Red and Green - Colors of the Season

For years, I always connected the color combination of red and green only with Christmas. As little children in our society, red and green is everywhere. It's hard not to think that the only way to use red and green together is in a Christmas related theme.

As my experiences with color developed and I learned more about it, I realized that red and green were complementary colors found opposite each other on the color wheel. I have always been drawn to complementary colors - they make me happy and smile. But for years, I avoided combining red and green in my work, thinking that there would be a Christmas connection.

Nature on the other hand combines red and green many different places and it is beautiful. In this dahlia from my garden on a chartreuse background.....


On this leaf I found on the road......


In the leaves that we eat from the swisschard "bright lights" plant we grow in our garden.


And then one day, I threw my red and green inhibitions idea out the window. I began working with red and green and making a success of the combination without it screaming Christmas. Most of the time, I tweak the green so that it isn't the bright kelly green associated with Christmas. I use a blue green, a chartreuse or an olive. The red I use is also not bright screaming Christmas red - it is a softer, more faded looking red.



On the walls of our study/t.v. room, I painted a red and green mosaic pattern.


In this room I have lots of objects with red and green on them. Most of them have other colors combined with the red and green.


These mittens I designed for Vogue Knitting also used a red and green theme.


I think that red and green makes people feel happy and cozy and warm, don't you?


May you and yours enjoy all the festive red and green this holiday season! Our best from our farmhouse to yours!