Exclusive Preview of The Color Lab
Plus, leave a comment for your chance to win a free copy of The Color Lab!
I’ve had a lifelong interest in color, especially when it involves fashion and textiles. I’ve handcrafted since I was seven years old. My mother was incredibly generous with her tools and textiles. When she got a sewing machine, she taught me to use it and kept me supplied with fabrics. We had a sample case of yarns—I don’t know where it came from, but I remember that it was covered in delicious purple chevrons and when unzipped it was a magical Aladdin’s Cave of Wool. It was filled with all colors and thicknesses of yarns in an endless variety. I was delighted by it. I had deep yen for the button can and would look at and sort those buttons endlessly. All of this childhood play was what I, as an adult, now recognize as really important color play and was very enriching.
Thirty years later when I started rug hooking, I was delighted because in this textile craft, color is so important. Unfortunately, I found my love of color did not parlay into effective color use. I didn’t understand how to make color work for me, how to use the right component of a color to create the effects I wanted in my rugs. I wanted to recreate what I saw in my mind’s eye, or sometimes I wanted to make something look realistic, but I was missing some important tools.
Slowly and diligently I worked at becoming a better colorist. I observed the work of other artists and looked to nature for color cues. I began to discover what was going on with color in my work. I saw how color enhances objects, if placed carefully. I began to look at color in new ways. I got out of my own way and expanded my love of color into a real marriage of passion and practice, with a smattering of discipline.
I realized this knowledge I was accruing was useful to others and began teaching what I discovered in easily graspable units. I built a successful online class about color and how to use color more expansively and expressively. This was an incredibly freeing class that informed you so you might hook whatever you like, effectively and masterfully.
My teaching is always about color. My aim is to help you know more about color so you can do more with it. It took a long time for me to discover how to use color more effectively. My book opens the door wide and lets you revel in this knowledge in a simple, straightforward way.
The Color Lab will take the mystery out of color and replace it with mastery. It is a fresh way to look at color and holds the building blocks of creating great rugs, no matter their design. The suggested exercises are revelatory and enriching, but not difficult. Even if you only complete a few of them, you will notice a remarkable difference in your color competency.
I love the idea of rug hookers diving deeper into the use of color and swimming swiftly and with strength to the far shore. If you are like me, that shore is a place we didn’t imagine we could ever reach. But it is, and I invite you to come along with me. I’m excited to imagine what possibilities you might realize with this useful collection of color ideas.
We're giving away The Color Lab to one lucky reader! All you have to do is leave a comment below for your chance to win this incredible rug hooking book.
PLUS: Along with the book you will win a seat at Wanda’s three-month online class, beginning March 1, 2018. The class is designed to support the practitioners of The Color Lab as they work through each chapter. Wanda will answer questions and support students as they discover color in a new and richer way. Go to www.thewelcomemat.ning.com or wandaworks.ca for more info.
Good luck!
Leave a comment below for your chance to win! [CONTEST CLOSED]
Let us know: Why do you want to win this book?