Aboriginal Art For February 2018

Colour Stories

Did you know that Aboriginal art is the oldest form of artistic expression in the world? Read all about this fascinating art here...

The Australian Aboriginal culture is around 60, 000 - 80,000 years old, making it the longest surviving culture in human history and the longest running art culture. This has been proven thanks to the rock art that shows evidence of Aboriginal culture dating back over 30,000 years.

A large portion of contemporary Aboriginal art is based on significant ancient stories and symbols based on 'the Dreamtime' – the period in which Indigenous people believed that the world was made. The Dreamtime stories are up to and possibly even exceeding 50,000 years old, and have been handed down through the generations for all those years.

Since the Australian Aboriginal people have no written language of their own, their important stories are based on the traditional symbols and information in the artwork, which go hand in hand with recounted stories, song or dance, which help pass on important information and preserve their culture.

Australia has always been multicultural. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, there were many different language groups and many different cultural ways, which is why it is not a surprise that different regions have different artistic styles and use different artistic media today!

Interestingly, traditional Aboriginal artists cannot paint a story that does not belong to them through family lineage. The colours used in Aboriginal art were originally sourced from local materials. Black was taken from charcoal, ochre or iron clay pigments were used for red, yellow and white. In 1971, when the modern desert art movement began, these four colours made up the basis of the artists' colour range, referring back to traditional role of art in ceremony, sand painting, body painting, story-telling and teaching. Other naturalistic colours were adopted –saltbush mauves, sage greens and smoke greys. During the middle of the 1980s, with more Aboriginal women artists, a range of modern colours were picked by the artists, and bright desert paintings came into the market. Today, a majority of successful Aboriginal artists are women. Till date, the choice of colours continue to be an identifier of the styles for some communities – Papunya Tula chooses soft earth colours while Western Desert communities pick strong primary colours.

Hope you liked reading about this interesting art and culture revolving around Aboriginal art!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For February 2018

1. Mars is often called the 'Red Planet.' This is because it appears in the sky as an orange-red star. The colour caused the ancient Greeks and Romans to name it after their god of war. Today, we know that the planet's appearance is due to iron rust in the Martian rocks, thanks to visiting spacecrafts. The soil and rocks on the surface of Mars contained a dust composed mostly of iron and small amounts of other elements such as chlorine and sulphur.
2. Have you ever wondered why the ocean is blue in colour? This is because water absorbs colours in the red part of the light spectrum. This leaves behind colours in the blue part of the light spectrum for us to see just like a filter. The ocean may also take on other colours like red, green or other hues as light bounces off of floating sediments and particles in the water. Fascinating, isn't it?
3. Has this thought ever occurred to you about why snow is white in colour? Snow wouldn't be snow if it wasn't white. Say the word 'snow' in your head and the first thing that may come to your mind will either be an image of lovely snow-capped mountains or an image of small, fluffy white particles falling from the sky in winter. But if you think about it, isn't it strange that snow is flawlessly white since it is just a bunch of ice crystals stuck together? And if you observe, ice crystals are colourless and translucent. So where does it get its distinctive colour? There is a scientific reason that snow is white. Light is scattered and bounces off the ice crystals in the snow. The reflected light includes all the colours, which, when combined together look white.

Colour Quotes For February 2018

• "Colour is a matter of taste and of sensitivity."

  - Edouard Manet

• "Red is the ultimate cure for sadness."

  - Bill Blass

• "There is no blue without yellow and without orange."

  - Vincent Van Gogh

Colour Tips For February 2018

1. Setting your ladder before painting a wall can be tricky. You may find it confusing to use an extension ladder. Don't worry; we are here to help you! Extension ladders are usually comprised of two sections. There can be three sections on very long ladders. The stationary section is the one with the feet attached. Note that it should always remain in contact with the ground, and be placed closest to the structure that it is leaning against. Quite simple, isn't it?
2. Confused how to use a paint roller? Apply the paint on the desired wall with one sweeping stroke. Start out from the bottom and 6 inches away from the corner and roll upwards at a slight angle using very little pressure. Stop a few inches from the ceiling, roll up and down back toward the corner to spread the paint. You can leave the paint build up and roller marks at this step. Reload the roller and repeat the entire process in the adjacent space, working back toward the painted area. Roll back over the entire area that you have covered to smooth and blend the paint. Don't reload the roller with paint but use very light pressure. Keep these pointers in mind before you pick up a roller next time!
3. Have you ever used a paint sprayer for the walls of your home? When using a paint sprayer, you should dilute the paint that is to be sprayed. Don't know how to dilute the paint? The amount of dilution required will depend on the original viscosity (thickness) of the paint. It is best to test the paint you intend to use first. If it needs to be diluted, this can be done step-by-step to help you find the perfect consistency.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For February 2018

1. Taylor Swift is one of the most popular artists who have combined colours and emotions in a song. Her song 'Red' brings to light the power of the colour metaphor in music. Burning love is depicted through the colour red in the song. For her, burning love is intense and red is the best colour to describe it. She talks about her different emotions using colours. While some of you may actually experience emotion-colour synaesthesia, artists find the metaphor to be a wonderful lyrical device. Whole songs and sometimes even albums hinge on the relationship between colours and emotions.
2. A study has shown that emotions are crucial in interpreting and responding to a number of stimuli, which includes colours and songs. This means that the sound of music translates the thoughts of the singer into colours. It is believed that both, music as well as colours has emotional qualities and it is sure that music conveys a range of emotions. It has also been observed through various studies that music-to-colour associations are not restricted to some places and are in fact universal. Interestingly, there are also people who 'see' colours while listening to music and they are called chromesthetes.

Colours & Fashion For February 2018

For more than 2,000 years, Block printing has been a way of reproducing images and text on paper and fabric both. The earliest known examples of block prints come from China. Initially, block printing was only used for artwork printed on fabric. Later, it was also applied to paper. The art of creating block print that is aligned as well as equal was a requirement felt quite early on in the history of the Indian fashion industry. There is archaeological evidence that an early form of block printing on textiles existed in India dating 3000 BCE, during the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation.

Colours & Gems For February 2018

1. RUBELLITE
   Rubellite Tourmaline, also known as Red Tourmaline, is a blend of vibrant pink and ruby red colour. They come in intense colours that differ in hue. Though there are some in the gem world who consider Rubellite to be just a trade name for all deep pink and red Tourmalines, the International Coloured Gemstone Association (ICGA) defines the criterion for Rubellites according to the way they behave in daylight and artificial light. A real Rubellite shines just as intensely in artificial light as it does in daylight. Its vibrant colour stands for energy, passion and life. It is believed that Rubellite helps bring calm and emotional balance. Irrespective of whether you pick subtle pale pinks or hot, vivid red, this gem is sure to dazzle anyone!
2. SUNSTONE
   The sunstone is deep orange in colour and higher the consistency in its colour, higher is its effectiveness. The name "sunstone" is used for specimens of translucent to transparent feldspar that produce bright metallic flashes when light interacts with tiny plate-like mineral inclusions within the stone. The light entering the stone reflects from them at a common angle. This optical phenomenon is known as "aventurescence." Sunstone is associated with good fortune and luck. The gemstone clears and energises all the chakras, alleviating stress and increasing vitality. It is a strong gemstone that enhances leadership qualities in an individual as well.

Colours & Nature For February 2018

1. King Eider
   King Eider is a colourful duck that only migrates in open water in the most inhospitable places on this planet. If you visit Alaska's Bering Sea in North America and withstand the cold to 40 below zero, you can manage to lay your eyes upon it. It is considered one of North America's most spectacular waterfowl species. Highly gregarious for most of the year, it forms flocks during spring migration, sometimes over 10,000. Now isn't that amazing? Breeding male has a distinctive plumage with pale fore-parts and dark rear parts. Females' plumage has an almost uniform yellowish brown with mottled markings, and a smiling appearance on its face.
2. Andean cock-of-the-rock
   The Andean cock-of-the-rock, also known as Tunki, is a big passerine bird of the cotinga family, which is native to Andean cloud forests in South America. This bird is regarded as the national bird of Peru. It has a wonderful, rhyming name and looks stunning as well. It flaunts a striking orange plumage that frames its beady eyes beautifully. Only the males have bright feathers with a distinctive head crest. Its tails and wings are black in colour and the wings also have a row of pale grey feathers along the inside edge.

Décor

How To Choose Paint Colours For A Room With 2 Exposures

If you have a room in your house with windows on different walls, this means you are dealing with two exposures. Deciding what colours to paint your room with two exposures means figuring out which exposure has priority. Read on to know everything about it...

Since colour varies according to light, you need to consider which direction your room is facing to determine the best colours for your room.

Let's discuss about rooms with two exposures. We are sure you have several doubts but worry not! Always keep in mind that the biggest window will have priority. Also note that if you have competing exposures, you might be dealing with both warm and cool colours when it comes to your paint options. You may want to think about which end of the colour wheel you prefer and which exposure that relates to.

South facing rooms have bright, warm light coming in the whole day. This light can wash colours out at the height of the day. In the morning, the west facing light could add some softness to the room. In the afternoon, the western light would warm up the room. What you need to focus on is the south facing wall. As long as they are larger or same size as the west facing ones, give them priority and pick warm colour options.

A room with windows on the southern and eastern walls will be somewhat nicely balanced. With the warm southern light through the entire day and the influence of the more subdued eastern light, this room can be lovely depending on the size of the windows. Focus on the east facing wall and choose cool tones to encourage the wonderful balance in the room.

A room that has windows on the southern wall and the northern wall will have warm, yellow light in the south end and cool blue light in the northern end. You need to choose a colour of your liking, preferably warm colours to suit the northern exposure.

These were some pointers for all those of you planning to paint your homes. Here's hoping that you have a great time picking out interior house paint colours for your rooms with two exposures. All the best!

How To Create A Whole Home Colour Palette?

If picking one paint colour is daunting, you must be wondering how on earth to find colours for an entire house. Worry not; join us as we navigate the whole process of selecting colours!

It is best to start with your favourite colours as you won't get tired of seeing them in your home all the time. Let's get started!

PICK A WHITE
If you love bold colours, you can use a white for the trims, doors, cabinetry, insides of closets and furniture. However, take note that just like every other colour, whites have undertones that you will want to focus on.

PICK A NEUTRAL
This is perfect for walls that connect rooms such as open living spaces. You can try lovely beige, tan, grey, crisp white, cream and rich brown.

PICK ONE SATURATED COLOUR
Give life to the walls of your home by choosing a saturated or bold colour. Since we are talking about a whole house colour palette, this is going to be a main colour. Saturated colours often resemble actual gems, both in look as well as name, such as sapphire blue, emerald green or ruby red.

If you love colour, this probably won't be hard for you to do. If you are a bit shy of bold colour, don't be anxious. When we say pick a saturated or bold colour, you can actually try a lighter shade of the colour too!

PICK AN ACCENT COLOUR
This will be the accent colour in some spaces of your home. Unifying accent colours across rooms will give it a flow. Remember that the main accent colour in a room should appear at least thrice in different areas of the room so as to look intentional.

Hope this article has equipped you with wall paint colour schemes for your home! You can read on to get some more inspiration with these perfect paint colour ideas:  https://www.bergerpaints.com/colour-magazine/january/2018/decor/

Looking For Exterior Paint Colours?

The exterior of a home tells the world something about the personality of the people who live inside it. A well-chosen colour scheme brings out architectural details, downplays the existing flaws and beautifies the overall look of a house. One way to enhance your home’s curb appeal is through a fresh coat of paint. Here are a few trending colours to inspire you...

Before we reveal what colours we like, here are some pointers to get started. These are some ways in which you can choose exterior paint colours for Indians homes yourself. Just consider the surroundings and see what works best for you. There are two things you need to keep in mind before taking this decision – how well it lasts and how good it looks!

To narrow down your colour choices, you need to build an exterior palette around the elements of the house that will never change such as brick or stone components. You can pick contrasting but complementary colours to highlight such features.

If your home has beautiful windows or other architectural features, a black trim is a great way to draw attention to them. Paired with a white exterior, black trim will create a striking look.

You can try stone grey hue exteriors for an intense look, enhanced with lush greenery. You can also opt for an exuberant pairing like a shade of yellow and lavender to create a welcoming ambiance for your guests. These work wonderfully for those who love the natural colour palette.

For those who prefer a warm colour palette, pick pastel shades like orange for a tropical look and feel. If the exteriors of your house have stone textures, you can try a peppy colour for the main door to balance it out.

For someone who likes the cool colour palette, peach and brown shades for the home exteriors can lend a classy feel to your home.

With these trendy exterior paint colours, we are sure your guests will be charmed and you will succeed in creating the perfect impression.

Good luck!

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For February 2018

Candles are considered to be versatile Feng Shui tools that help bring positive energy to a living space. Learn how to go about it…

LIGHT IT UP!

The fire element is vital to activate certain areas and elements in your home. Candles invoke the energy of purification as they are a Fire Feng Shui element. They warm up the energy and help release daily stress.

Numbers and colours play a significant role in Feng Shui applications. It is believed that people don't use more than nine candles to generate fire energy. Too many candles are considered inauspicious and defeats the objective, creating an imbalance of energies.

Feng Shui compass directions are also assigned colours to go with the various elements of each sector. You can use these assigned colours to narrow down your choices of candle colours.

Burning a red candle is believed to stimulate the wealth luck as it activates the fire element. Other Feng Shui colours associated with wealth include gold and purple.

If your relationship with a loved one has gone stale, place two red candles in the far right corner of your home and in your bedroom. Light these candles twice every day.

A room that is cold and depressing suffers from too much yin energy. Bring in some much-needed yang energy with three green candles near the entrance.

Put eight blue candles near the left corner of your home if you feel monotonous and need some inspiration. Light the candles once a day, preferably during the evening hours.

Place five yellow candles on the kitchen table and light them once a day if you suffer from poor eyesight, arthritis or dry skin.

When life feels like all work and no play, place seven white circular candles in the centre of the right side of your home. Light the candles once each day, preferably in the early evening.

By using candles, you can bring harmony and balance in your life. You can also try using the Hamsa hand to say goodbye to negative energy in your home. Read all about it here: https://www.bergerpaints.com/colour-magazine/october/2017/colours-and-ancient-sciences/feng-shui/

Hope you find this article helpful.

Reiki For February 2018

Travelling long distances can be quite a cumbersome experience for some. Make Reiki your companion on the road, air or water for a great travelling experience. Read on to know how…

Reiki For Travel!

Some people get stressed at just the thought of boarding a plane or travelling for several hours at a stretch. You can combat this issue with good doses of Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese technique to reduce stress and promote healing.

Before you start your journey, all you need to do is relax comfortably, breathe in and start the flow of Reiki. Say out loud or simply express the intention in your mind that Reiki be channeled and stored in a huge ball of energy which will stay with you throughout the journey, until you get safely to the destination. You can try visualising the ball of energy being formed in the future, at the moment when your journey starts and imagine that the ball is above your crown chakra. You need to channel the Reiki energy into this ball and visualise it grow bigger and bigger. You can stop sending the energy for a while if you want, and continue later, or on the next day.

When it is time for you to travel, connect to this Reiki ball and ask it to follow and travel with you wherever you go. If you have faith, you can enjoy a healthy flow of Reiki throughout your journey. Just remember to ground yourself during the journey, and drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

If you are driving a car to your destination, you can Reiki the car through the steering wheel to keep it running smoothly. If you tend to get motion sickness while travelling, you can Reiki your thigh as the stomach meridian travels along the thigh and it is a convenient place to Reiki while driving. If you are on the way to a conference where you need to speak, you could Reiki your throat chakra.

Try Reiki to guard yourself from unpleasant circumstances and make your journey an enjoyable one too. Safe travels!

Vaastu For February 2018

It is believed that Vaastu can enhance the concentration of students preparing for their exams. Here are some simple and effective Vaastu steps to improve the performance in studies…

Vaastu for Improved Concentration!

Vaastu-compliant rooms are believed to play a vital role in enhancing concentration of students preparing for exams. Students should face the east while studying. The study table should be kept near the wall. However, for those seeking and preparing for higher education, it is good to face the north. The entry to the study room should be from the north, north-east, east, south, south-east, west or north-west directions.

Remember to not have a beam over the student's head while studying. All pillars, columns, sharp pointed edges in furniture, open shelves should be given a curved edge as they distract and affect concentration. The student should have an open space in front to encourage fresh ideas and optimistic approach. There should never be a door behind the student while studying. It is a good idea to place a poster or a soothing painting to exude positivity in the room. We often make the mistake of keeping a book shelf over the study table. It should be placed on the eastern walls and there should never be heaps of books on the study table.

When it comes to seating, a wooden chair with a slight cushion is ideal while studying. Proper lighting is essential and the study table should be brightly lit but not too harsh to hurt the eyes. The placement of the study lamp should be on the left side of the table. It is necessary that adequate amount of natural light and air enter the room. Ensure that while studying, the student's shadow does not fall on the study table. The room should be bright and cheerful, which is why it is best to avoid use of dull colours to decorate the room. Yellow is a great colour as it is bright and stands for knowledge and wisdom.

Music can be effective while studying but make sure to pick an inspirational and soothing playlist. You can even place an aquarium in the study room. You can display trophies and certificates won by the student on the south wall to keep up the motivation levels. Any form of clutter is not good as it creates confusion. The room should be kept clean and clutter-free.

Hope you found this article helpful. If you are a student living in a hostel, read on to ensure you receive positive vibes using these Vaastu tips: https://www.bergerpaints.com/colour-magazine/april/2017/colours-and-ancient-sciences/vaastu/