Blue tops design horizon: moody, serene blue is the year's hottest color in fashion, interior design and art

Art Business News, April, 2003 by Jessica Lyons

Blue also works as an effective accent color, to liven up whites or earth tones, Chappell said. "I've used all the earth tones, but I'm also using heightened burgundies, reds and blues. I've been asked for brighter, global types of things."

She also said buyers are tired of beige on beige, and blue is an excellent alternative. Still, she advised don't overdo blue, whether it's a painting of a tropical beach, a grape vine or even John Milan's tongue-in-cheek chef images. "Even in a beach landscape, you've got sand tones and earth tones from the palms."

Decorative Expressions' Robert Harris agreed. "If a painting has too many strong blues, then the painting looks dark and cold. A painting has to be warm to sell." And then, he repeated a constant mantra among gallery owners. Blue paint alone doesn't sell art. Art sells art. "Really," Harris said, "the quality of the painting and the interest of the subject is what draws people to a painting."

SOURCES

* Bruce McGaw Graphics, 888-4BMCGAW

* Canadian Art Prints, 800-663-1166

* Color Marketing Group, (703) 329-8500

* Color Association of the United States, (212) 947-7774

* Colville Publishing, (310) 618-3700

* Decorative Expressions, (770) 457-8008

* Editions Limited, (510) 923-9770

* Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc., (941) 261-5944

* Gamblin Artist's Oil Colors, (503) 235-1945

* Winn Devon, 800-875-4150