May 20th, 2012 
Admin Article by Joyce, Bead Bee
The Art of Using Color in Beaded Jewelry Design – Hobbies – Crafts
Search by Author, Title or Content
Article ContentAuthor NameArticle Title
Home
Submit Articles
Author Guidelines
Publisher Guidelines
Content Feeds
RSS Feeds
FAQ
Contact Us
Working with color when creating jewelry with beads is a little different than in other art forms because it involves unique characteristics found in the different materials such as surface qualities, transparency, opacity, finishes and reflectivity. If you understand color basics and the main principles of color theory, this may come easy for you, however, if you have not studied these subjects, you can also rely on your own instinct and good taste.
For inspiration on unique color combinations, take a look at printed fabric, landscaping, or interior design layouts. You may also find jewelry pieces in fine jewelry catalogs with mixed gemstones which you can translate into glass or Swarovski crystal color combinations. Magazine ads are also a great source of inspiration since they often have artistic backdrops that feature interesting color combination.
For the most artful and unrestrictive approach, don’t be afraid to simply try out any possible combination by laying different color bead strands together, or laying different color combinations on a bead board. You can even start by laying five different colors next to each other and start to mix and match duos and trios until you find the right one. This strategy of trial and error will often evolve into unique color combinations that you may have otherwise overlooked.
There are many approaches to searching for the right color combination. You may want a monochromatic look, which can feature different shades of the same color. Also think about complimentary colors, which are colors that appear opposite of each other on the color wheel, for example, red and green, blue and orange or violet and yellow are complimentary colors. You may not want to translate these duos exactly, however, you may choose purple and gold toned beads, or are a sparkling rose color that is the perfect compliment to peridot.
Creating threesomes are also nice because you can choose two complimentary colors and then a third one that can serve as a blender or buffer. When creating beaded jewelry, metals such as silver or gold, or freshwater pearls are great as accent beads that can help blend two complimentary colors together.
When combining different colors together, also think about proportion. You may use the colors in equal amounts by using same size beads, or one color may be dominant in larger beads and other serves as an accent color in smaller beads. In addition, color combinations may look better with gold metal, silver metal, or copper metal. When laying out your beads to test our color combinations, be sure to consider the color of your findings or other components that may affect the appearance of your jewelry design.
Your local bead store will most likely have a talented jewelry designer on staff who can give you some additional pointers. Also, beads are often available in bead mixes that feature ready made color combinations to make the design process a lot easier.
If you are interested in studying color theory in depth, I would recommend getting a color wheel and reading the book, Interaction of Color by Josef Albers. Your local art center or community college may also have courses in color theory.
About the Author
Joyce Lee is a jewelry designer with over 15 years of experience in jewelry design and production. Ms. Lee also enjoys teaching jewelry making classes to children and adults of all ages. Visit www.beadbee.com for project ideas, instructions, and materials.
Joyce also publishes a blog providing additional jewelry making ideas & tips at Bead Bee’s blog.
Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.
Joyce, Bead Bee
Article Directory
About
FAQ
Contact Us
Advanced Search
Privacy Statement
Disclaimer
GoArticles.com © 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Related Jewelry Designers Articles