First Person
Finding the Perfect Palette
It was like a dream come true to be asked to create a color palette for something the size of Field Guide No. 27: Sock Odyssey. In fact, it was a career first for me!
That thrill immediately gave way to panic. Color is infinite in the same way that art and knitting are; how was I supposed to narrow down “infinity” to something manageable for the Field Guide?
I view color as a way to convey emotions and spark conversation, as a means to express yourself and to change your mood. Adella Colvin (Lolabean Yarn Co.) and Shobha Nadarajah (Serendipitous Wool) are absolute masters when it comes to color. They draw inspiration from a myriad of places leading to stunning results. I knew that any vision that I had, they could elevate it; asking them to collaborate with me on the Field Guide was an easy choice.
And the best part? They said yes!
As I was pondering where to begin with this color story, I didn’t want to combine colors that you’d seen a bunch of times already. So where to begin instead? I decided to look at paintings that I loved.
Searching among artists who already enjoy fame and mass appeal would have been an easy choice. Instead, I opted for artists who look like me, who’ve had some similar life experiences. This made sense from another angle as I never miss an opportunity to uplift other BBIMP (Black Brown Indigenous Melanated People), a factor important to my collaborators as well.
I asked myself, “How will we see art with a new perspective if we keep starting with the same old thing?”
With this in mind, I set out to create the mood board using solely Black modern artists knowing it would add another layer to the beauty and depth of the finished product. It is my honor to share my favorite painter with you.
A few years back, a friend introduced me to the work of painter Dawn M Trimble. She’s incredibly talented and also a Black woman, Atlanta-based, and a mom like myself. Dawn has a background in architecture which I see when I look at her work that manages to be structured and free simultaneously.
Dawn M Trimble, “Vibrance No. 11.” Watercolor, oil pastel and pencil on watercolor paper, 6″ x 6″
Each piece guarantees to be colorful, emotional, nuanced, and abstract. In particular, I love the way she blends colors and the way her collections are somehow moving and expressive yet minimalist in their way. In truth, these are all adjectives that I would use to describe the work of the featured yarn dyers.
I revisited Dawn’s work with the goal of finding pieces that “felt right” moreso than ones that were a particular color or color combination. I also leaned into what I know about Adella and Shobha. Within Dawn’s work, there were dramatic and moody pieces that looked like they would speak to Adella and bright, lively ones that I thought would resonate with Shobha.
Dawn M Trimble, “Abstract Moment No. 4.” acrylic on heavy weight raw canvas, 10″ x 10″
Once I had narrowed it down, I shared the pieces with both dyers. I wanted to be sure that those two artists, for whom I have a deep respect, felt inspired by the paintings. If the mood board failed to speak to them the way it did to me, or if they just didn’t like it, it would have been harder for them to do their best work. Frankly, without their blessings I would’ve gone back to the drawing board.
Dawn M Trimble, “Reverie No. 9.” Watercolor, oil pastel and pencil on watercolor paper, 4″ x 4″
My relationship with art is a strange one. Like many of you, it took some convincing to believe myself an artist after being taught that artists look a certain way and their art is created a certain way. For the Field Guide mood board, I leaned into my growing belief in the boundlessness of art. I leaned into the belief that everyone who creates is an artist and how my dyer collaborators can find inspiration anywhere. I knew that if I did my job right, the dyers would create colors that made them proud, for which I would create patterns that were expansive as art should be, and together we would take you on a one-of-a-kind “odyssey.”
I would say that we succeeded.
Please spend some time with Dawn’s work here and sign up for her newsletter. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
All images used with permission.
(header image above) Dawn M Trimble, “Unrestrained No. 1 and 2.” Original watercolor, oil pastel and pencil on hand torn cotton watercolor paper, 5″ x 7″
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Thank you for this post. I love how you described your thought (and feeling) processes. This made a LOT of sense to me. and thank you for ‘introducing’ me to Dawn Trimble!
It occured to me as I was reading this article – my own love of color as an artist and graphic art designer may be the reason I have so many WIPS!
Wow, her work is fantastic! Thank you for introducing us to Dawn M Trimble
Those two at the top…swoon.
I love the paintings! Especially the two at the top!
I love that you believe that “everyone who makes is an artist”. I enthusiastically agree! Dawn’s work is lovely, a great color palette, I can understand how she is an inspiration to you. Thanks for sharing this.
Adding my thanks for the introduction to the work of Dawn M Trimble. I’m sharing with my watercolor using daughter as well.
Nice! Dawn is a great source of inspiration. Signed up for her newsletter and also following on Instagram.
I love every single bit of this! I am a textile artist / art quilter, I dye fabric, I make clothes, I knit, and I live for color. And the phrase “the boundlessness of art” OH MY….THIS!!!!! I am going to write this in large letters and stick it up on my wall. THANK YOU. And if you can convince Serendipitous Wool to dye up more of that dark teal tweed (I waited a couple days too long and it sold out, but am happy with my lime green….but that dark teal….NEEED) LOL! Thank you!
Thank you for giving me a whole new perspective on the creation of color and art and how it relates to knitting. Lovely!
Nice! Dawn is a great source of inspiration. Signed up for her newsletter and also following on Instagram.
I love learning about artists new to me. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for your words and the joy of seeing an artist that moves you. I am entranced by the first two at the top and the last one at the end. They speak to me; I am a little bit influenced by my love of watercolor. The way the color moves is fascinating to me. What a wondrous way to start my day!!
❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for this perception and insight in choosing color. The colors we choose for creating and making then go further. Some mornings I choose clothing , even shoes, by what color I would feel good in that day. This will make me think deeper about my color choices.
Dawn’s work is beautiful, as is yours. Thank you for sharing this! I love an art break; it’s so revitalizing for mind and spirit.
I love No 11 and No 9 of Dawns work – thank you for sharing! An artist is simply “one who creates” in my opinion – and we all look different! That’s what makes art so fascinating to me – how you and I view one thing and come up with two different things.
I love the collaboration you did with both yarn dyers – if my pocketbook was limitless I’d be buying all the colors!
Thank you for this lovely model of uplifting someone in the course of improving your own work! Note taken!
Thank you, thank you for sharing this! I’ve found a new artist whose work really resonates with me – what a gift!
Thanks for this inspiring post & celebrating an inspiring artist and the glorious colours she creates. I love Vibrance No. 11 – the pinks & oranges that I thought one could only see in a sunset, yet Dawn has made them too.
Fatimah,
I have learned so much from following you and I will add the introduction to this artist to my list! I also appreciate your thoughtfulness in your process for selecting her. Thanks again.
Thank you for introducing us to Dawn Trimble’s work—it is beautiful!
Thank you for introducing us to Dawn’s art. Wow!! I’d love to have an entire wall of her art. I’m very much into color, regardless of the medium…yarn, paint, fabric, flower beds. Not many neutrals in my wardrobe or yarn stash. I love your comment that everyone who makes is an artist. I agree wholeheartedly. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and the stunning artwork. I must look up Dawn’s website.
Thanks for introducing me to a new artist! Love her work and he inspiring palettes.