History Of Colour Pencils For November 2018

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  • calendar-iconNov , 2018
  • Colour Magazine
  • 3 min read

Colour Stories

Ever wondered how colour pencils came into being? Learn all about its origins here…

Pencils have been in production since ages. Today, let’s delve into the story of colour pencils. Colour pencils are those that are made of wax, pigments, additives and binding agents. Some colour pencils are wax, oil-based or water-soluble.

Wax: Pigments are bound together with wax to create hard or soft pencil cores (the coloured part of a colour pencil). Wax-based pencils provide excellent coverage but are prone to breakage, quick wear and debris. They also produce bloom, a coating of powdery film that appears after the colour has been applied.

Oil: The binder (substance that holds the pigment together) consists of vegetable oil, which does not produce bloom. Oil-based pencils are slightly harder than wax-based.

Water-soluble: These pencils can be either wax or oil based, either hard or soft. An emulsifier is added, allowing the pigment to be liquefied with water.

ORIGIN OF COLOUR PENCILS

It is known that ancient Greeks used wax-based crayons and even the Romans used coloured crayons based on wax. First coloured pencils appeared in the 19th century and were used for “checking and marking” in documents.

In 1834, Staedtler, a German company owned by Johann Sebastian Staedtler invented coloured oil pastel pencil. In the early 20th century, production of coloured pencils for art purposes commenced. The first art colour pencils were invented and produced in 1924 by Faber-Castell and Caran d’Ache. Berol made its colour pencils in 1938. Other manufacturers that also made colour pencils were Lyra Rembrandt, Blick Studio, Derwent and Progresso. Some manufacturers even claim that they were the first ones to invent the first art watercolour pencil.

Colour pencils are used in two techniques - layering and burnishing. Layering is a technique that is usually used at the beginning of drawing. Its idea is to use primary colours in layers and with that to get different tones. Burnishing is done on layers. The outcome is a shiny surface of blended colours.

Colour pencils are used in animation because they are easier to erase than standard graphite pencils and they don't smudge easily.

Now that you have read about colour pencils, won’t you agree that they are not any less fascinating than historical objects and as an art medium?

Hope you found this article interesting and learnt how colour pencils were born. If you are a budding artist, colour pencils are a great way to unleash your creativity and paint your imagination!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For November 2018

  1. Women can see more shades of red and orange than men. The gene that allows women to see red is the X chromosome. Because women have two of these X chromosomes, it gives them more colour variation in the red-orange spectrum. Women have two of the genes and men only have one. This means that women are able to see so many different shades of red and orange and men can only see a few. Where women can see crimson, maroon, cardinal, ruby, and scarlet, men might only be able to see light, medium, and dark red.
  2. The national bird of Honduras, Scarlet Macaw is one of the most beautiful birds found in the tropical rainforest. They are known for their beautiful bright plumage. They are also curious, strong willed and highly trainable in captivity. The feathers of the bird are red, blue and yellow and the area around the eyes is white. The upper portion of the beak is white and the lower half is black. What distinguishes the Scarlet Macaw from other Macaws are its bright feathers. This helps them to blend into their natural habitat in the rainforest.
  3. Impossible colours, also called forbidden colours, are colours that are too complex for the human eye. Your eyes can't perceive these colours because of the way they work. Basically, the human eye has three types of cone cells: Blue versus Yellow, Red versus Green and Light versus Dark. There is always an overlap between the wavelengths of light covered by the cone cells, so you see more than just blue, yellow, red, and green. Because of the opponent process, you can't see blue and yellow or red and green at the same time. Impossible colours like reddish green or yellowish blue are trickier to see.

Colour Quotes For November 2018

  • Colour! What a deep and mysterious language, the language of dreams.

    - Paul Gauguin

  • What colour is in a picture, enthusiasm is in life.

    - Vincent Van Gogh

  • All colours are the friends of their neighbours and the lovers of their opposites.

    - Marc Chagall

Colour Tips For November 2018

  1. Get inspired from various elements.
    It is one of the easiest ways to choose interior paint colour. Throw pillows, bedding, and even table linens can provide you with paint colour ideas. If you're creating an accent wall, look for the boldest colour in the print. Want to choose a paint colour that is more subtle or for a larger space? Look at the colour in the tiny details of your print fabric. If you've got patterned upholstery, a colourful rug or large piece of artwork, pluck colours you like from the pattern.
  2. Try a light to dark shade combination.
    Sometimes all you need is a little adjustment to find the right interior paint colour. Consider a lighter or darker shade of the same colour. Many paint colours appear on a paint strip in gradual shades, but you can also ask your paint store to customize it by percentages of light or dark shades. Use darker colours on the floor, medium colours on the walls and lighter ones on the ceiling. Designer Mark McCauley says "Any interior space replicates the outside world. The exterior environment is generally darker below our feet (the earth), medium-valued as you look straight ahead (buildings/trees) and lighter skys."
  3. Begin with the formal areas first.
    Specifically, the living room and dining room. Choose a colour scheme for those areas first, then pull one colour from the scheme and use elements on the other rooms. Don’t forget to use the rule of 60-30-10. When decorating a space, divide the colours in the space into components of 60 percent of a dominant colour, 30 percent of a secondary colour and 10 percent of an accent colour. The walls will be the majority, the upholstery would represent the secondary colour and other accessories would make up the rest.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For November 2018

  1. According to a study, when subjects were told to assess products with different colour names, such as makeup products, fancy names were preferred over simple, plain names. For example, “mocha” was found to be greatly more likeable than “brown,” despite the fact that the subjects were shown the same colour. Research has found that people rated fancy, elaborately-named paint colours as more visually appealing than their simply-named counterparts. It has also been shown that more unique or unusual the colour names, more they are preferred no matter what the object. Interesting, isn’t it?
  2. A research in studies on colour perception and colour preferences show that when it comes to hues, shades, tints, the favourite colours of men and women differ hugely. Men generally opt for bold colours while the ladies prefer softer colours. Also, men are more likely to pick shades of colours as their favourites, particularly colours with black added, whereas women are more receptive to tints of colours, especially colours with white added. Isn’t that fascinating?

Colours & Fashion For November 2018

Throughout history, kings and other high-ranking personalities have used animal print rugs. It was a sign of status just as mounted animals were kept as trophies. During the Bohemian movement in the late 1960s, animal print became popular for women in the United States. These prints have the ability to grab the on-lookers’ attention with its multi-coloured patterns and irregular designs. These prints are believed to convey power to the wearer. Interestingly, they also evoke a sense of luxury and wealth. From tiger stripes to cheetah spots, the patterns of the world's big cats are considered fashionable. Like them, hate them, but you can’t ignore them!

Colours & Gems For November 2018

  1. Fluorite
    Fluorite forms in hydrothermal veins in the Earth's crust and in cavities in sedimentary rocks. Over the centuries, these fissures have been opening and closing constantly, sometimes even cutting off the fluids needed for Fluorite to form. These subtle changes in the chemistry of these fluids cause colour zoning in the crystals as they grow. Interesting, isn’t it? It also has amazing healing properties. By balancing the third eye chakra, the Fluorite crystal protects from negativity and also helps if you feel mentally blocked. It also enhances concentration and aids in decision-making. This balancing and grounding stone gives structure to your thought process during tough times.
  2. Selenite
    This stone got its name from Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Selenite is known for its transparency and ethereal radiance. It reflects a pure beam of white light into any environment in which it rests, just like the moon. It is believed to contain the liquid Light of Spirit inhabiting the place between light and matter. Selenite carries fine, high frequency and intensity of energy that surpasses nearly all stones for opening, clearing, and activating the Crown and Higher Crown Chakras. This stone is ideal for meditation and spiritual purposes.

Colours & Nature For November 2018

  1. Bar-pouched wreathed hornbill
    Meet the bar-pouched wreathed hornbill. It gets its name from its casque, which has a flattened wrinkled band, or a wreath, at the base of the bill. It is a species of hornbill found in the forests east and south through mainland Southeast Asia, the Greater Sundas in Indonesia and far north-east of India and Bhutan. It is 75–100 cm long. The very large bill of the bird aids in reaching fruits on adjacent branches, or branches that are too small to stand the weight of these large birds. In an adult wreathed hornbill, the overall plumage is black in colour. The bird has black wings and a small white tail.
  2. Glass-winged butterfly
    Take a look at this marvel of nature. It is the glass-winged butterfly (Greta oto). If you are wondering why the wings of this butterfly look transparent, because it is indeed so! The tissues between its veins look like glass because it does not have the coloured scales found in other butterflies. This feature works in its favour because predatory birds find it extremely tough to track it in flight. Fascinating, isn’t it? It is found in abundance in places like Panama, Columbia and Mexico.

Decor

Let’s Paint This Diwali With Colours

The festival of lights is finally here. Learn how to use the right colours to make your home Diwali-ready!

Diwali is that time of the year when families get together to celebrate with bright lights lively colours, scrumptious feasts and have a good time. People welcome the gods and goddesses and perform various rituals to appease them. Repainting and redecorating the house is a tradition that people follow to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu goddesses of wealth, prosperity and fortune.

By refurbishing the house and painting your walls with interesting colours, you can instantly make your home Diwali-ready!

The best way to instantly uplift your home is to start with walls. Nothing can transform your home the way colours on the walls can! Instead of painting the whole house, you can opt for accent colours on the walls for the much-needed glam quotient. In the spirit of the festival, play with festive and cheerful colour palettes like greens, deep blues, deep reds and burnt orange that bring vibrancy to the décor. Let your home reflect the warmth of festivity and pick from various room colour combination that is available. If you wish to try something different, you can add sparkle to your house before the festive season by opting for rich wall textures.

Complement the wall colours with neutral-themed furnishings. You can also jazz up your walls with stencils and give it a new lease of life. You can flaunt them above the headboard of your bed, as a backdrop to your bathroom mirror, a strip next to the entrance door or even outdoors on your balcony wall to make a stunning statement. As it is the festival of lights, it is important to keep in mind the lighting of the house. Lighting can easily transform the appearance of the home and reflect the warmth of festivity.

If you are wondering what would be the cost of painting your home to make it ready for the festivities, you can try Berger Paint’s paint cost calculator, which can give you quick answers to such questions. Here’s wishing you all a beautiful and colourful Diwali!

Brilliant Tips To Cosy Up Your Bedroom This Diwali

Are you searching for some clever tips to make your bedroom cosy this Diwali? Look no further, you have come to the right spot!

Your bedroom is your personal sanctuary. It is your very own oasis of tranquility in the midst of the buzz that takes place in the rest of the house. This is the space you retire to at the end of each day and wake up in every single morning. If you share your bedroom with a significant other, then the bedroom is where your personal styles can come together to create a harmonious unison.

If you’re planning to spruce up your bedroom, then what better time than Diwali to do so! Diwali is the perfect opportunity to bring a festive vibe into your favourite personal space. So, keep reading to find six practical suggestions that will leave your bedroom feeling as cosy as ever, providing you the ideal spot to relax in after all the festivities.

Ideas to Make Your Bedroom Cosy during Diwali

Paint Perfect
When you think of a bedroom, it should be a space that embraces you when you enter it and from which you can leave feeling relaxed. This is where the choice of paints you make come in. Your bedroom wall painting should be done in such a way that the shades used make you feel at ease. Try going for darker hues of blue, grey, mustard yellow or rust orange for a room that’s relaxing and cosy.

Tantalise with Textures

Textures add a subtle sophistication to your bedroom and Berger Paints has an exciting array of wall texture designs for bedrooms, which can lend a completely different look and transform your room. If you have opted for a subtle wall texture, add a painting above your headboard to bring out the contrast.

Lovely Lighting

The light in a space has a significant role to play in how an area looks and feels. To make your bedroom cosier than it is, simply add on some fairy lights by winding them on your bedposts. You can also have accent lamps that add a soft glow to the room, instead of the usual ceiling lights.

Sheets and Rugs

Trying out different fabrics for your bed allow for a new experience, each time. So, if you have stuck to cotton, then this Diwali, give satin sheets a spin. They are luxurious and will give your bed a rich feel. Top it off with a fluffy rug on the floor and your bedroom will instantly look like a fancy hotel.

Pillows and Cushions

There is no such thing as too many pillows and cushions. You can have them in various sizes, shades and shapes. Stack them up at the top of your bed in cool patterns for a classic look. Go for a combination of textures as well as colours for the covers. They are great to prop yourself up while reading, and who thought one could look this fabulous while taking a nap.

Welcoming the Green

Adding a potted plant to your bedroom will instantly uplift your mood and have a calming effect on the surrounding space. You have many choices here such as flowering plants, creepers, leafy planters and so on. Use one or a combination of them for a bedroom that is earthy and touched by the natural beauty of nature.

Diwali is a festival to gear up for the good times to come. At Berger Paints, we offer you a variety of services and solutions to make your home look and feel in tune with all the positive vibes. Keep your eye out for our attractive festive offers and fulfil your décor dreams.

Reason To Consider Wall Painting This Diwali

Why should you consider wall painting this Diwali? Read on to know...

Diwali is that time of the year when people anticipate the coming of prosperity and good fortune into their lives and homes. In this anticipation, there is a lot of preparation that goes into arranging spaces in such a way that they welcome the positive vibes, while also amplifying them. People set about doing this well in advance by de-cluttering their houses, giving the nooks and crannies a thorough cleaning and even taking the opportunity to upgrade their old furniture. An important aspect of giving your house a fresh feel and new look is to get it painted and we’re here to tell you why this is a great idea.

Walls are an often overlooked facet of a space which can lead to a room feeling ‘tired’. But you can transform the entire décor of your home interiors by having the walls painted in a new colour, grain or texture.

An Opportunity to Start Afresh

Diwali is an auspicious time to go with the motto ‘out with the old, in with the new’ and we couldn’t agree more. It is a time of festivities and good vibes. The walls of your home are the canvas around which you bring your décor ideas to life. So, in the spirit of attracting a bigger and better life, having a new canvas by painting your walls in new shades is a great place to start.

Utilize the Impact of Colours

There is a whole science behind the role that colours play in affecting our emotions. In any house, the majority of colour in any room is conveyed by its walls. And this obviously has a significant effect on your mood while in that space. For Diwali, choose colours that are warm, inviting and festive to create a cosy ambience in your home. Make use of focal colours and accent colours to elevate your spaces and be the envy of your guests.

Play of Light

Diwali is the festival of light, and colours in themselves are a play of light. The ambience of a room can be cleverly modified by the colours used on its walls. This has a lot to do with how shadows are created in that space. So take windows, doors and other light sources into consideration when painting to create stunning plays of light. Mood lighting is another great option to create a beautiful home that is Diwali-ready. If you plan on decorating your interiors with lamps, then you can step up your game with a textured wall so it can catch light in an interesting way.

Festive Seasonal Offers

Another great reason to paint your home this Diwali are the great deals and offers available around this time of the year, which you definitely benefit from. So, if you have been planning on getting your home repainted, this is especially good news. Not only can you save on money but you also have a home that looks as good as new. Be sure to stay tuned for attractive Diwali deals from Berger Paints!

Get started now to get your home ready by Diwali. If time is an issue, be sure to check out our quick solution, Express Painting. Get in touch today for a faster, cleaner and better painting experience!

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For November 2018

According to Feng Shui rules, should books be kept a certain way ? Read on to know do's and don'ts for a home library...

From a Feng Shui standpoint, books are viewed as ‘alive’ because they embody the energy that went into writing and creating them.

Feng Shui – Good or Bad Feng Shui?

For Good Feng Shui:

  • Donate those books that you won't re-read or share. If a book was not inspirational or did not make you feel good, there's no reason to hang on to it.
  • Letting go of books lifts a tremendous weight from your life, especially if there’s little chance you’ll refer to them again.
  • Place special books in a special place, where they can serve as anchoring objects. Finance books from favourite authors may go in the wealth trigram of the Ba Gua, while self-improvement books may go in the knowledge and spirituality trigram.
  • Keep your home library, if possible, in the knowledge section of your home or apartment. Other good place may be the wealth area.

To Avoid Bad Feng Shui:

  • Books can also be regarded as embodying stale Chi if you’ve already read them or they’re out of date.
  • Books in the bedroom are not bad Feng Shui, as long as you do not have too many of them overflowing the space.
  • Don’t make a library in the first room you see when you enter your home. This can lead residents to be too withdrawn.

Coming to books in the bedroom, do you love all the books in your small bedroom library? Are these books about love, relaxation, healing, and sexuality - all proper energies for the bedroom? Or is it a general library with a collection of various books - from how to get out of debt to fat-losing diets? Feng Shui-wise, it is important to note the energy messages you receive from these books.

What is the ideal room for books?

The quick answer to this would be living rooms, libraries, offices, sitting rooms, and other similar places. These are yang-infused areas.

Keeping all these aspects in mind, let’s conclude by saying, it is really up to you to decide and create the quality of energy you want to have close to you.

Reiki For November 2018

Ever wondered what the Reiki symbols look like and what they stand for? Read on to find out...

Reiki Masters consider the Reiki symbols holy and persist in the old Reiki tradition that they must be kept secret, and must be available to only select few practitioners.

Traditional Reiki symbols and their meaning.

Today, this approach is no longer relevant as the symbols have been described in many books/blogs; and is freely available on the Internet. Reiki is not dependent on one’s intellectual capacity or spiritual development. The intention behind the practitioner is what gives the practice its strength and therefore must be cultivated. To help with this harmonious cultivation, five Reiki symbols were developed as teaching tools for students and are meant to be keys that open the door to a higher mind. What do they mean? Do they have real power? Read on to know more.

‘The Power Reiki Symbol’ or ‘Cho Ku Rei’
It is most often related to a light switch as its intention is to instantly boost your abilities. This generally means ‘place the power of the universe here.’

‘The Mental And Emotional Reiki Symbol’ or ‘Sei Hei Ki’
This is related to balance and brings together the brain and the body. It is generally translated to ‘God and man become one,’ as it releases deep-rooted emotional negativity from the body and into the universe.

‘The Connection Reiki Symbol’ or ‘Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen’
Also known as the “Distance Symbol,” this symbol means ‘No past, no present, no future’ and stands for timelessness. Its specialty is to extend powers and send Reiki energies over a long distance.

‘The Master Reiki Symbol’ or ‘Dai Ko Myo’
It represents Reiki as a whole and is believed to be the heart of Reiki. This is the most powerful symbol and can only be used by Reiki Masters as it combines the power of the first three symbols. It generally means ‘Great Enlightenment’ or ‘Bright Shining Light.’

‘The Completion Reiki Symbol’ or ‘Raku’
Also known as the ‘Fire Serpent,’ this is the final symbol learned by Usui Reiki Masters and is used solely during the final stage of the Reiki attunement process. Its intention is to ground and seal the newly awakened Reiki energies.

Vaastu For November 2018

Do you know which colours are best for you in your home? Read on to find out...

The colours of our house are chosen to enhance its aesthetic beauty. What we don’t know is that the colours we choose for our walls unconsciously reflect our inner self and eventually affect our mood. According to Vaastu, the ancient science of architecture, colours plays an important role in bringing balance to our mind and body. The selection of colours stimulates the energy in the space and influences the people residing in the house.

In order to bring harmony in our life and Vaastu environment, it is important to understand the properties of these primary colours. These have been discussed below:

  1. Red
    is the colour of blood and has an obvious association with our life and body. The front façade of structures facing the south direction should be painted red; those who do not like red can add a red colour element to the front exterior.
  2. Yellow
    signifies illumination, light, intellect and higher mental activity. Yellow is good for studies, concentration and stabilizing the mind, and is best suited on the northern walls of a building.
  3. Blue
    represents the sky and water. It signifies emotions, inspiration, devotion and truth. Blue is also a healing and merciful colour, and helps reduce pain in the body. Try to use blue colours in the areas that are a bit large as it will be overdone if applied to a small space.
    Let’s take a look at few other colours.

    Green
    symbolizes nature, fertility, abundance, prosperity and the growth of positive energy. Green is a healing colour as well, and is good for heart and high blood pressure problems. The colour also has a cooling effect on individuals with an irritable, stubborn nature.

    Pink
    is an ideal colour for newlyweds, and should especially be used by couples wishing to conceive. People who are generally irritable or couples facing conflict in their relationship can also benefit by this colour. In fact, pink can be used anywhere in the house.

    Orange
    represents pride, ambition and communication. Young, aspiring people who are yet to achieve their goals in life should use orange shades on the southern wall of their bedroom.

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