Sabbath Black and Mr. Egg Yellow – An artist who spreads splashes of color

„It's a very simple design.”

That design helped Birmingham artist Stacey Barnfield spread her love of color and typography across the country and beyond.

The Color Palette Company started a few years ago while locked in a city, with the idea that a group of colors could be designed to represent the area.

Three years later, more than 50 have been created as pieces of wall art, mugs, bags – and large-format installations.

  • author, John Bray
  • stock, BBC News, Birmingham
image caption, Stacey Barnfield's Birmingham Color Palette is at Grand Central above Birmingham New Street Station. In January 2021, the Color Palette company was created after a tweet went viral during the lockdown.
Avoid Twitter content

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. Because they use cookies and other technologies, we ask for your permission before loading anything. You might want to read Twitter Cookie Policy And Privacy Policy Before accepting. Select 'Accept and Continue' to view this content.

Warning: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

The end of Twitter content

image caption, While looking online at old Birmingham buses and their familiar cream and blue livery, the artist came up with the idea to incorporate the nostalgic colors of the towns and cities.

„It was very much intended to match those paint swatches you get from a DIY shop,” Mr Barnfield said.

After her Birmingham color palette won so much online love, she was inundated with requests from people who wanted something similar to where they live.

„What I always try to do and encourage is to have lesser-known local references that aren't obvious tourist-type landmarks.

„So for example, in the Birmingham one, it's got Mr Egg Yellow. I think you have to be a certain age to get that… It's a late-night cafe where people stagger after the clubs.”

image source, National Museums Liverpool

image caption, The National Museums Liverpool color palette vase was specially commissioned to be in the city's museums.

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, The Suffolk Color Palette is on display at The Hold in Ipswich, home of the Suffolk Archives.

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, One of the artist's favorite palettes is Northumberland. „This beautiful gradient of green and earthy colors is so reflective of the area. The rugged terrain feels like it”

New color palettes are often developed in collaboration with local people.

„The way it came about is that I'm working with a local council and we're asking people in the area what they think should happen,” Mr Barnfield said.

„I love it, and for me the best part of how it's progressed is getting the community to fully buy in to their ideas.

„Honestly, I'm amazed when I see one of those huge color palettes, especially at a train station or shopping center.

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, The color palette is not limited to England as the artist is a big fan of Italy

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, A slice of the Big Apple is created with a New York color palette

The success of The Color Palette has taken its creator by surprise.

„I never in a million years thought it would happen,” he said.

„I think it was really good in a lot of ways because I didn't have a business plan for it.

„There was no strategy to it – I was playing with stuff on my laptop at home.”

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, Bristol's association with British aviation history legend and Clifton Suspension Bridge builder Isambard Kingdom Brunel is reflected in the city's color palette.

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, Robin Hood's House plays an important role in Nottingham's color palette

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, The Sheffield color palette points towards snooker at the Crucible Theater and rock band Arctic Monkeys.

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, London's color palette features the city's world-famous buses and taxis

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, Below the streets of London, there was already some color coding for the London Underground tube map.

image source, The Color Palette Company

image caption, Earlier in April, a color palette was unveiled at Rugby railway station in Warwickshire

image source, Damian Walmsley

image caption, A similar color palette installation is at Leamington Spa train station
See more

Dodaj komentarz

Twój adres e-mail nie zostanie opublikowany. Wymagane pola są oznaczone *