

Leave a comment

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

I have listed the links for the first four parts on this series at the end of the post.

So today as promised we are looking for the answer to this question:

Actually Pablo Picasso said: “Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing? Can one really explain this? no. Just as one can never learn how to paint.”

We might not really say, why- but we can figure out which paints do sing next to each other…that is fair enough, isn’t it?

Let’s see what kind of music our friends play together – but you will need your color wheel!

Monochromatic:

Let’s start with what I call the “Lullaby of color combination”….

All the colors of a certain pure color: tints, shades and tones…with a little bit of cheating here and there ;) I do not use it too often, although I have to say I love the calming effect a monochrome layout/art journal page gives.

Analogous:

Singing in simple melodies, basic harmonies and consistent rhythm – just like a Folk song – are analogous colors. They are three colors next to each other on the color wheel.

For this layout I had used blue, violet and red-violet.

Complementary:

Let’s check out Swing, that is complex with contrasting elements,has lots of vitality,  the music instruments are cooking together. Fun. These are the colors that are sitting right across from each other on the color wheel

Here I used blue and orange mainly. But there is also for example red and green, yellow and violet and so on. The colors make each other appear brighter.

Triadic:

That is for me the pop bands under the color combinations ;) Pop is appealing and pleasurable to listen to, it contains contrasting elements, but in doses. You find these colors equally spaced (triangle) from each other on the color wheel.

Here I used orange, pink and green – but it could be for example also blue, yellow and red etc.

If you look at your work, what do you find you use most often as a color scheme: Monochromatic, Analogous, Complementary or Triadic?

Whatever it is that you answer, just based on what we talked about today, why don’t you try to break out today and create something with a color scheme you almost never use? For me that would be probably monochromatic ;)

Next in this series I will show you some fun color combinations and where you can find inspirations for color combinations.

Have a swinging day today ;)

Nat

RELATED ARTICLES

Comments (6)

  • Veronica

    |

    I may not be commenting but I’m really enjoying this series about the colours. Very useful and very enjoyable to read! Thanks! Btw, looking at my projects I can see that I tend to use the analogous combinations. I’m a bit “scared” of the big contrasts in pages… I’m sure it would be my perfect challenge for a Second Floor project ;-D

    Reply

  • Outi

    |

    Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge on this subject! I read every word and get so many ideas. Earlier this year I tried to make friends with monochromatic and though I thought it was impossible to achieve anything in the beginning, I succeeded in having fun during the process. Now I don’t avoid monochromatic any longer:-)
    Hugs Outi

    Reply

  • Lisa Flaherty

    |

    I am LOVING this series!!! I am learning SO MUCH!! I have no idea which scheme I use most, but based on your examples I would think I gravitate toward Complimentary. I will have to flip through my art journal and scrap layouts for confirmation.

    Reply

  • Bev W.

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    Great series Nat!!! From looking at your art I can see I go with analogous colors..most of the time:) Thanks!
    ♥Bev

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    mostly complementary it would seem. i almost never do monochromatic but it is striking.

    Reply

  • Milagros

    |

    is very interesting, I think more use complementary colors but sometimes use the triad, desiring to see the color combinations and inspirations. thank you very much hugs

    Reply

Leave a comment

The Future belongs to the Curious

I think that is so true- if you loose your curiosity life gets bland – another wonderful video I would love to share with you

[vimeo 34853044 w=400 h=300]

What are you curious about lately? :)

Nat

Comments (4)

  • Lisa Flaherty

    |

    As a scientist by trade, and at heart, I am curious about so, so many things! Lately my curiosity has been focused within: Who am I, and what do I want my life to look like? How would I like to spend my days, and can that be molded into a new career and contribute to the financial support of my family?

    A great, thought-provoking video!

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Curious video. I did not hear sound and then realized that maybe it didn’t have it for a reason (made me watch more intently anyway).
    I am curious about what foods I will like to eat (after being diagnosed with diverticulitis) and how our trip to Washington, D.C. will go in July. I expect to take tons of photos and get lots of inspiration.

    Reply

  • Suzanne Bouchard

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    I am curious about many things and especially about art, new art supplies and new tehniques.

    Reply

  • TeedeJee

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    Thank you so much for sharing. Love the message X Tineke

    Reply

Leave a comment