“Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment” is a quote from Claude Monet, the founder of French impressionist painting…And yesterday I had to agree with him! I am sure many of you know that I love to use colour on my cakes and I like to try new combinations to see what I can create. Yesterday I set myself the challenge of using a colour palette that is not in my ‘comfort zone’.
Looking for colour inspiration
I look for colour inspiration in many places. When preparing for yesterday’s mini cake class I happened to be browsing the internet and came across Martha Stewart’s wedding colour palettes. Whilst there I spotted her opalescent colour scheme. I decided it was again time for me to have a go using colours I am not instantly drawn to. I often find it difficult to use pastels. However, I know that the majority of my students love them. I ended up choosing peach, lavender, pale pink, pale orange and ivory.
Spending time colouring paste
I must admit that I did spend a couple of hours colouring my paste. For me achieving the right tone, hue or tint is critical to the overall scheme. From experience, I know that not everyone sees colour the way I do. Nor is everyone as ‘obsessed’ with colouring the paste to get it just right. From my personal point of view, I think it is worthwhile, especially when I am using colours that are not so familiar to me.
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Opalescent colour scheme – the results
As predicted, many of my students liked my opalescent colour scheme. They told me it looked very subtle and sophisticated. I found, however, that it wasn’t easy balancing the colours. Maybe not quite a ‘torment’ as described by Monet, but I was exhausted by the end of the day!!!!
Here are the demonstration cakes I created for my students, I hope they inspire you.
All the mini cakes I decorated were 6cm (2.5inch) in size – the perfect little canvas on which to experiment.
What do you think?
I’d love to hear what you think of this colour scheme. Is it one that you would be happy to use? Or would you find it a bit of a struggle like me?
Sweet wishes and happy sugarcrafting
Lindy
“Bringing world-class sugarcraft into your kitchen“
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Rina says
I love it! But there again, I love everything you do Lindy. You have been a total inspiration to me. I have just brought some of your latest books over the internet and am looking forward to poring over them, and using them for inspiration.
You have helped me in the past when I was having a problem with various things, and I am eternally grateful for you for giving your time and your expertise so readily.
Back to your question, ‘would I struggle’, well not now, because you have shown us how wonderful it looks and saved us the trouble!
I will definitely be trying out some of these amazing colour palettes myself.
Schouten says
De kleurencombinatie vindt ik zeer goed, het gaat de romantische toer op en kan gebruikt worden op een onderandere een doopfeest zowel voor een jongen als een meisje. Ik vindt hem schattig.
Geraldine Whelan says
Oh Lindy, that is soooooo elegant, I love it….well done!!
Sue says
I think the colours are truly elegant. I’d not have put them together in a million years, but they seem to work here. And thanks for the tip of Martha Stewart’s website. There are lots of great ideas there.
Canterbury Cakes says
It’s very beautiful – but I can see why you found it hard work. It isn’t a colour scheme that I think I would come up with easily. I love the design.
Lindy Smith says
I have been pondering over why this colour combination, for me, is difficult and I think part of the problem is the lack of contrast!!
Sally says
Lindy, watching you juggling with the colour combinations in class was inspiring knowing you were out of your comfort zone you made it look easy, with at the same time using the lovely shapes of cutters and beautiful moulds I have my daughters birthday cake to make and decorate for next week and the moulds will be definatly in full use!.
Sharon-Elaine says
I love this colour scheme! Interestingly, the cake I am planning for my parents Golden Wedding at the end of this month is likely to include some of those colours. I initially wanted to use purple, lilac, yellow and lemon, but I coloured some sugarpaste the other day to use on cookies, and tried a new SK colour that I had bought, Nasturtium. Just a little bit made a gorgeous shade of peach, so my thinking moved more towards ivory, peach, lilac, lemon. But I must admit, the added pink looks lovely on your cakes!
Jane says
Thanks Sharon-Elaine, good luck
Jane