David Russell Battery Palette | Premo Recipes Vol-077-A

1-A: Military Green
2-A: Fatigues
3-A: Somber
4–A: Peacetime

Those that know me well, understand that I am a peace loving Canadian who hates the thought of war… as well as the the fact that defense is even needed in the first place. That being said, I do have respect for anyone who is involved with the Military, and am grateful for the freedoms their protection and sacrifices have given our country, and all other democratic nations.

So, when I found myself wandering around the abandoned Military buildings of the David Russell Battery at Fort Stevens State Park of Oregon, I found a quiet introspective mood washing over me.

Here in this beautiful location, on the wild west coast of the Pacific Ocean, at the mouth of the Columbia River, with the wind swept trees and the waves crashing on the shoreline… were all these decaying concrete bunkers, towers, hidden ammunition storage, cannons, and other military installations… all built in 1904 in preparation of attack during both World War I and World War II.

Looking around at the structures, it was clear that it was a very scary time then, and the threat of an invasion on American soil was very real. As it turns out, Fort Stevens never ended up needing to use the facilities in hostile fire and any cannons that were fired from the fort, were for target practice only. The site was closed in 1944 and sits as a reminder of how life was during wartime in the USA.

Now, without going into it too much… although we in North America are living lives during this ‘peacetime’ era, and the need for cannons along the beach are a thing of the past… unfortunately there is still the real need for a strong military and the protection it provides. So even though things have changed since then, maybe they haven’t changed that much?

Anyway… leaving this topic, since politics and war is not what this site is about, nor do I want the discussions to go that way here in the comment threads. I felt I at least had to say something about how my experience at Fort Stevens and the David Russell Battery in particular, had an impact on my thoughts and feelings. And why I chose military type names for the color palette I created that was inspired by the photographs taken by Doug at this historic site.

I do hope you enjoy this Vol-077-A Series color palette chosen for October 2014. I think you will find the colors to be quite beautiful, despite the somber subject they were inspired by.

The following Vol-077 A-series David Russell Color Palette will be added to the Polymer Clay Members Library at the beginning of October 2014:

• Military Green (Recipe 077-1A)
• Fatigues (Recipe 077-2A)
• Somber (Recipe 077-3A)
• Peacetime (Recipe 077-4A)

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… Military Green is the dark olive green found in the algae covered concrete of the historic Military Battery. Fatigues is the soft tan color of the aged walls. Somber is the moody soft purple of the patina caused by the salts in the sea air reacting with the metal support beams and the minerals in the cement. And Peacetime is the peaceful soft blue in the highlights of the purple patina.

I do love your color palettes. I find fabulous inspiration and I’ve actually started saving the recipes now (when I first started I didn’t) but I have actually mixed up very few of them because somehow I feel like I’m cheating if I do (not that anyone else should feel this way, it’s my Color Theory and Design professor’s voice in my head). But I use them as inspiration for my own color mixing times and I find them utterly invaluable. Thank you so much for the inspiration! ~Melinda-H

I just wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying the new website and I am finally getting around all the links with ease, thanks for explaining. I am excited to try out all the new color cards and I will definitely tell all my fellow polymer clay guild people about this website especially because that is the number one problem with so many — colors and mixing. I think I am going to start to finally like my finished products enough to put them on Etsy. Thanks again. ~Lupe-M

I have often looked at the “natural palette” of the Rocky Mountains where I live – azure sky, forest greens and deep clay reds – and thought that the combination was inspiring…but I didn’t let it inspire ME to actually reflect these hues in a piece of art. I am very new to polymer clay, but mixing colors and learning to select meaningful palettes for my bead projects are first and second on my list. I hope to keep an open mind to unexpected color combinations, but also to look to nature for some “tried and true” ideas. Thanks! ~Sue-P

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