1. Andrew Emond / Photography
Toronto-based photographer Emond creates stunning images of abandoned interiors or those undergoing renovation. Great colours and compositions. Follow Andrew on Instagram.
2. Kaiku Living Colour / Pigments
Nicole Stjernswärd of London, England has created the Kaiku Living Colour device that will make rich colour pigments from discarded plant waste. Watch a video to see how it’s done.
3. Wallace & Sewell / Textile Design
This UK-based design studio, started in 1992 by two women, has some of the most playful, yet sophisticated colour combinations I’ve ever seen in textiles. Visit their website.
4. Transit Passes / Letterform Archives
A handsome collection of vintage transit passes was on display at San Francisco’s Letterform Archives. These weekly passes were produced by in-house designers at The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. during the 40s and 50s. See more examples here.
5. Sculpture / Kathleen Ryan
American sculptor Kathleen Ryan is known for her large recreations of rotting fruit. Here she does a deep analysis of the vast array of colours found in a moldy lemon. Her work is produced from a variety of materials — fibreglass, gems, metals, acrylic, steel, glass, etc. See more of her work here.
6. Pittsburgh, PA / Facades
Over the summer I visited Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and came across a range of exciting colour palates on the street. The top image is from the alleyway along side The Andy Warhol Museum and the bottom is from a nearby warehouse. See more colour photos here.
7. Posters / P. Franco Wine Bar
Just one example of the sumptuous posters created to promote events held at this small wine bar in Clapton, East London. See more examples here.
8. Nature / Poison Ivy Berries
Over the winter I went searching for new colours in the snow-covered countryside to replicate in my sketchbook. Of the ones I discovered, the dirty acidic yellow of these dormant poison ivy berries remains among my favourite.
9. Sneakers / Chloé
I love how colourful running shoes are these days. There’s something seductive about this new line from Chloé called NAMA — hand embroidered and made, in part, from recycled mesh.
10. Books / A Grammar of Color
Undoubtably, my biggest discovery of the year was the 100 year old Strathmore Papers hardbound paper sample book (A Grammar of Color) that I unearthed at a yard sale. It has since found a new home at the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Learn more about the book here.
