Ivy Leaf Palette | Polymer Clay Color Recipes

Vol-045-A Series [Premo Sculpey]
1A: Orange Wheelbarrow
2A: Tendril
3A: Ivy Leaf
4A: Spade

In an always changing climate that has four distinct seasons such as ours here on the West Coast of Canada, it is somewhat of a comfort when some of the foliage in the garden looks the same no matter what time of the year it is.

Such is the case with this Ivy Plant we having growing in an antique Orange Wheelbarrow in our back yard. If it weren’t for the angle and shade of the Winter light hitting the ivy leaf in the photo, this picture could have been taken in any one of the seasons, since the variety of ivy of the slow growing evergreen type.

The photo is another one from Willow, when she ventured out on a dismal gray winter day, in search of color and inspiration. It was the same day she shot the close-ups I used for the Cedar Cone Palette and the Viburnum Pod Palette posted last month.

Of course the vibrant hit of color from the rusty Orange Wheelbarrow did add a splash of life to the Greens of the Ivy Plant but it is truly amazing just how many shades and hues are present in this single leaf spilling over the edge of the planter. I could not resist using this photo for next months upcoming color recipe palette.

The following recipes for this Vol-045 A-series color palette will be added to the Polymer Clay Members Library in February 2012:

• Orange Wheelbarrow (Recipe 045-1A)
• Tendril (Recipe 045-2A)
• Ivy Leaf (Recipe 045-3A)
• Spade (Recipe 045-4A)

Orange Wheelbarrow is the faded and sun bleached Orange of the rusted and painted antique wheelbarrow used as a planter in our back yard. Tendril is the soft almost pastel green of the curling tendrils and the light colored veins on this Ivy Leaf. Ivy Leaf is the darker, most dominant green of this evergreen foliage. And Spade is the soft steel grey found in the darkest areas on the leaf and also found on the well used and well loved shovel used to tend this aging garden planter.

I look forward to your colour recipes as much as the videos, Cindy. I try to train my unruly colour sense by guessing what you have mixed to get a particular shade or tint. ~Monique-U

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

Awesome colors as always. I love that you always share a story with your color palette. Makes me feel like I am right there with you naming these wonderful new shades. Thank you both for everything you do for all of us. ~Peggy-B

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