Jan in VA

Look at pictures of quilts that attract your attention.
Determine the main colors in those quilts.
Notice closely what colors are used that might surprise you.
Then notice how much of each color the quilter used.
Did she change the value of those colors (using lights, mediums and darks)?

Google images of fresh flower, or wild flowers, or specific flowers.
Go through the same process as you find flowers that attract your attention.
In a red flower, are there several values of red? Does it contain pink? Light? Dark? How about peach or even orange in it?

Train your eye by spending time doing this a bit every day, or week, until you begin to feel comfortable with colors that work well together. They are all around you! So much in nature is inspirational. Even when the trees bud in spring, you will notice there are many, many values of green.....and even red/pink/rust/burgundy, all at the same time!

You don't have to carry any tool around with you, just your eyes. And they are always with you!

Jan in VA

AliKat

OK here goes:

[1] You don't need to buy a color wheel unless you want to spend the money. There are several you can download free.
[2] Even with a color wheel your material might look different because of the print size and texture.
[3] Ditto Jan in VA's advice. Look around and see what you like.
[4] Make it a fun process and you'll surprise yourself.
[5] However, remember as we 'mature' our vision may not be giving us proper feedback on color. Check with trusted friends. If your color vision is off see an ophthomologist!!!

Ex: one of my best friends wasn't aware of her miss matching colors. Her family noticed but didn't say anything. Only 2 of us quilting buddies gave her feedback and went material shopping with her. See saw her ophthomologist regularly never telling him of her color concerns and he told her she didn't need cataract surgery just yet. So she followed his advice and did nothing. Finally she listened to us and told the eye doctor of her color problems and has now had her first cataract surgery. The world is much brighter and vivid now.

Hope this all helps,
ali

bearisgray

It's true that cataracts will 'muddy' what one sees.

ghostrider

YES! I felt like scales had fallen from my eyes after cataract surgery. The renewed clarity of color was even better than the renewed clarity of taste after I quit smoking 22 years ago. teehee