Workshop On The Web
December 2014
Color Play was originally published in 2000 and this edition has been updated and expanded to
include over 100 new quilt photos. This book is a comprehensive study of the colour wheel,
starting with a look at pure colour, tints, shades and tones. Examples of quilts which
demonstrate each area are accompanied by descriptions of how colour is used and why it is
effective.
What follows on from that is an exploration of colour plans, from monochromatic, complementary,
analogous and split-complementary, with more in between and beyond. Values of
colour are explained, as are the descriptions of selected colours and how they make us feel,
where they are on the colour wheel and where in the book you can find more information about
them. The grand finale is a study of 24 colours in great detail showing different colour schemes
that work together with diagrams of quilt blocks to demonstrate.
This is a fantastic book which benefits from the update because the wealth of new quilts works
so well in its favour. The author relates her observations about colour to quilt schemes, what
effects particular colours have on the way they are perceived and how to build up your use of
colour by creating a personal Colour Plan. To have such an extensive array of colours that are
explored in such detail is a great way of getting to grips with starting to create colour schemes
for work.
This is a great book for all textile artists and anyone who feels unable to get to grips with how
colours work together.
