Color Theory and the Importance of Color Pairing

During a tour of the wonderful Princeton University Art Museum, I studied this work from an artist (which was noted as a gift of Harold Jay Kramer) that caught my attention. Josef Albers, a German born American artist and educator launched a series to explore the visual effects of color and how colors can look very different when paired with others. His works are credited to be the basis for most art education programs. He used color in variations of brightness; I took a snapshot, look how the square seems to project and recede. This piece is called Homage to the Square: Early Rise 1961

This reminded me of a course I took in college called "Color Theory". This was a study of colors and light and how they are perceived. We had to cut shapes of colored paper and place color A on black paper, and the same color A on white, to study how different they looked. We experimented with colors next to their complimentary and monochromatic colors to gain a better understanding of light, color, saturation and hue. At the time I did not fully understand the knowledge and education I was acquiring. It was the age old question we would ask ourselves as kids.... "will I ever use this information", as I tediously cut these shapes, and at that time used rubber cement to secure them to the page.

This is what our pages looked like, a series of color studies.

I have to say that this one class has stayed with me and was probably one of the most beneficial curriculums I ever took! I use what I learned every day in my life, my career - as a designer, decorator, working creating patterns in Adobe Creative Suite, styling rooms, setting up spaces whether a trade show booth, a showroom, a client's home or my own. I even use the basis of this knowledge when choosing my outfits and accessories!

Color pairing is so important

How you put things together needs to have a flow, a purpose. Whether it be the outfit you choose to wear, or the color you paint your walls. The relationship of the colors you choose matters! Think about this as you paint your home, so that rooms have a flow from one to the other, and do not clash or look harsh together. Choose a palette that looks good side by side, and look at this collection of colors at all times of the day to see how the light that enters your home bounces and reflects to change these colors.

As you choose furnishings for your home, or add that beautiful scarf to your outfit, think about the palette.

I have to say that this one class has stayed with me and was probably one of the most beneficial curriculums I ever took! I use what I learned every day in my life, my career - as a designer, decorator, working creating patterns in Adobe Creative Suite, styling rooms, setting up spaces whether a trade show booth, a showroom, a client's home or my own.

Color pairing is so important

How you put things together needs to have a flow, a purpose. Whether it be the outfit you choose to wear, or the color you paint your walls. The relationship of the colors you choose matters! Think about this as you paint your home, so that rooms have a flow from one to the other, and do not clash or look harsh together. Choose a palette that looks good side by side, and look at this collection of colors at all times of the day to see how the light that enters your home bounces and reflects to change these colors. As you choose furnishings for your home, or add that beautiful scarf to your outfit, think about the palette.

The relationship of colors can create a mood, a feeling, send a message.... what do you want your message to be.