Use of Color in Graphic Design
October 6, 2008
What Is Color?
In 1666, English scientist Sir Isaac Newton discovered that when pure white light is passed through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors. Newton also found that each color is comprised of a single wavelength and cannot be separated any further into other colors.
Further experiments demonstrated that light could be combined to form other colors. For example, red light mixed with yellow light creates an orange color. A color resulting from a mix of two other colors is known as a metamer. Some colors, such as yellow and purple, cancel each other out when mixed and result in a white light. These competing colors are known as complements.
Furniture Designers Like Kaare Klint Makes Perfect Furniture Design
October 6, 2008
Of all the furniture designers that emerged from Denmark during the 20th century, Kaare Klint was the only one that was born the century before. Born in 1888, the son of P.V. Jensen Klint, an eminent architect of the early 20th century, the younger Kaare Klint worked first as an architect before moving on to furniture design. In 1924 he founded the Danish Academy of Art and became the first professor the school ever had in furniture. He was also the first lecturer in Furniture Design at Copenhagen’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts.
As a professor and lecturer, Kaare Klint had a huge hand in shaping many of the most well known furniture designers to come out of Denmark. He was a mentor and collaborator of Finn Juhl, whose own style was completely opposite of Kaare Klint with the exception of Shaker furniture, which both men admired greatly. Instead of embracing the modernism movement like many of his contemporaries out of France and Germany, Kaare Klint went back to the simple and elegant designs that had worked for generations. He found inspiration in Chippendale, Biedermeier, Far Eastern style, and, of course, American Shaker. His furniture, designed in the classic style but with proportion studies thrown in, fit in the everyday lives of both Danish and international homes.
Borge Mogensen – Furniture Designers
October 6, 2008
Born in Denmark in 1914, Borge Mogensen became qualified as a cabinetmaker at the age of 20. He, like many of the other furniture designers from Denmark, studied at the Copenhagen School of Arts and Crafts and then at the Furniture School of the Academy of Fine Arts from 1938 to 1942. At the time Kaare Klint was the professor of the Furniture School whose own influence on Danish furniture is still felt today. Borge Mogensen was viewed by Kaare Klint as an extraordinary talent with valued skills. His closeness with Kaare Klint led to a cooperation between the two men that allowed Borge Mogensen to open up his own design studio in 1950.
Within five years of establishing and working his own design studio, Borge Mogensen was able to design furniture for well known producers. Karl Andersson & Soner, P. Lauritzen & Son, and Fredericia Furniture all manufactured designs that came from the mind of Borge Mogensen. The Fredericia contract turned out to be the most fruitful partnership of his career and he was allowed to explore every aspect of his own comprehensive design skills. Andreas Graversen was the owner of Fredericia at the time and he was able to keep up with Borge Mogensen’s thoroughness and quality in his designs.
Crazy Fun Crafts
October 5, 2008
Crafts can get a little bit boring when you always do the same thing over and over again. Kids and adults both get bored easy when not being entertained any longer. Try breaking out of the craft blues by expanding your search to something new and maybe a little bit crazy. Forget about folding things out of napkins or making cards and paper plate masks. Go beyond the boring to something that is enjoyable after it has been created. There are some crazy crafts out there that also become a useful household item. It doesn’t take as much as you’d assume. If you have the time and the interest, these items are just a few steps away.
The printer is a wonderful invention. Over time it has just kept getting better. Thanks to special printer paper one can now print their own t-shirt designs at home. Most department stores carry t-shirt paper. Simply select the picture you want to put on it, print it out on the special paper then iron it on to your t-shirt. It works exceptionally well and papers can be purchased for light and dark t-shirts. This is a good craft for any age group. Design your own unique t-shirt print that no one else will ever have. It can also be a great gift item.