An online friend recently asked me what sources of inspiration drive my designs. The most important source of inspiration for me is color. When I first started designing jewelry I was afraid of color. I anguished about which colors would look good together and I made a lot of monochrome jewelry.
To get past the color inhibitions I started a color journal. Whenever I saw color combinations that appealed to me, I'd cut them out of magazines or catalogs and glue them into my journal. Although I have a lot of jewelry pictures in my color journal, you can see from this page that there are almost limitless sources of color inspiration; from blankets to dishes to quilts. I once designed a 2 strand bracelet after seeing a yellow and gray pillow in a home magazine.
Now days we have Pinterest and you can collect colors there as well. I have a color board on Pinterest, if you want to take a look at it to get started. But be sure to personalize your color board. It should be brim full of colors that make your heart sing with joy. A good online source for colors is the Design Seeds blog.
Another great source of color inspiration is the focal you are planning to use in your design. This pendant from Yolanda's Clay was one of my first handmade component purchases. Just look at the great colors in it!
I selected gemstones inspired by the colors of the pendant, such as pink opal, aventurine and amethyst. Then I added some coordinating glass beads and Swarvoski crystals. The whole necklace came together from the inspiration of the colors in the pendant.
There are color inspirations all around you! Can you see the connection between this Native American drum that hangs on the wall in our living room and the necklace I designed for the AJE September Component of the Month Challenge?
With experience you'll begin developing your own favorite color combinations, but you'll also develop a keener eye for all the amazing colors that surround us every day.
~Linda Landig
Linda Landig Jewelry
