Читать книгу Scrapbook Asian Style! - Kristy Harris - Страница 8
ОглавлениеColoring Your Projects with Asia’s Inspiring Spectrum
From China’s Yellow River to the Pink City of Rajasthan
People identify Asia with certain colors. Rich vermillion reds, imperial yellow and that specific “Chinese blue” evoke images of a majestic China. While images of modern Japan include the vivid neon lights of Tokyo, the colors of Japan are more traditionally connected to muted earth tones. Thailand, the Philippines and Bali are tropical Southeast Asian locales that are visions of tangerine, mango and lime. When thinking of India, vibrant colors of jeweled saris and exotic Bollywood movie sets come to mind and affect the way we imagine that country. Colors also have specific meanings in Asian cultures; for example, imperial yellow was once reserved only for China’s royal family, and the Japanese believe that the color green symbolizes rebirth and a connection with the natural world. The color black, throughout Asia, is commonly viewed as a noncolor or connected with evil spirits.
Throughout this chapter we will discuss color theory, in practical terms, using the colors of Asia as our guide. The use of color is the most basic of all of the tools we have in our scrapbooking toolbox; and I hope to give you some new tricks, expand your color horizon and have you thinking in combinations you might have otherwise not considered. Note: On occasion, I refer to a color wheel. If you don’t already own a color wheel, I strongly suggest you invest in one as color wheels aren’t expensive and are an invaluable resource. They are readily available at most scrapbooking stores and almost all craft/fine art stores.
Looking through the Kaleidoscope
Understanding Asian Colors
We see and interact with colors on a daily basis. Colors can change the mood and feel of the projects that we work on. Many people, and certainly most crafty people, have visceral reactions to certain colors and may think of colors in connection with specific locations. Asia is a big bright mix of colors. For me, the Near East represents the color of spices such as cinnamon, turmeric and sage. The bright colors of purple, fuchsia and peacock blue trimmed in gold remind me of Indian saris. The colors marigold yellow and grass green represent the Balinese offering baskets that are placed on the streets every morning; and the wild colors of red, green, orange, pink and gold can be seen on a Taiwanese street performer during a Taoist festival. All of these colors are separately Asia to me, but yet they combine into a wonderful kaleidoscope quilt of memories. It is these memories that often guide me when I am preparing to do a layout.
A quick introduction to what we are going to cover in this chapter can be done by looking at the two projects on page 13. In these layouts I used colors to highlight the emotion and the memory of the place that I wanted to capture. Both layouts feature pictures from the JW Marriott resort in Phuket Thailand, but by changing the color scheme the resulting projects feel very different. For me, when I think of Thailand, I immediately think of the aquamarine sea, the warm white sand and the bright blue sky. The first layout, called JW Marriott, highlights the water features of the hotel and the view of the seemingly endless horizon as seen from the hotel lobby. The colors used in the layout, blue and yellow, draw your attention to the water features in my pictures. Now, contrast this with the second layout using greens and bright pinks to give the layout a more energetic and warm feel. The picture of the coral pink flower framed in black has become the focal point, the picture which highlights the rest of the project. The color of the flower was further highlighted by using cardstock and patterned paper in the same vivid pink.
JW Marriott by Kristy Harris
Cool colors of blue highlight the water features found in this resort hotel in Phuket Thailand, while highlights of bright warm colors such as yellow and red make this layout feel tropically inspired.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Die Cuts With A View, WorldWin; Patterned paper: Rusty Pickle, Autumn Leaves, Mod; Brads: Making Memories; Flowers: Prima; Rub-ons: American Crafts/ Trademarks; Photo corners: Heidi Swapp; Tags, photo turns: Rusty Pickle; Other: Button, thread
Favorite Vacation by Kristy Harris
Using bright colors of coral and lime green, grounded with splashes of brown and black, give a definite tropical feel to this layout about the grounds of the JW Marriott Hotel in Phuket Thailand.
Supply Credits Cardstock: DCWV; Patterned paper: Luxe Designs; Rub-ons: Luxe Designs; Chipboard paisley: Fancy Pants Designs; Chipboard flowers: American Crafts; Acrylic paint: Ranger (paint dauber); Other: Ink
Source It!
While I am blessed, by living in Asia, to have a daily source of inspiration, it is possible to get introduced to Asian colors no matter where you live by taking a virtual field trip to Asia. For example, great sources of inspiration can be found in any Chinatown or other Asian community in cities throughout the United States and Europe. Watching Asian movies is a great way to take a field trip to Asia. Watching Raise the Red Lantern, Lost In Translation, Monsoon Wedding, Crouching Tiger/ Hidden Dragon and the comedy Kung Fu Hustle will fill your creative well with amazing Asian colors and images.
Zen by Kristy Harris
This layout is an example of using two values of the same hue to make a monochromatic layout. The green cardstock and lighter shade of green-patterned paper complement the natural shades of green found in the picture. A simple title completes this layout, which focuses on the picture of a Zen garden.
Supply Credits Cardstock: WorldWin; Patterned paper: K&Company; Font: Times New Roman
I hope that as you read this chapter and view the layouts you will better understand how color and their cultural connotations can add an interesting new dimension to your scrapbook projects.
Zen Aesthetics
The Beauty of Japanese Simplicity
Japan is a paradox. While it is one of the most modern societies in the world, the Japanese culture is also one of the most traditional. Tokyo represents the modern with the bright, crazy colors of the Kawaii style, the pervasive use of pastels in Hello Kitty style and the Goth look associated with the animae-inspired Harajuku kids. All provide wonderful inspiration for layouts, but I’ve focused on muted colors, especially earth tones, and the monochromatic palettes found in the Zen aesthetic. Proponents of Zen interior design believe that natural objects should be showcased and that the use of bright colors and bold design are inappropriate. To create the Zen aesthetic in scrapbook design, a layout should use monochrome palettes or earth tones, the patterned paper should be simple and not overly ornate and the embellishments should be minimal, which will result in the photographs taking center stage.
To really understand monochrome palettes, perhaps a bit of color theory would be valuable. I hear “color theory” all the time, but how about a real easy-to-understand explanation? A color is actually called a “hue,” and each hue can be changed by altering its value, or its intensity. A hue’s value is adjusted by making it lighter by adding white (thereafter called a “tint”) or darker by adding black (called a “shade”). It might help you to think of a tint in relation to gray on a gray scale. Starting at the center and moving toward the left side of the scale, by adding a bit of black at each step, gray becomes darker—moving from gray toward steel, on to charcoal, until finally you’ve reached a full black. Starting again at the center, if you move toward the right of the scale adding a bit of white each step of the way, you will be moving from gray toward true white. If you replace gray with a color, each subsequent lightening of the original color is called a “tint.”
Us by Edleen Maryam
Using a collection of patterned paper by one manufacturer makes paper matching easy. Edleen’s layout in the earth tones of greens, browns and blues is highlighted by a splash of white. Though the paper is patterned with multiple flowers, the busy paper doesn’t overwhelm the picture because the color scheme is muted and limited. I really like Edleen’s Zen approach to paper cutting here. By cutting around the flower, she slipped the photograph in behind the flower, adding depth without adding multiple embellishments.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: My Mind’s Eye; Stamp: 7gypsies; Other: Brads, gems
TRADITIONAL JAPANESE COLORS
Historically, Japanese colors have been earth toned and linked to nature. The colors used in traditional Japanese textiles were produced from simple vegetable dyes and were often linked to the seasons. When wanting to feature Japanese and Zen colors in your layout, consider using combinations of the following colors:
Greens: Pine, Apple, Grass
Blues: Blue-Green (called Ao in Japanese) and Indigo
Pink: Sakura (very pale pink), Plum Pink and Scarlet (used in moderation)
Reds: Plum, Rose
Browns, Tans and off white
It is also possible to create different tones of color by adding gray to change the intensity. Therefore, a monochromatic color scheme is one that uses all of the same colors, in varied tints and shades. In other words, a layout using a specific hue of green, with additional accents of varied tints or shades of the same hue, would be considered monochromatic. Later in the chapter we will discuss other color combinations in traditional color theory.
The example projects use monochromatic combinations or combinations that feature earth-toned colors. For those who love to play with color, the good news is that Zen layouts need not be void of a second color. Recall that while true monochromatic projects are shades and tints of the same color, Zen proponents will permit themselves to use a splash of an accent color to bring about a specific emotion or to highlight a design detail. This can be accomplished in your scrapbook projects as well.
Japanese Browns
by Heather Taylor
Simple without excess embellishment and using two tones of the same hue, this card is the perfect example of a monochromatic Zen-inspired card.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Stamps: Stone House Stamps (word), Art Neko (mon); Inks: VersaMark, VersaCraft Black; Ribbon: Nostalgiques
TIP In the Zen aesthetic, the use of a small embellishment in a complementary color adds excitement to an otherwise monochromatic palette and brings attention to a specific design detail.
Be Real by Lynita Chin
Lynita took inspiration from the Japanese art of ikebana for this layout. Ikebana floral arrangements follow the same rules as Lynita did in this project. First, the largest item should be in the back of the design, in this case the largest being the tallest photographs, and the smallest (shortest) are placed in front. The project contains an odd number of photographs (seven photographs). The smaller photographs (flowers) are arranged in a wide shallow bowl on the bottom or in front. The design should be minimalist (no title, and minimal embellishments), and finally the design should be asymmetrically balanced.
Supply Credits Patterned paper: My Mind’s Eye, Chipboard coaster: Urban Lily
Raise the Red Lantern!
The Bright and Bold Colors of China
Nearly ten years ago, my mother and I were traveling in a small town in a fairly remote part of China. We were probably the only Westerners in the town during that time of year, and it was getting to be dinnertime. We found only one open restaurant, which was at our hotel, and they were hosting a wedding banquet. While we ate our dinner, off to the side of the festivities, we watched the bride go through a number of changes of clothes. The last change was from a white dress to a bright red one. To be honest, we were shocked. We wondered, “What on earth is she wearing?” Here we were, two women from Oregon, in a foreign land; and while not unworldly, we just could not wrap our brains around a red wedding dress. Later, when I returned to Beijing to continue with my Chinese language class, I asked my teachers about the dress. It was then I learned that red is a traditional color for weddings and other festivals in China as a symbol of celebration, luck and prosperity. I now look at the use of color in a different way after that wedding; and when I bring out a bright red paper for use in my Chinese layouts, I feel as if I am bringing in good luck!
TRADITIONAL CHINESE COLORS
When giving your projects a Chinese flair, the following colors can be used as a guide:
Imperial Yellow
Bright Red (firecracker red)
Rust
Green
Blues: Chinese Blue, Indigo, Peacock Blue
Chinese culture has strong associations with certain colors. In the art and practice of feng shui, colors are given specific meanings and are linked to the four main directions (North, South, East and West) and five elements (Earth, Wood, Metal, Fire and Water). The goal of feng shui is obtain a balance of the elements in order to have a balanced Chi, or life force. Red means luck, celebration and prosperity and is linked to the element of fire. The Chinese word for yellow is a homonym for the word royal, and the use of the color was limited to the royal family. In feng shui, yellow is associated with the Earth element, symbolizing growth. Blue and green, which are considered to be the same color in feng shui, are connected to the Wood element and mean harmony and longevity. White, attached to the Metal element, is the opposite of red and is worn as a color of mourning (the exact opposite of Western culture!). The Water element is connected to black and has negative associations and is assumed to mean evil.
Lohei by Sharon Chan
The patterned paper by Die Cuts With A View features a Chinoiserie-inspired motif using branches and flowers. When combined with Chinese colors and detailed Chinese-type flowers, this layout has a distinct ethnic flair.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Die Cuts With A View (small floral), American Crafts (large flowers), Autumn Leaves (scalloped edge); Other: Chipboard letters, microbeads, glossy accent
Beauty by Ann Pennington
The picture of Ann’s grandchild’s smile is complemented by the bright, vivid and happy color of yellow, the color traditionally reserved for the Chinese emperor. This unique project features a reverse batik technique.
Supply Credits Mulberry paper, high-gloss photo paper, white scrap paper, cardstock; Die Cuts With A View (“Beauty” sticker); Stamp Attack (gingko stamp); clear embossing powder; embossing pad: VersaMark; Inks: Posh Impressions (Citrus, Beach Ball Yellow, Orange, Popsicle Orange); Other: Paper flowers, brads, eyelets
Intense by Lynita Chin
Inspired by the traditional Chinese colors of yellow and blue, and combining them with black-and-white photographs, this layout has a definite “Chinoiserie” feel to it. The use of this complementary color scheme of yellow and blue (colors that complement each other are opposite each another on the color wheel). Complementary colors always work well together and are an easy way to create a coordinated layout with the use of colors.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: BasicGrey; Rice paper: Alphabet stickers: American Crafts; Flower: Prima; Inks: archival ink (sepia); Other: Brad, charm, ribbon, small tag
First Year of School
by Lynita Chin
Peacock blue was Lynita’s inspiration for this layout featuring heritage photographs of her first year of school. Red, pinks and blues are part of Chinese cultural history in Southeast Asia, and the combination makes me think of Peranekan pottery (Straits Chinese from Malaysia and Singapore) when I see this layout.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: BasicGrey, KI Memories, Creative Imaginations; Flowers: Prima; Monogram letters: Colorbok; Chipboard alphabet: Heidi Swapp; Snaps: Making Memories; Stickers: 7gypsies/97% Complete; Ribbon
Red by Sharon Chan
Red holds significance as a color of celebration in Chinese culture, and this layout shows how the color is used in the home as a decorative element during the Chinese New Year holiday. Red is such a strong color that it often overpowers the other colors around it. Sharon paired red with black and white, allowing the color to stand on its own and shine.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill/Bling; Patterned paper: Scenic Route; Chipboard alphabet: BasicGrey/Undressed; Acrylic paint: EK Success; Alphabet stickers: American Crafts/At Home, Making Memories/Celebration; Chipboard house: Jenni Bowlin Studio; Flower chipboard: Technique Tuesday; Pen: American Crafts/Slick Writer; Glossy accent: Ranger
A Photo Just Because by Lynita Chin
Tropical colors tend to work well together when you take inspiration from nature. Red, purple and lime green seem sort of incongruous, but you know what? It works in the dragon fruit, so it will work in your layout as well!
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Patterned paper: Luxe Designs; Rub-ons: Luxe Designs; Alphabet rub-ons: 7gypsies; Plastic alphabet letters: Heidi Swapp; Chipboard ring: Heidi Swapp; Flower brad: Making Memories; Large flowers (pink): Heidi Swapp
Source It!
If you’re lucky enough to live in a tropical locale, such as sunny southern Florida, or will be visiting one soon, you’ll be delighted by the vivid, sun-drenched colors and heady aromas of exotic flowers and fruits. But even if you won’t be near the equator any time soon, you can still get lots of inspiration and ideas simply by visiting a grocery store, where you’ll find tropical fruits, or a florist, botanical garden or conservatory for tropical floral inspiration.
The projects below use traditional Chinese color combinations and emphasize how the use of the traditional color schemes can give an ethnic flair to the project without requiring the use of Chinese-patterned papers or embellishments.
Lime in the Coconut
Bringing Exotic Tropical Colors to Your Layouts
Tropical Asia can be experienced through the senses. The sites, smells and tastes of the tropics are all right there in the fruits and flowers of the region: the green palm trees, the abundant bananas, tangerines, limes and dragon fruits—the saturated yellows, oranges and fuchsia. Luckily, being based in Singapore grants me the opportunity to travel to some of the world’s best tropical locales. Each time I come home from vacation I am refreshed and inspired by the sights of tropical Southeast Asia. Walking along the beach in Bali, for example, I feel stimulated by the brilliant bougainvilleas that I see. My taste buds go into overtime when I walk by the fruit seller’s stall filled with papaya, dragon fruit, limes, and coconut. My whole body relaxes at the sight of the white sands and aqua sea. The tropics are warm, and the colors used to evoke them also tend to be warm and bright.
The characterization of a color’s warmth is based on its location on the color wheel and its relation to the colors surrounding it. Generally, warm colors include the yellows, reds and bright pinks, symbolizing fire and the sun. Cool colors, which are represented by the sea, grass and sky, are obviously blues and greens. Purple, actually violet, falls in the middle of the spectrum and can be classed as a warm or cool color depending on the colors with which it is partnered. Warm color combinations make for energetic, stimulating and festive layouts, whereas cool color palettes are more restful and soothing. It is possible to design a tropical layout featuring cool shades as well. For example, the combination of lime green with coral clearly gives a tropical feel, but is not so overwhelmingly “hot.”
TROPICAL ASIAN COLORS
Let these bold and vivid colors guide you on your travels to tropical Southeast Asia:
Green: Lime, Palm Green and Fern
Yellows: Orange, Lemon, Bananna
Blues: Aquamarine and Sky
Reds/Purples: Fuscia, Dragon Fruit
Neutrals: Sand, Coconut Brown
Sundrop by Lynita Chin
Warm, bright and fun, this layout just screams with energy. Fuchsia pink, lime, lemon and orange—colors that represent the tropics—accentuate the excitement of Lynita’s children while sharing a favorite vacation treat.
Supply Credits Patterned paper: paper salon, Fancy Pants Designs; My Mind’s Eye/Every Day Tango; Alphabet stickers: DoodleBug Design Inc.; Gems: My Mind’s Eye/Bohemia: Other: Dymo tape
Congratulations
by Heather Taylor
Using the relative warmth of the orange paper and balancing it with a cool color such as blue shows how well warm and cool colors naturally work together. When paired with tropical-inspired pattern paper and an Indian-based motif, this project imparts a tropical feel without overwhelming the senses.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Unknown; Patterned paper: Paper Salon; Stamp: Art Neko (Henna Hand), Savvy stamps (congratulations); Inks: Versacraft Black; Embossing powder: Moon Glow in Morning Glory Azure Teal; Other brads and orange-painted background with acrylic paints with gold
TIP Tropical layouts featuring oranges, reds and vibrant pinks will all feel warm, and by using these colors you can brighten up an otherwise ordinary photograph. You can also create tranquil tropical layouts reminiscent of a cool evening sunset by balancing the cool color of aqua with some neutral colors like sand and coconut brown and a warmer tone like burnt sienna to create a layout that is pure tropical Asia.
Jaylene’s Beads by Julie Kosolofski-Kuo
Using the red, green and raspberry/purple colors found in the dragon fruit, Julie took a challenge I gave her to use these colors in a layout. Julie’s layout is grounded by the use of light-colored kraft cardstock holding the three colors together without competing for attention. It is easy to see that lime green, raspberry and red are all warm colors, and the brown acts as a soothing complement.
Supply Credits Cardstock; Patterned paper: Creative Imaginations/Christine Adolph (pink wash), Green Tea Squared; Stamp: Heidi Swapp (Drama); Monogram: Colorbok; Letter stickers
Cinnamon and Sapphire
The Colors of India
India is a nation of color where roses and marigolds are used for celebrations and offerings, brides are adorned in red silk saris and textiles of every color in the spectrum are seen on the streets. Many people think of the spice colors of cinnamon, turmeric, mustard and red chili in connection with India; but I also tend to think of women in their bright jewel-toned saris, in colors of sapphire blue, turquoise, amethyst purple and emerald green.
The women of Rajasthan, India, are renowned for their love of color and will wear brightly colored saris, even when working in the cotton fields. While in Singapore’s Little India, I purchased a few silk scarves that remind me of these saris—scarves in deep dark luxurious ruby, turquoise and purple adorned with golden paisley patterns. Working with these rich colors is inspiring!
How we use colors in our crafts can change the way that a project is interpreted. We know that warm colors such as yellow, red and orange add energy to a project and that the cool colors of blue and green tend to calm us down and center us. Rich deep colors such as the jewel tones impart an air of luxury and elegance to the projects and are wonderful when paired with glitter, gold and rhinestones.
Just as in other parts of Asia, colors in India are also associated with certain meanings. In India the color red, as in much of the rest of the world, represents sensuality, but did you know that the color also represents purity? When a bride wears red in India it symbolizes both purity and passion, as well as devotion between two people and fertility and prosperity. Blue, another popular color in India, is the color of Krishna and the color of peaceful change. The color of saffron also holds religious meaning in India, indicating joy, festivity and happiness. Green symbolizes fertility and nature. It is not surprising to see bold combinations of color in India, but as in China, the Indian people do not use the color black except to ward off evil; and, contrary to Western culture, white is the color of mourning.
INDIAN COLORS
India is a land filled with a multitude of color, but most people identify the spice tones and handsomely adorned women in silk saris when they think of India. To bring a bit of Indian inspiration to your projects, consider using the following colors:
Spice: Cinnamon (reddish brown), Tumeric (bright yellow), Ginger (pale yellow), Green Peppercorn, Chili Red
Jewel Colors: Emerald Green, Sapphire Blue, Amethyst Purple, Ruby Red
Chelsea by Sharon Chan
Sharon used a solid ocean blue cardstock as the base for this Indian-inspired layout. Her choice of bright pink, green and orange color accents was inspired by the vivid look of Indian saris. When coupled with the screen-printed transparencies from Hambly Studios resembling Indian prints and textiles, the Indian feel is complete.
Supply Credits Cardstock: WorldWin; Transparencies: Hambly Studios; Letter stickers: American Crafts; Bling: Heidi Swapp
Indian Princess by Nishi Varshnei
This bold layout showcases the spice colors of India and the adept use of recycled fabric. In this project Nishi had some leftover fabric that matched the dress worn by her daughter in the picture. A perfect case of environmental scrapbooking!
Supply Credits Cardstock; Indian cotton fabric; Computer journaling
Focus by Nishi Varshnei
The tourmaline pink in the background of the patterned paper coordinate with the pink Indian clothes in the picture. The layout uses the complementary accents of green and teal.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Patterned paper: BasicGrey; Others: Letter stickers, ribbon, tags
Source It!
Autgreat source of inspiration for ethnically themed projects can be found as close as your local interior design center, import store or home design magazine. The use of brightly colored silk pillows with metallic trim is a great jumping-off point for using jewel tones. Look at the layouts in the magazines and don’t be afraid to borrow color combinations. Asian-style home décor is a great place to start your journey into scrapping Asian style.
Goddess by Kristy Harris
This layout was inspired by a photograph of an Indian shrine. The flowers, gems and vividly brilliant jewel colors highlight the dramatic nature of my daughter Kiera posing for the camera.
Supply Credits Cardstock: Bazzill; Flowers: Prima, mjdesigns; Ink: VersaMagic (bronze); Crystals: Swarovski, Making Memories; Crystal flowers: mjdesigns; Patterned paper: BasicGrey; Letter stickers: American Crafts/Thickers; Silver photo corner; Far Flung Craft; Other: Sequins
Bollywood Babes
by Wendy Steward
This layout by Wendy is an inviting example of an analogous color combination. Analogous colors are those adjacent to each other on a color wheel. The reds and oranges are a warm and inviting layout. Wendy centered the project by using cardstock strip down the middle and framing the photograph with the same color cardstock. Without this base, the colors in the photograph would be too similar to those in the photograph, and the shot would be lost in the busy patterned paper.
Supply Credits Patterned paper; Brown chipboard letters: Heidi Swapp; Velvet letters; Flowers: Prima; Brads; Paint: Making Memories
TIP When bright, vivid colors such as Indian jewel tones are used, it is often best to either ground the colors in a dark neutral such as brown or black or match them with complementary colors to give visual definition to the project.
Detail of Joy by Avina Lim. Avina’s layout features Asian floral motifs and tropically inspired colors to create this “bouquet.”
