Color Buzz

Kandinsky’s April

by Michèle Coppin

Island Orance 2010-2	Gold Abundance 3003-1A	Parakeet Green 6010-10	Lavish Green 6002-10A

Russian painter and color theorist Wassily Kandinsky associated many of his paintings with seasons and often included months in his titles.

Elvis' Birthday

By Megan Leblond

Few men are known almost world-wide by their first name. Elvis (Presley) is one of them, and today we’re recognizing his contributions to color and style in honor of his birthday tomorrow: January 8, 1935. His music combined R&B, soul, gospel and country, and he produced some of the first rock and roll music in America. 

Elvis was known for his sensitive and romantic low vocals, good looks, expressive dance moves, acting abilities, generosity and overall sense of style.

                                   

Known as “The King,” Elvis made his mark in the world of style and color more than once. The white rhinestone suit many impersonators mimic is most likely one of the most recreated garments in history.  The crisp beauty of this garment is paralleled in Graceland’s interior. Elvis’s white family room with colorful curtains and stained glass reflects the same color sensibilities of his famous suit. Joining small amounts of bright colors to a white or gentle neutral has a playful and pleasing effect.

                   

 

Color was important to Elvis. He even warned us in a song against marring his precious “Blue Suede Shoes.” In 1955, Elvis purchased a blue Cadillac for his mother. His neighbor mixed a very light pink together to repaint its exterior, and he named the pink color “Elvis Rose.” Today you can be married in any number of pink Cadillacs in romantic Las Vegas style.

Later all this became part of his Cadillac collection, one in particular he had painted gold 40 times.

          

If you are an Elvis style or music fan, consider some of the colors from the Valspar collection – try one of the pale pinks or a subtle slate blue, and don’t forget the sensational Metallics collection.

Hip, Hot, Cool Grey

By Michèle Coppin

Grey is finally getting the recognition it deserves as one of the hottest colors for the New Year! Greys started regaining popularity in 2008, and as noted by my fellow Beehive designer, Ann McGuire, in her Kansas City Star interview, grey is the “new neutral” and can easily be paired with many colors to achieve different effects.

No one seemed to pay much attention to grey until last March when supermodel turned singer and First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, accompanied her husband, President Nicolas Sarkozy, on his first official visit to England. The trip was a great success, and Carla won the hearts and minds of the British with her elegance, poise and array of gorgeous grey ensembles! The Queen was reportedly impressed, the press went wild and grey made its fashion comeback.

Grey has a long history rooted in the nostalgic beauty of grey seas and grey skies, with its depth and mystery inspiring artists and designers for centuries.

                                  
 
Forget about dull battleship grey, midway between white and black. Grey is a soothing color that exudes tranquility and calmness. Grey can create harmonious and gentle atmospheres that are reassuring, comforting and discreet—a true relief in these tumultuous times.

For those in need of a simple and cost-effective way to restore harmony and balance in your home, a new shade of this soothing color can make a big difference. Take a look at this romantic and quiet space by Layla Grayce decorators that used a combination of pale greys and soft blues: 

                    

This comfortable modern interior blends greys and whites to create a relaxing and tranquil place:

                      

The most beautiful greys are created by mixing two complementary colors—colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, like blue and orange, yellow and purple, or red and green.

Indeed, grey can range from soft lavenders to cool misty greens and sophisticated blues. For example:

For a warm grey: March Breeze
For a greener, fresh grey: Cliveden Mist
For a cool grey: Tempered Grey

To explore additional grays, go to Valspar’s online paint palette, choose a family of colors and select the "Neutral” tab at the bottom for “grayed” versions of those colors.
 
Greys are enhanced by other colors and are easily matched:

• All greys go with white
• Blue-greys go well with blues and greens
• Reddish greys go well with pinks
• Brownish greys go well with oranges, pinks and turquoises
  

*Carla has a lovely soft and smoky voice, I recommend her latest CD – all the proceeds go to charity.

               
  March Breeze 1001-10C   Cliveden Mist 6007-1A    Tempered Grey 1004-14