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SPRING
2015
EverheardofJohannes Itten?
Asamemberof theBauhausmove-
ment, a teacher andpainter in the early1920s, he developed
several theoriesoncolour.Hiscolourwheel continues tobeused
todayandhis ideasonhowcolouraffectseachofusemotionally
were groundbreaking in their time. Remember whenwewere
busy labellingeachotherasseasons? Youmightbean ‘autumn’
personandsuited towearingcolours reflectedby that timeof the
year –warm colours for summer, cool ones for winter people.
Itten identifiedcolours that triggeredemotionsaswell.
Tricks can be playedwith colour.Warm colours advance and
cool colours recede. Ablack square surroundedbywhitewill
look smaller than the exact same size of a square of white sur-
roundedbyblack.Aprimarycolourof thesamevalueplacedbe-
side the opposite secondary colour will make the eye ‘jump’
between the two– it excites thecones inour retinas. Thinkof red
andgreenatChristmasor theyellowwithpurpleat Easter.
Butweall seecolourdifferently. In fact,1 in12menand1 in200
women have some degree of colour blindness – many never
know that theyare even in this group. If guys seem to likeblue
most itmay relate to the fact that red/greenblindness is themost
commondeficiency.
Myguy likes bright colours – suchas large chunks of it found in
art work by Tarkay – now an Israeli, born 1935 –who often
paintswomen inastyle that remindsmeofMattise. He isalso the
onewho choseaWilliamMorris print onblack linenwith terra-
cotta coloured peonies the size of cabbages for an eight foot
sofa.What was I thinking?Howabout we should have useda
neutral colour –grey, cream, beige–andcovered the sofawith
toss cushions patternedwith bright peonies - but I lovemy guy
who loves colour so...
Perhaps you have seen the ‘jelly bean’ houses inNewfound-
land? Vivid,bright coloursareoftenused topaint theclapboard
houses– trimmed inwhite. I’llbet they looked spectacular in the
tons of snow that fell on theRock this past winter. Such funwith
colour has tohelpkeep the spiritsupwhen the flakes fall.
Weallhave favouritecolours,ones thatmakeus feelgood, those
thatwe like towearandhave inourhomes (justopenyourcloset).
Oneofmine isgeraniumorange,butagain,betterasa tosscush-
ion thananeight foot sofa–asa scarf or sweater thana suit.
At the riskof sounding likeabroken record, keep the largepieces
neutral and surroundyourselfwithyour favouriteart andcolour.
Incorporatewhat you loveand youwill always havewhat you
need.
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SharonAllan is an Interior Decor Specialist and owner of VanAllanDesigns, Collingwood.
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style essentials
by SHARON ALLAN
Itzchak Tarkay - Oil onCanvas
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