posted
I've been thinking a lot about this for the last couple of days and I was curious as to what the rest of you thought.
Are we, as artists or those with artistic tendencies, much more sensitive to colors, shapes and textures? I think that this is a fairly rhetorical question simply because I'm sure that the answer is YES. I know that my father was.
About a year or so ago, I painted my office a light mint green color...one of my favorite colors but for some reason I'm getting sick of it. I'm trying to chose another color to redo the room and I seriously considered a pale peach color. I was all excited about it and then it dawned on me that there was no way I could do it. Why you ask? I have a super cool bright blue neon tube in my computer that glows and lights up half the room when it's dark. There's no way on earth I could stand the dissonance between the peach and the blue glowing light. It would be way too jarring to me. I looked into getting a different color tube but the only other color they come in is red and I'm not a big fan of red. Yes, I could turn the computer around so I didn't see the light or even disconnect it but I really like the light. Everyone who comes into my office takes one look at it and says - Wow! That's so cool! (Thanks, Richard B.)
What else makes me crazy in this room? The walls are this orange peel kind of texture. Makes my skin crawl - I like nice smooth walls. The whole house is like that. I've pretty much learned to ignore it since we hopefully won't be here too much longer but it's still one of those things that bugs me.
We seriously considered putting a swimming pool in our backyard before the 110º temps hit again but the only ones we could really afford were those ridiculous 'free form" shapes, rather than the rectangles. This might sould crazy but I can't deal with anything assymetrical. The pool would be right outside the french doors to my office and I would look at it all day. We're still considering it because we REALLY want a pool but it would definitely get to me not being symetrical.
Boy, rereading this I sound semi-neurotic! I was just curious as to how sensitive to these things the rest of you are.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Dont fret, its just your Jersey roots showing again.
8A !!!
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
In a sense you're correct when the word artist is used with color etc. But on the other hand when you say we as artists, makes me laugh a bit. I've seen so much signage and striping utilizing color which apsolutely has no reason to be used, the color whether background or not makes me laugh and ask myself why one would use these and to top it off, those who used it are supposed to be professionals.
Oh well
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
quote:But on the other hand when you say we as artists, makes me laugh a bit. I've seen so much signage and striping utilizing color which apsolutely has no reason to be used, the color whether background or not makes me laugh and ask myself why one would use these and to top it off, those who used it are supposed to be professionals.
I think the difference lies in that I am making a distinction between a true artist and someone who merely makes a living sticking red helvetica vinyl on a signboard.
An artist as I was referring to them might be a signmaker, calligrapher, pinstriper, chef, photographer, wood craftsman, etc.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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quote: I am making a distinction between a true artist and someone who merely makes a living sticking red helvetica vinyl on a signboard.
Somehow, that made me think of the insurance commercials where the spokesman says "so easy a caveman could do it"...and there are cavemen on the camera crew. Caveman says to the other caveman..."did you hear THAT?"
posted
Kimberly...in reference to your walls, one way to take advantage of the texture of your walls is do a faux finish. But there's nothing real symetrical to a faux finish either...the more random the better. Would that drive you crazy?
-------------------- Nancie W. Phillips White Dove Painting Studio 74 Dacula Road, Dacula, GA 30019 678-887-3339
posted
If you love the colour green then I would go with a medium, rich color of green, and paint the top 18inch with white. Seperate the medium green from the white with a stripe, 2inch, the color dark green. Inside of that stripe another stripe, 1 1/2 inch, a sage color. In the white rag on the sage and a light grey with every so often the medium green in the mix then white at the last to hide any patterens that seem to show. Then a bugrundy stripe, 1/2inch,at the top of the white that turns into a stripe design in the corners. Add a little gold to the burgrundy here and there, done. A nice clean look with depth, the only problem people might not notice the light. If your asking that is what I would do. Painting a room should be just as exciting as anything else. Let some flare show through.
posted
Thanks for all the replies...I think that is more what I was curious about though...
quote:Are we, as artists or those with artistic tendencies, much more sensitive to colors, shapes and textures?
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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quote:Are we, as artists or those with artistic tendencies, much more sensitive to colors, shapes and textures?
Kimberly -
I do think it's very natural that "creative types" - or those working around artistic elements all the time - are much more sensitive to such things. I suspect it is in part from just being more aware of the basics of color, shape and texture. I know that much of my own sensitivity to such elements is a result of art school training and the study of color, shape and texture from many cultures. As a graphic designer I'm also more aware of the impact of such things on people - like the colors and lighting of fast food establishments being selected specifically so patrons won't hang around too long.
I've got something like 18 or 20 different wall/ceiling paint colors in my home. They are all colors selected specifically to convey warmth, calm and pleasant feelings. Everyone always comments about how warm and comfortable they feel in the house. Some friends who house sat for me in the past are duplicating some of the colors in their home because they felt so good while staying in my home. However, my home studio is painted all white, with north light coming through the window, so I'm not dealing with reflective/refractive color in my design work.
I'm also very much aware of textures in wall treatments, art, accessories, floor finishes, rugs and furniture. So much of my home is very tactile. Shapes play a big role as well. Somehow sprial shapes have come to be incorporated in many aspects of things that surround me including garden sculptures, light fixtures, wall treatments, fabrics, rugs, art, dinnerware, silverware and much more in my home. Texture, shapes and color play a huge role in my garden as well.
posted
Get the free-form pool but build a slightly raised, symmetrical deck around it to camoflage it's shape. Deck could even cantilever over the pool's curves in spots.
Your walls might seem a lot smoother if you put some highly textured wall hanging in a focal spot to draw you eye (sculpture, fabric, <sign!>), or something like rough batten boards to break up the expanse...and naturally paint the 'smooth' parts dead flat for zero reflection. The existing color might look all different then. You'll figure it out I'm sure.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Agreed, Dave. The stuff on that show makes me wince! Well, 98% of it anyway. Kimberly, I share your views about color. If I had to live in a house with all white walls I would curl up in a ball & die. My mom has hollered at me since I got my first apartment that my color choices are not "normal". About every three years (less now since I'm getting old) I would repaint every room in my house. I could never sleep in an orange bedroom tho. Love....Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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