Greetings! An Analytical Approach to Color I'm going to share with you my secret to picking colors when I frame a picture.  I first have to admit that color doesn't just happen. Color can accomplish many things in art. It can set a mood, draw attention to a subject, and even convey a story. Knowing that color works in these ways can help picture framers plan their selection of mats and frames more effectively. I start by stepping back and looking at the complete color palette of the artwork. I then identify the dominant colors, and the supporting colors. One way to do this is to shut your eyes and squint at the scene. This minimizes the details and allows the colors to show through. In your mind's eye, separate the colors that are dominant. Then think of colors in the scene that may complement the dominant color. Ask yourself what mood you want to set using these colors. For instance, warm colors are often used to convey sensitivity or safety. Cool colors are more "in your face" and more businesslike. Ask yourself which message you want to send, and compose your image with the colors that express the relationships, mood, and impact you want the viewer to see. There are all sorts of subordinate color relationships to explore. Some examples are monochromatic, analogous, and complementary. 
When I work with a client, I ask a lot of questions, and do a lot of listening. The more I understand the mood and story the client wants to convey, the better I can help them accomplish this with a selection of color. Picture framing is an art, but never the dominant art. At AFT a picture is worth a thousand words, but framing it tells the story. | 
