Color Theory
 

I'm making a somewhat scrappy "Outside the Box" quilt found in "The Modern Quilt workshop". Each block is made from 3 fabrics (blues, creams, grays), which must differ in value and hue. Some of the blocks I have finished look great, and others are lacking something. Based on the instructions, I'm guessing I don't have enough contrast in either the value or the hue.

I've had problems with color before. It's time to learn. Can you recommend a book, or online resource, that gives a good, easy to understand explanation?

I think some of my problem might be how my brain processes color. DH can look at a red fabric, and see that it has purple undertones, and another might have orange undertones. I can't see that unless the two fabrics are side by side, and sometimes not even then. I just know they are different reds.

Thanks!!

I can't recommend a book but I can recommend a photo. If you take a black and white photo with your phone, you will be able to see contrast. Since it is in black and white, the color undertones won't matter.

The best advise comes from portrait quilters. Read this:

http://www.terryaskeartquilts.com/St...-from-a-photo/

Jane Quilter

Interesting article. I doubt that I will ever do that - but it does help me understand and respect the technique.

The original poster may have some form of color blindness?

Craftsy has a class on colour theory. I haven't taken it but it's on my list.

Watson

I have "Color Magic for Quilters" by Ann Seely & Joyce Stewart, from Rodale Press. It gives rudimentary theory, mostly in pictures, and has many, many examples including some not-so-successful ones with an improvement & explanation. Also instructions for several quilts. See what your local library has (look in art instruction, too) and what you might borrow from fellow quilters.

Joen Wolfram has good color and design books--several. Check out C & T (not Connecting Threads) Publishing--they have many excellent books on quilting and color. Also, get a good color wheel (they also carry one of these) that is large enough for you to actually see the colors and the different hues, , tints, shades and their values.

Some color wheels are better than others.

I have noticed that there seem to be two "types" around now.

One has the primary colors of red, blue, and yellow that I learned in grade school.

The other one seems to use yellow, magenta, and cyan for the triad of colors.

Yes and there have been other suggestions to use a piece of see-through red plastic or cellophane and look at the 3 colors together. The contrast will stand out really well and at least help with that part of choosing!

I have Jinny Beyer's book 'Color Confidence for Quilters', which has helped me a great deal.

Have no idea your age but developing cataracts change how you see color. After my first surgery, I was seeing the royal blue of the football Cowboys as a periwinkle blue. I had chosen a border fabric during that time that I discovered was totally wrong after the surgery. When I went back to the store to replace that, the clerk commented that her grandmother had to take an entire quilt apart as red and pink were the problem and her entire quilt, not just the border of mine, was totally "off". My eye dr told me to consider the art of Monet and see how his color choices changed through the years and it probably was because of developing cataracts.

there's also an iquilt class on color theory for quilters by Katie Pasquini-Masopust-- I haven't taken that one, but I have taken her other classes and they were very good. Her use of color is excellent, as is Joen Wolfram's who teaches the Craftsy class. I haven't taken the one on Craftsy, but I do have several of Joen Wolfram's books and they are excellent resources for both color and design.

Rob

I agree with toverly, only I place the fabric in order on the scanner part of my printer and print it in black and white. The value of the fabrics is then very easy to see.

Check out Jinny Beyers' website.........she is GREAT with colors!!!

Also.......
 

I agree that high contrast is needed for that quilt (Outside The Box). I've taken many classes by renowned color experts, Katie Pasquini-Masopust and others. And I've learned to 'see' color better. Katie teaches overlays which is useful to learn tints and shades of colors. I learned a lot from Sandy Bonsib who took me into a quilt shop and showed me primary, secondary and tertiary colors side by side. How lucky am I!? But, my concern is that you say you don't see the orange or blue in a certain red unless they are side by side. I'm not sure if this is a visual problem or you just need lessons and practice. I guess if I were you I would cut some swatches and make my own little color wheel. There are great tools and instructions online on how to do this. Try thecolourguru.wordpress.com, http://www.colorspire.com/overview/, or google 'color wheel projects' on Pinterest. Those will get you started. I hope this all has been helpful, keep us posted please.

Get a color wheel where you will be able to see primary colors, analageous colors and monochromatic colors. This will help you see your color values in the colors you have chosen. Hope this helps. I learned this in Art Class I and II.

Thanks. I tried this, and it was helpful with the blues in my Outside the Box quilt. But I'm making a Disappearing 9 Patch comfort quilt and picked a bright yellow for the 4 blocks that get cut down the middle. Poor choice - the quilt screams yellow, but in black and white the yellow fades to a very light grey. I need to learn what this is telling me. The comfort quilt has a deadline, so no time to pick another fabric. I counting on little kids liking bright colors!

I've bookmarked this. Thanks for the link.

I've added it to my list. I'll watch for the next good sale.

Well, it's going to scream louder at you than at anyone else, I think, because you are focused in on it now. Little kids do like bright colors.
I empathize with you, because I have problems with color value too.

I've requested this from the library. Thanks.

If you had to pick one book, which would it be? I can't seem to find any of her books in any Ohio library.

I found this one at the library also. Thanks

Interesting. I do have developing cataracts that aren't 'ripe' enough for surgery. I wish they were, since I would benefit from a glaucoma surgery that insurance will only pay for if it's done at the same time as cataract surgery.