All of this talk about color has us thinking about what inspires. One of our main forces of inspiration when it comes to looking at color is Marc Rothko. His paintings butt colors up against one another that should offend. Instead, the bold mashing of colors can actually alter our emotional state.
Blues pushed up against black first calm us and then put in a melancholy mood. Hot pink stripes surrounding a line of bold yellow forces a smile on our face. For us this is about how we pair things in rooms...how seemingly contrasting colors can sit so calmly side by side.
This is what we think about when we are looking to be inspired by color. You?
Even though I've seen it a million times, I'm always surprised by the beauty of a blue, cloudless sky up against green trees. I have used that color combo in things I've designed from time to time, and the results are always pleasing. Nature is a great source of inspiration.
I find similar inspiration, Amber. I realized the other day on the way home from work that the sky had that amazing deep blue color. With the dark jagged shapes of trees decked out in their last bright fall leaves in front of that blue along with a few pops of bright chartreause from other foliage, I realized that the reason I probably like this time of year best is because my favorite colors are out in force.
Rothko is pure GENIUS!
He has always been my inspiration. I've sat in the Rothko room at the Tate for hours just in awe. Other inspiration comes from the colour lovers site (www.colourlovers.com) where I've developed some amazing palettes of my own. Each colour has a story to tell.
Although not incredibly similar, I would suggest investigating Masaaki Kazama for anyone who likes Rothko. I say this because I have them side by side on my wall.