Season of Colour

Fashion magazines are heralding the return of colour.  Although we are going into Autum and tend to wear darker colours during this season, the trend emerging overseas (which we then follow), is the return to colour. 

Florals, block colours and 80's colour themes are back.  Handbags and shoes in every colour of the rainbow are the new trend.  Mixing colours together and bright statement accessories are in vogue.

Obviously due to my artworks, I am a huge fan of colour.  Colour is the perfect medicine for when you need a mood lift.  When customers enter my store they all remark how colourful and bright it is.  I love working in an environment that feels so welcoming when you walk in the door. 

It doesn't surpise me that companies inject colour into their workplaces to lift the mood of employees.  Hospitals use colour to brighten the mood of sick patients.  Colour is confidence and shows optimism.  Colour is happiness and enjoying life. 

Surrounded by Colour

My artwork also hangs in hospitals and I hope it brings a smile to the face of sick children and their families.  If they can have a brief moment where they stop thinking about being sick then it makes my life so worth while.

Recently my eldest son was seriously ill and at the hospital he was taken to they didn't have colourful artworks or anything for the children to focus on whilst tests were being done or needles injected.  Trying to get my son to focus on something whilst in this situation was frustrating.   Sterile bland walls do nothing to help patients who are sick and afraid.

Once my son recovered I took an artwork up to the hospital to show them my appreciation.  They were thrilled.  And so now other children being treated could have something to enjoy.  If I had my way I would re-decorate all hospitals with colour and light.  I'm amazed that the government does not spend more money in this area.  There is science behind the use of colour in lifting moods and stimulating the senses.

Life is colourful and in hard times we need more of it, not less.

Colour is the new black

"Colour". That one word can send fashionista's into a spin. Well not all fashionista's but quite a few including myself. I love fashion as much as my art.
My husband would like me to love it a little less than the art when he see's how much I spend on it!

However it recently dawned on me how easy it is to fall into a colour rut, or colour "safety zone". Mine is black. My wardrobe consists of mostly black clothing with some variations, embellishements and "bling". But essentially there is not much colour. Grey and white are a close second and third. My sister even commented on it when she viewed my wardrobe.

Now this is ironic for someone who is surrounded by colour at work. My business IS colour. I love working with colour and I'm inspired by colour. When I went with my family to far north Queensland we visited the Great Barrier Reef for the day and went snorkelling. The colours were breathtaking and like nothing on earth. The fish were spectacular and I didn't realise coral came in so many colours. My boys were overwhelmed and it was the highlight of our trip.

This inspired me to come home and create my Great Barrier Reef artwork. It embraces and celebrates colour.


When it comes to fashion is it a fear or aversion to wearing colour? I'm not sure. Or for me is it because I am surrounded by colour in my store that I rebel by wearing black? I'm not really sure. Recently I discovered designer Matthew Williamson and he loves using exotic colours. The two dresses below are his designs.

He celebrates colour and I realised that I am going to start embracing colour as well. And not just in my artwork. I might start off with baby steps but I am determined to buck the trend for black every day. It might be a while before I can wear a shocking red coat, but everyone has to start somewhere. The only thing I need to be careful of is wearing so much colour that customers can't seem to find me when they enter the store. Blending in with your artworks is not a good business idea. But then again, it would hide me from all the spruikers that seem to come in daily. I can just stand back flat against the wall and turn sideways!

I wonder if Matthew Williamson has been to the reef lately?