Blue and Yellow Equal Joy
This week I have created 13 pastel Art Cards, ACEOs. Art Cards are 2 1/2 x 3 1/2″ – in any medium … the size is what makes them ACEOs. They have become a very popular, affordable way to collect an artist’s work. I had mainly been making digital paintings that I made into Art Cards … and prints of some of my larger vibrant, colorful paintings. But by popular demand (and the call of my muse), I am painting new vibrant, colorful pastels using traditional mediums right in the studio … totally away from the computer. And it feels great!
Summer Morning, Pastel © Diane Clancy
But today I have been realizing part of what is so so great about working digitally – once you create the piece, you have it already to go! It is easy to print because the colors on my computers generally match reasonably well with the printing from my archival printer. The prints I make are rated to last 100 years … so the prints I create will last you a long, long time …
But when I scan in the little ACEOs, the color doesn’t translate as accurately to the computer. I also need to protect the scanner from the pastel, so I use this shiny paper I bought years ago. I read about it as a way to protect your scanner and still have fun, messy things to scan. Once I get the digital file, I need to analyze what the color shifts are. Some of them need to just be lighter, or shift the reds more toward magenta … or … or … and the beat goes on. So it is a lot more work to get from a digital file to the printed art when I start with traditional medium. But the pastels and other paints and papers are SO much fun to work with. Yes, I know I could photo them too … and that is another set of problems.
This is one of my very favorite ones of the new Art Cards … I love the way certain blues and yellows bounce off each other – I have loved this color combination since I was a child .. even though you would never know that by the lack of frequency I use this combo. My favorite colors – as you may have have guessed – are magenta/hot pink, aqua/azure and violet/purple. These colors just make my heart sing … I love them!! I love the way this trio interacts with each other .. I go around and around with which one is my favorite of the moment depending on the shades.
But also the way this particular bright, light, vibrant blue plays together with a clear, bright, light yellow – oh, it always grabs me and transports me into joy. Did I ever mention that the unifying theme of my work is color? Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear about you!
Thank you for stopping by!
~ Diane Clancy
Technorati Tags: Diane Clancy, vibrant colorful painting, pastel, ACEO, Art Card, muse, color
Probably nobody will react as strongly to colors and combinations of colors as someone who has a lot of artistic talent. To feel joy and exuberance and to be moved by colors is something very special, I think. I am very fond of the colors red and yellow, but you wouldn’t know it from any bit of evidence in my life. Still, these are the colors that move me, yellow especially. I think there’s nothing more inviting than a yellow painted front door. In a very creamy yellow, as if you can taste it.
I love today’s pastel. I like that color combination too. It makes me think of the Provence.
Yay! More pastels! I love the the softness of your pastel work, Diane – the colours are vibrant, but the effect is of softness and gentleness. I am glad that you are enjoying being back in the studio. There is something very fulfilling about working with simple, low tech materials and creating beauty.
lovely. It is so great to see you doing all this handiwork away from screens. I’m sure it is therapeutic for you as well. hugs