Before I get started on Crusade 53, I've got to break some news to you guys.
I am a color disaster. This is not just any affliction, but a very serious lack of something when it comes to color. It is so bad that it's not uncommon for my husband to put outfits together for me. I'm used to hearing, "schatzi did you fall into a rainbow?" if I try to leave the house after dressing all by myself. My son came out of his room the other day with orange shorts, green t-shirt and red socks. I don't know if I feel better or worse knowing it's a genetic condition.
Whatever it is, it's serious. And until I just typed that paragraph, I was existing in denial.
So imagine when Michelle Ward came out with Crusade 52 titled Seasonal Wardrobe. Ouch! That's hitting close to home. Thank god I went on vacation and didn't have to face it! But now I return and the current Crusade is another color-related challenge called the Mad Scientist.
So it's time I try and face facts!
The weird thing about my artwork is that I never plan a color palette when I'm starting. I mean obviously I must at some point make conscious decisions as to what paint bottle I'm reaching for, but for the most part I just throw down a bunch of stuff and get going. I don't remember the last time I've painted anything a solid color let alone mix a color and use it. It's probably been 10 years or so. Is that weird? I just like everything streaky and freaky. The nutty thing is a lot of people tell me it's really hard to do it my way! *palms up, shrug shoulders* Here's the most recent thing I've done. It's called "big mess on old shopping bag."
I never have a problem getting started on a blank canvas. I can't even relate to that. I think of background paint sort of like the bread on a sandwich. Bread is there to keep your fingers from getting messy when you eat meat and cheese. Background color is something like bread in my universe. Important and necessary but not as important as the filling.
Here's a recent background where I really like how the colors came together. Black, white, gray and yellow. The yellow looks darker and lighter depending how thinly it was scraped in spots. My original plan was to scrape in black and white and print in gray. Somewhere along the way I grabbed yellow and also started printing in white.
I do change from thick acrylics in winter over to spray paint in the warm weather. Recently I've found some really crappy cheap spray paint that I love because it's translucent! If you were using it to cover something solid, it would take 3-4 coats. But I'm loving the see-through effect and greedily snatch up the cans that go on sale. Germany has a dismal paint selection. There are primaries, then a few pastels, florescents and some metallics. I can't seem to find pink anywhere. Apparently it's not in demand.
I painted some sample squares of the colors I have on hand and use a lot. Then I played with naming them. Their German names were so boring I almost slipped into a coma! I mentioned in an earlier comment on Michelle's site that I've always thought naming fingernail polish would be my dream job. Well I guess that was before I actually tried to name paint and when you read these below you'll probably also come to the conclusion that I shouldn't quit my day job. Sheesh.
The re-naming makes me giggle. Like when you get a used dog and you hate his name so you just start calling him "Peaches" and wonder why he doesn't listen to anything. Do you think the paint cans will listen when I start calling them by their "new" names...??
The warm colors
German name: Violett Metallic (well knock me down!)
TJ's rename: Disco Diva (shutty! it's sparkly...)
German name: Fire Red (and the sirens go off)
TJ's rename: Hot Temper (spicy or no?)
German name: Light Ivory (tell that to the elephant!)
TJ's rename: Warm Cream (WTH?)
German name: Bordeaux Violett (wine?)
TJ's rename: Scarlett Peek-a-boo (this is my fave transparent spray)
The cool colors
German name: Marine Blue (well shiver me timbers!)
TJ's rename: Bavarian Blue* (what I use for my Bavarian flag stencils)
German name: Light Blue (snore...)
TJ's rename: Lausbub (Common German term for naughty boys)
German name: Yellow Green (falling asleep yet?)
TJ's rename: Mojito (can't believe I spelled that right!)
German name: Leaf Green (aw heck, at least they finally tried)
TJ's rename: Hosta
*Bavarian Blue is also the name of a famous cheese here. The blue I actually need is right between the two blues I've got on hand!
Anybody else want to join in? Not sure? Check out TJ's thoughts on Crusading!
You had me at the title and I howled through the whole post! OMG you are on a roll today!
Thanks for brightening my morning!
Posted by: Linda | July 15, 2011 at 07:12 PM
I think that German paint makers should pay you to name their colours, the sales would go through the roof with these names! :)
Posted by: Veronika | July 15, 2011 at 07:43 PM
TJ - what a brilliant interpretation of the crusade. RE-naming colors is very clever, and I am cracking up at your narrative as you present the before-and-after names. I also love your confession but I'm thinking it cannot be as bad as you claim. But here's to rehab ;)
p.s. thumbs up for Hot Temper!
Posted by: michelle ward | July 16, 2011 at 01:53 AM
Love the names, and favourite of all of mojiotes (I spelled it wrong) but its a great drink
Posted by: lee | July 16, 2011 at 03:53 AM
No pink spray paint in Germany - I wonder what that tells us? Love your renames, hope you find a nail polish company knocking at your door :-)
Posted by: Cath S | July 16, 2011 at 10:47 AM
Haha, thanks for making me LOL, you crazy girl. Not sure you can be an artist and have no sense for colours, maybe it's just about clothes? The paintings are awesome, and the colour names rock. I thought this was very difficult too, will have to look into my journal again and see if I can't think of names for my paint squares there... :-/ It's hard man!
Posted by: iHanna | July 17, 2011 at 12:30 AM
Hilarious. I MUCH prefer your paint names to the originals. And OMG that background with the black/white/yellow/gray is so gorgeous it makes me drool.
I think I have a similar approach to backgrounds - no fear, just smear!
Posted by: iamrushmore | July 17, 2011 at 03:57 AM
Love your paint names.
Like you I never plan my color palette in advance, but I do have my favorite tubes I seem to keep going back to.
Posted by: Jul | July 18, 2011 at 07:50 PM
You certainly know how to play with them! Colors. Love your post! And those names are terrific! Bravo!
Posted by: NaNa | July 18, 2011 at 10:13 PM
hi there, love your blog post; it made me laugh and nod my head several times... the germans are not famous for their humor you know - maybe that is why they cant name the colours in a "funnier" way... Don't you worry - I love the germans and Germany itself, but sometimes I feel that either they or me is born on another planet. We lived in Austria some years and loved it. Now living in Luxemburg is a big change, not only languagewise. Totaly different mentality! Anyway - love your named colours and I hope to see you around soon!
Posted by: Lena | July 19, 2011 at 04:37 PM
Wonderful story :D:D:D It was so much fun to read about colors in your life :) Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Tusia | July 20, 2011 at 07:06 PM
Love the colour swatches! And I know how you feel about colour - I usually stick to very safe colour combinations (often ones developed in kindergarten - you know; dark green and light green. Dark blue and light blue. Purple and pink - you get the picture!)
Posted by: Michelle Brown | July 21, 2011 at 12:09 PM
That is so great! Love interpretation, I had such a hard time with this one.
Posted by: Helen | July 22, 2011 at 03:48 PM
Such creative names you hav think about.
Love your post.
Posted by: Lay Hoon | July 25, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Love your colors and color disasters--really, you make me laugh, but I know you are a color genius. And fearless! And that's the best combination of all.
Posted by: QuinnCreative | July 27, 2011 at 03:29 PM
Oh, you make me laff! Like the detail here and all the information! It's amazing what we haven't thought about until Michelle has stirred the topic pot! I look forward to your next crusade share.
Posted by: Chris | August 09, 2011 at 01:12 AM