For anyone making beads or jewelry, color is as much a part of our lives as breathing. Choosing the right rod of glass or the right combination of beads is something that for most of us is automatic.
The problem comes when we’re limited to one big project that will hang around forever. We have to choose colors that we’ll live with and see daily and hopefully not regret for months (or years) to come.
Today my new lampwork studio got its first coat of primer to cover the green of the moisture-resistant drywall.
It turned out all nice and shiny and white, a perfect palette just waiting for COLOR.
Now, my husband would be quite happy leaving it this way, although he did admit you’d need protective glasses on the entire time you were in the studio, even before the torch was lit! So I sat down to look at paint swatches.
I want this studio to be funky beyond all reason. I’m thinking a multi-color scheme with pictures on some walls and stencils on others. I’m thinking of, when I invite friends over, opening the double doors and hearing them go, “Oh wow!” — which will hopefully distract them when they see that my beads haven’t hit perfection. The beads may be wonky, but the studio will rock out loud.
I’ve looked at a LOT of color swatches.
At first I thought of this — a bit sedate, even with that Sour Lime thrown in. But I think we’re going to use this for Zack’s playroom, since he fell in love with it.
And then there was this amazing color combo — but I realized that I liked it largely for the stencils, and I think the studio space it just too small for those.
This is getting closer — I really want some bright lime green in there, but this just wasn’t quite right. The pink and fuchsia, yes. But the green needs tweaking. (And where can I snag those cloth-covered boxes???)
Lastly, I have this swatch. The green is a lot closer. But I’m thinking the green, the pink, but how about some sort of funky aqua in there?
So as you can see, I need to make another trip back to the paint store.
But isn’t that the way it is with jewelry design and making beads? The more colors we see, the more we want. This shade is not QUITE right, but when we get that perfect shade, oh dear, there’s ANOTHER shade that will go oh so nicely with the new one we JUST got.
I’ve limited myself to three paint colors –but this might take more time than I thought!
When Lori Anderson isn’t dreaming in color, she’s creating jewelry. She exhibits at craft shows on the east coast and on her web site, www.lorianderson.net. She blogs at www.prettythingsblog.com
Erin Prais-Hintz says:
Congratulations Lori! It looks like this will be the most fabulous place to play with fire!
My studio is painted a tame beige color…but that is more because too much color on my walls influences the designs and casts a color in the planning process. But I do love all the color options, particularly that last one!
Enjoy the day! Erin
July 20th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Mallory says:
Wow! Lori, The studio is looking good! I have a hard time narrowing down colors and coordinating them. It will be awesome to see the finished product. Good luck!
July 20th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
DebiDeaux says:
Hi Lori – how about taking your favorite bead color combo to the paint store with you and build on it from there?
I love the purple in the last combo but I feel the green needs to be brighter (more like Effetre pea green maybe?) and the pink is too pale. You’re right, a touch of aqua would be great. I’m looking forward to finding out the final choices. Have fun with it!
July 21st, 2009 at 8:51 am
Lori Anderson says:
I’m thinking pale for the wall facing me because of what Erin said — I didn’t want too much backsplash of color cast against the beads. As of this writing, it’s all done, — stay tuned!
July 21st, 2009 at 10:52 am
eileen says:
i’m liking the last combo best of all…not too bright and not too subtle…just right…
July 21st, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Stefani says:
I can’t wait to see the finished room! I totally get what you’re talking about – I LIVE for color!
July 24th, 2009 at 3:07 am
dee says:
Lori, I love the color choices, you’re space is coming along great!! I can’t wait until you get started, the anticipation is killing me, LOL.
July 25th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Debra says:
I adore the robins egg green/blue with pink. Right now has to be number one for me, but I like the idea of the green in there too, although I tend to like the more olive or grey-greens than the lime. Hey it’s only paint, youo can always change it up.
Of course I read you want “funky beyond all reason” have you checked out Mackenzie-Childs style? Some of your wonderful and colorful jewelry as the inspiration.
August 13th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Watch Me Create » Color Inspiration for Designers says:
[...] thing!This summer I’ve not done a lot of beading. I have been working instead on building a lampwork studio, which I promise is very nearly done (and I’ll have the final pictures soon!). I’ve [...]
August 24th, 2009 at 10:17 am