Margie's Muse

The Yellow-Violet Dance

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We’re wrapping up the Yellow-Violet Color Challenge, and photos of the spectacular winning pieces will be posted the weekend of October 13-14.

Yellow and violet are not easy to work with-- that’s why I chose the combination for the challenge. Depending on proportions of each color, the message conveyed by a yellow-violet harmony changes drastically. Using the same two colors, you can achieve the look of mardi gras festivities or sublime mystery.

Before publishing the results of the Color Challenge, I want to share what I wrote in "The Beaders’ Guide to Color” about the glory of combining yellow and violet:

The glorious yellow of sunshine, the mystical violet of twilight—this spectacular complementary relationship is noted for its extremes. The yellow-violet and yellow-purple pair vibrates with dramatic contrast in value, movement, and hue.

Pure yellow has the highest value of all colors. Violets and purples can be the darkest, depending on their shade. The extremes of dark and light create dramatic contrast, thus a very dynamic combination.

Yellow is energetic, it moves: violet is still and thought-provoking. Yellow is bright, happy, and gregarious; violet is dark, contemplative, and inward. Like sentinels, they balance the top and bottom of the wheel, holding it together with the attraction of extreme opposites.

In its purest states, the yellow-violet pair is playful, magical and festive. When subdued into tints and shades, it becomes charming, sophisticated, and sublime.

Note: There will be no accompanying Podcast for this issue of Margie’s Muse.