Hi, It's Cheryl here. 

Interested in decorative painting? 
This is the place to be.  Here's what I have for you this week:

- Color Trends for 2022
- Your Questions Answered
- Quote for This Week

Writing this week’s newsletter has been difficult.  My mind is distracted by the recent events happening in the Ukraine.  The unprovoked attacks on the innocent people of the Ukraine have left me reeling and horrified. 

And when I can’t tolerate the images on the TV, I’m grateful I have painting to turn to for sanctuary.  My mind needs a break from thinking these desperate and sad thoughts. And so, I paint, or I look for artful inspiration on the internet. 

I found myself surfing around just looking at color combinations.  I tried to imagine what I could paint next with one color as the main feature.  And one thing led to another which piqued my curiosity further.  I hope you enjoy this article.

By the way, I chose this photo of my (late) dog and sunflowers to show support for Ukraine.  The sunflower is their national flower.  And I happen to love this photo.

Creative people usually like to decorate their homes.  And most of us will paint decorative accents to make our homes more beautiful.  Our color choices are influenced by what’s trending.  That's true even when we think we’re not swayed by trends. Remember the '70's?

I mean, how many of us want kitchen appliances in olive green or harvest gold these days?  Those colors were really popular in the ‘70’s.  Growing up in my house, we had dark brown appliances.  ACK!!!!!  But now everyone covets white or stainless steel.

I was reading an interesting article about color trends for home décor.  And that got me wondering... who the heck decides what the upcoming trends will be?  Is it a guy sitting in an office arbitrarily declaring that “red” is this season’s hot color?  Or is there more to it than that? 

So I turned to my good friend Google.  I asked, “Who decides color trends”?  And of course, I learned something! 

There is an organization called the Color Marketing Group (CMG).  This organization sets color trends in the fashion, automotive and home décor industries.  I went to their website.  If you want to learn more about upcoming trends, you must have a paid membership.  Whoa!  I didn’t sign up.  Instead, I surfed around the “net” a bit more.

By visiting different home décor sites, I did learn something. 

What’s hot for 2022 are “glam neutrals”.  Whites, beiges, warm yellows, cotton, and touches of gold and brass. 

So, if you’re painting a big canvas for your living room, think glam neutrals!!  

I’ve never even thought of neutral colors as being glamorous.  But, with just the right metallic gold accents, neutrals really can look glamorous.  Just Google “glam neutrals home décor” and see for yourself. 

As for the “in” color of the year?  It looks like all shades of purple will reign supreme.  Good thing I love purple, but I wouldn’t paint my rooms that color! 

Instead, I painted this canvas in purples and blues.  I titled it, “Rhythm and Blues”.

Art is standing with one hand extended into the universe

and one hand extended into the world,
and letting ourselves be a conduit for passing energy.

-Albert Einstein

That's it for now.