Color Buzz

The Men in Black

Men in Black
Michèle Coppin

Black is:

Stabilizing English Tea Party 6004 – 2C	Strengthening Blackened Pie 5003 – 2C	Authoritative Rogue Blue 5009 - 2
Demanding Semi Sweet 4003 – 2C	Sophisticated Pitch Cobalt 5010 - 2	Powerful Rare Wine 1011 - 9

For a very long time, dying black fabrics was one of the most difficult, expensive and labor – intensive techniques in the production of textiles. In the West, black dye works were extremely important as far back as the Middle Ages. During the 16th century, the aristocracy and the wealthy burghers of Spain and the Low Countries (Northern France, Belgium, Netherlands) wore almost exclusively dark colors, especially black.

The Masters of Black

by Michèle Coppin

Blind Fold 4007 – 2C	Dark Kettle Black 4011 – 2	High Speed Steel 4005 – 2B	Black Strap 4001 – 2C

I just saw a beautiful exhibit in Antwerp (Belgium) entitled “The Masters of Black," a show for fashion and color lovers alike.

The Most Expensive "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" Ever

by Michèle Coppin

Hotel St Francis Blue 5010 – 10	Simply Green 6002 – 8C	Very Black 5011 – 2	Statuesque 7002 - 5

This Pablo Picasso canvas painted in 1932 was recently purchased by an unidentified telephone bidder for $ 106, 486, 500 –more than one hundred million dollars, during Christie’s "Property from the collection of Mrs. Sidney F. Brody." This sale makes “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust” the most expensive work of art ever sold at an auction! 

Bold Accents for Neutral Backdrops

by Michèle Coppin

Image via Apartment Therapy
Spring Lawn 6006-9C	Ripe Melon 2002-1C

A bold splash of color in a neutral environment brings a room to life. It can energize the space with drama, elegance or whimsy depending on the palette. Master colorist and painter Henri Matisse used bold color combinations to create dynamic compositions. His beautiful paintings are a great source of inspiration.

Color of the Week - Dark Kettle Black

We just finished with the Halloween festivities, so we thought it would be appropriate to explore black for last week's Color of the Week. Dark, deep, mysterious black. Dark Kettle Black is a true black that those of the Victorian Era would have loved. For homes today, you can take it in a modern direction. Try a bedroom in this color. Trim it out in a warm taupe like Light Raffia and for a Holiday twist, add accents of La Fonda Copper and Carolina Inn Crossroads Gold. Don't be scared... it could be a real treat.

                                          
            Dark Kettle Black 4011-2                 Light Raffia 3008-10B

                                  
            La Fonda Copper 2008-5A                       Carolina Inn
                                                               Crossroads Gold 3008-6A

Paint it Black

Mysterious, elegant and awe-inspiring – painting a room black creates a space that transports you to another place. It sets a mood that allows you to expand your ideas and vision.

In these next three photos we are going to see how and why black works in these rooms.



In the photo above, taken from HGTV’s site, we see a room painted a soft, cool black with blue undertones. The walls are high, so in order to avoid creating a huge black cave, the designer balances the deep color with elements of soft, light, cool grays and crisp, pure whites. The sofas, window treatment, painting, fireplace stone and the wood in the fireplace all add a transition from the depth on the walls. If you peak up onto the ceiling, that too is painted soft gray, which ties that high plane into the rest of the room.

The crisp white of the mantle and the column of wall behind it open up the space and reach upward. The white of the window opens that up too. Expanding the window and the white trim captures the edges of the black so that it holds the space, not swallow it up. The designer brilliantly added elements of sheen with the mirrored coffee table and crystal chandelier – very glam. Also the gorgeous, flame-like white sculpture on the mantle adds another element of expansion. 

In the corner is a wonderful collection of square, beveled mirrors that bring shimmers of reflective light and breaks up the deep wall. I love the warm rich wood floor. It anchors all the cool colors above it. The touch of deep, red flowers on the table also adds heat. Overall, the room is sophisticated, fresh and has a hint of the unknown – very cool.  To get this look, try: Blue Coal for the walls, Polished Silver for the ceiling and Ultra white for the trim.

                                   
                  Blue Coal 4011-3                      Polished Silver 4008-1B




In photo #2, we see an entry vignette created by Texas designer Jan Showers. Here we have a deep, dark black which defies limits and boundaries. The objects in front of the wall seem to float in endless space. The soft, warm, gentle pinks in the painting, lamp and dish, as well as the yummy, honey-toned wood all add an inviting aspect to the entry. The Venetian glass chandelier adds an element of glamour, which the black provides the perfect backdrop for. To get this look, try Valspar’s Dark Kettle Black.  For the hints of pink try, Tea Rose.

                                   
             Dark Kettle Black 4011-2                   Tea Rose 1007-2B




The last photo shows a dining room painted a charcoal black with creamy white trim and warm, rich wood. Here you see how great a deep black color can look with paneling – very chic. The cool black is balanced by warm whites and golds in the fabric. To get this look try: Sharkfin for the walls, Shoreline Haze for the ceiling and Woodlawn Whitewash on the trim.

                   
      Sharkfin 4007-2A         Shoreline Haze 6008-1B      Woodlawn Whitewash
                                                                                          6008-1A

Inspirational Black Hues of Veere

By Michèle Coppin

Founded in 1296, the picturesque town of Veere has a long history tied to commerce and shipping, and was once Holland's main naval base. Nowadays, it is mainly a tourist destination; its quiet streets seem frozen in time.

The black houses in Veere resemble English cottages, due to a history of trade with the British. In contrast, the early Dutch secular architecture heralds a time when the importance of public life was symbolized through brick and stone. Examples of this can be found on Veere’s local civic buildings.

Contrasting the brick and stone, the wooden window shutters of the Town Hall display the same black and white theme in shiny, lacquered paint.

The buildings below feature sidings made of overlapping, darkly-stained wood planks which exude a sense of coziness, comfort and ease.

In the North Sea's climate of storms, rain, fog, salt air and the occasional ray of sun, wood must be heavily varnished to remain sustainable. Cabot Stains offers a variety of  easy-to-use stains that can create a similar look.

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We recently posted a new Color Buzz Poll and we'd love to hear from you. What's your biggest worry when taking on a painting project? Check out the right sidebar to cast your vote!

Michelle Obama’s Inaugural Fashion

By Veronique Habermann

   

Although this might seem frivolous in these harsh economic times, I would like to add to the online discussion predicting Michelle Obama’s inaugural dress. There are several blogs and news outlets all over the country, including New York Times and the Boston Herald, that are devoting lots of coverage to the First Lady-to-be’s wardrobe. For me, what makes this so interesting is the fact that Michelle Obama is a trend-setter who has shown a refined, unique sense of style throughout the campaign, often pairing J. Crew cardigans with couture designer items. Many are asking if she will be the next Jackie O.

                         

With the inauguration just a little over a week away, she has a tough choice ahead of her: What to wear? With so much emphasis built up about her clothing choices, she will have to choose wisely on this very special day. She will have to look great, but she certainly won't be able to wear an outfit that is too expensive looking. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes right now!

 

For fun, I asked my 15 year old son, what he thought she should wear and his immediate response was a dress in a dark shade of red. What do you think Michele should wear?

*Check out another post on Michelle’s fashion from the Democratic National Convention.

Friday Project Series: Rice Grain Negoro Nuri

After receiving positive feedback on our Friday Holiday Series, we’ve decided to  continue posting our project ideas each Friday. Enjoy!

By Megan Leblond 

Looking for a cheap and chic project? Negoro Nuri is a painting process first introduced by Japanese monks of the Negorodera monastery in the 14th century.

The traditional technique uses a black lacquer as an undercoat.  Next, a red lacquer is painted on top of the black. Artisans then sanded or allowed the object to wear naturally to expose parts of the black undercoat. This process reflected the philosophy of Eastern artists and craftsmen to highlight a form's intrinsic qualities.

Taking these basic principles, you can create subtle or bold patterns with a Rice Grain Negoro Nuri.  This technique is easy and fun, and has über-cool results!

Step 1. Choose two colors you would like to use together. You can be bold or subtle with your color choices.

Step 2. Prime your surface. (This step isn’t always necessary, but it's best practice for lasting and quality craftsmanship).

Step 3. Paint one coat of base color, let dry.

Step 4. Paint a second coat of base color. While paint is still wet, press the rice into the paint, making sure it sticks to surface and allow to dry.

Step 5.  Leave rice grains adhered to the surface and paint a gentle coat of top color. Use a sponge brush or soft-bristled brush and paint thin layers of top coat. If the paint is too thick, it will surround the rice grains and you will lose the shape of the grain.

Step 6. Allow the paint to dry and remove rice grains.  If you are like me and can't wait for the paint to dry to see the effect, you can remove the rice grains with tweezers, making sure not to disturb the drying paint. However, it is much easier to allow the paint to dry and simply brush the grains away.

Step 7. Sand the surface with an ultra-fine sandpaper or add a clear coat for a shiny look.

                     

                                        

You can use this process for large areas like walls or as an accent in a room, like a chair rail, window trim or piece of furniture.  You can create a Rock ‘n Roll look for a teen room by painting a window frame or headboard with this process, or spice up your office by painting a metal file cabinet. I hope you love the effect of Rice Grain Negoro Nuri as much as I do!

   

Happy creating!

 

Books on Color for Christmas

I love books, especially in the winter! You can curl up with a hot cup and read, read, read. Books make wonderful Christmas gifts. They tell a person you appreciate their interests and want to support what they love. When you're thinking of what to get your favorite artist, aspiring designer, color enthusiast or do-it-yourself guru, try taking a look at some of these beauties.

For the fine arts painter:

Color Theory by Jose Parramon

This amazing book explains how color works in nature and gives examples of how color can be manipulated, mixed and juxtaposed. It talks about color harmonies, complements, contrasts and how to work with cool and warm hues.


For the total color-lover:

Color: A Natural History of the Palette by Victoria Finaly

You can eat this book up; it's a rich and engaging look at color. The author brilliantly breaks the book into chapters by color, each dedicated to the history, lore and use of a particular color. 

Black: The History of a Color by Michel Pastooureau

The author takes us from the very beginnings of our exploration of painting when our ancestors turned to carbon for their pigment. This beautiful and generous image-filled book takes us through the ages, up to current culture, and how and why color still holds such power.

Blue: The History of a Color by Michel Pastooureau

“Pastoureau's text moves us through one fascinating area of activity to another. The jacket, cover and end papers of this luscious book are, appropriately, blue; its double-columned text breathes easily in the space of its pages. It is o well sewn it opens flat at any place. The fascinating, aptly chosen color plates, not confined to the title color, will please even those eyes denied the good luck of being blue.”
(Synopsis by William Gass, Los Angeles Times Book Review)

A Perfect Red: Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire by Amy Butler Greenfield

"Elusive, expensive and invested with powerful symbolism, red cloth became the prize possession of the wealthy and well-born," Greenfield writes in her intricate, fully researched and stylishly written history of Europe's centuries-long clamor for cochineal, a dye capable of producing the "brightest, strongest red the Old World had ever seen."
(Synopsis by Publisher's Weekly)