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Color Creativity

by Kristal Wick
In all my years of being an artist and teaching I have found folks usually fall into one of two categories when it comes to color: Love it or Hate it! It seems some are born with an innate sense of color and others simply missed that gene and really struggle with combining colors and creating a cohesive color pallet.
There are many tools and books on the market to teach this skill and I've even created color specific mood boards for my students to take with them to a bead show or shopping to pick out beads. One of my fave tools is Swarovski's interactive color wheel: https://www.create-your-style.com/get-started-new/Color-Carousel.en.php
It's specific to their crystal and pearl colors that we carry, but you can also apply these same colors to other gemstones.or jewelry components that matches a color on the color wheel.
One of the easiest ways to start selecting colors is to try a monochromatic pallet. This means the base color is the same and you add shades, tones and tints to that base color. This is a great way to explore your favorite color by simply adding different shades of the same color. Here's an example of a monochromatic blue pallet using the base color of blue (my personal fave).
It includes aquamarine, blue zircon, sapphire, light sapphire. And I threw in some capri blue and turquoise for a little pop. Monochromatic color pallets are very calming and feel peaceful when wearing them.
Kristal Wick's Color Creativity - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, shades of blue
You don't have to use a lot of colors to create a satisfying pallet, take this simple monochromatic pallet that uses only three different shades:
rose, light rose and fuchsia.

Kristal Wick's Color Creativity - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, shades of pink
An analogous color pallet (also called harmonious) uses colors next to each other on the color wheel such as green and blue. Here I have combined aquamarine, blue zircon, sapphire, emerald and peridot .

Kristal Wick's Color Creativity - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, shades of green
Complimentary colors are opposites on the color wheel and appear much brighter when used together. They have a very powerful visual impact. Take a look at this example using topaz, and amethyst.

The color wheel is mean to aid you in color decisions, not run your life. Some take it quite seriously and obsess over the accuracy of following the color wheel. But then there are times you just toss that color wheel away and go rogue! Venture into unknown color territories, I promise you won't get hurt! No matter what your process is, the most important thing is that you're happy with the color combo you create. Trust your eyeballs, your gut and go for it (unless of course you're color blind, you might want to check in with a friend).

Have fun!

Creatively,

Kristal
Kristal Wick's Color Creativity - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, topaz

Materials

24 Gauge Round Dead Soft Argentium .940 Silver Wire
H19-24D
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $1.62
  • Gold Club Price: $1.22
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4mm Blue Zircon 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 12
A13-17A
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.00
  • Gold Club Price: $1.50
Out of Stock
4mm Light Sapphire 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Bead - Pack of 10
A13-129A
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.57
  • Gold Club Price: $1.18
Out of Stock
8mm Sapphire 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 6
A13-63C
  • Lesson Quantity: 8.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $3.57
  • Gold Club Price: $2.68
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4mm Aquamarine 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-56A
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.97
  • Gold Club Price: $1.48
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6mm Fuchsia 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-116B
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
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4mm Light Rose 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-115A
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.97
  • Gold Club Price: $1.48
Out of Stock
4mm Topaz 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-65A
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.97
  • Gold Club Price: $1.48
Out of Stock
4mm Emerald 5000 Round Swarovski Crystal Bead - Pack of 12
A13-11
  • Lesson Quantity: 12.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $3.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.98
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6mm Peridot 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-60B
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $2.97
  • Gold Club Price: $2.23
Out of Stock
4mm Amethyst 5328 Bi-Cone Swarovski Crystal Beads - Pack of 10
A13-55A
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $1.97
  • Gold Club Price: $1.48
Out of Stock
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Tools

LINDSTROM EX KIT- 4PC
PLR-7000EX
  • PLR-7000EX
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $276.89
  • Gold Club Price: $207.67
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  • Category: Design
  • Technique(s): Design

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