a painted-protea-inspired color palette

---

AUBERGINE #482949 / FADED PLUM #77486A / DRIED ROSE #D4ABB1

PEACH FUZZ #F1CCC3 / A PERFECT CLOUDY DAY #DED9DD

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

---

Welcome to the third week of my color palette series featuring ARTISTS + MAKERS!

Don’t shoot me for sharing more aubergine, but I have to show you The Mint Gardener’s lovely proteas. Why? Well, 1) I’m obsessed with proteas, and 2) I’m mesmerized by Sarah’s Instagram feed. (Ok, so are 116k other people, but hopefully she is new to some of you!)

In her website bio, it says, “Sarah calls the Pacific Northwest home, and yes, she does enjoy the gloomy and rainy gray days a bit more than the hot, sunny ones.” When trying to think of adjectives to describe her watercolor work, the only one I could come up with is SOULFUL. See, she doesn’t just paint flowers; she creates florals, greenery, and landscapes that have real character and depth. The variety of her leafy stems alone is mind-blowing to me. (I have a hard time trying to come up with leaf shapes that are more interesting than just pointy ovals, and this is exactly where Sarah excels.) Every time I watch one of her process videos, I’m like, “Ah! That shape is genius!”

SEA STAR THISTLE WATERCOLOR BY THE MINT GARDENER

Now that you know Sarah likes gloomy, rainy days more than sunny ones, doesn’t her watercolor above make so much sense?! It’s beautiful, but in a moody sort of way. And, more than that, I love that this humble little sea star thistle is having its day in the spotlight. :)

Sarah, I hope you’re ok with me making a pattern out of your proteas, and thank you so much for sharing your immense talent with us!

Happy Friday!

---

FOLLOW THE MINT GARDENER ON INSTAGRAM

SHOP THE MINT GARDENER ON ETSY

a purple-paper-flower-inspired color palette

---

VINO #2D161E / PURPLE CRÊPE #692D46 / SKIN #E0C3B5

MAUVE #B09287 / BOTANICAL GREEN #565C3A

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

---

Welcome to the second week of my color palette series featuring ARTISTS + MAKERS!

Today, I’m thrilled to share this color palette inspired by the lifelike paper art of Golden Age Botanicals. As I’ve said before, I love a giant blush peony just as much as the next girl, but I also have a genuine appreciation for paper artists like Kathryn who explore the world beyond “pink and pretty.” This particular flower, made by hand of paper, clay, and paint, caught my eye with its deep purple tones and delicate green leaves.

Kathryn’s Instagram feed is chock full of artistic textures, dramatic lighting, and unexpected color palettes. The combination below of blues, purples, and golds was actually one of my favorites, but I wanted to share a complete flower to give you a better idea of what she does.

PHOTO BY KATHRYN BONDY OF GOLDEN AGE BOTANICALS

Kathryn, thank you for sharing your beautiful art with the world! Your work is truly inspiring.

Happy Friday!

---

FOLLOW GOLDEN AGE BOTANICALS ON INSTAGRAM

SHOP GOLDEN AGE BOTANICALS ON ETSY

an apple-inspired color palette

Does the title "an apple-inspired color palette" make you think of bright red and leaf green? Me too. I imagine a waxy Red Delicious sitting on a teacher's desk. Well, today we're flipping that to reveal something more along the lines of a modern Snow White—that is, a moody combination of dark aubergine, gold, and green.

---

DARKEST AUBERGINE #2C0025 / PLUM WINE #55003B / MOODY MAGENTA #850057

DRIED ROSE #BC6679 / BRASSY GOLD #9B723A / FOREST GREEN #3D5D33

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

a lightning-inspired color palette

This photo gives me the chills. It captures beauty, terror, and power all at once. Not to go all pseudo-intellectual on you, but this reminds me of a philosophy class I took in college in which we discussed beauty and its role in evolution. Does our appreciation of beauty help us survive as a species? Sure. But I believe it goes well beyond that. ;)

Oh, and just in case you want to hear it, click here to listen to Electric Feel.

---

PURPLE OR BLACK? #151A1D / AUBERGINE #392B3D / ROYAL #63365C

LILAC #A66384 / PINK #CA89A5 / PINK-PEACH #EBB8BA

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday! Hope you have a great 4th of July!

a hummingbird-inspired color palette

Hummingbirds might be my favorite bird. They're tiny but mighty. Like me.

Also, the jewel tones in this photograph by Bill (William!) Williams are out of control.

---

EGGPLANT (DARK PURPLE) #331A37 / MAGENTA #941678 / VIOLET #A36D8D

PALE PINK #CBAAAF / TURQUOISE #276A63 / MARINE BLUE #224E55

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

a paper-flower-inspired color palette

This week's color inspiration is extra special because these stunning paper flowers are now sitting on my desk! Kate Alarcon of The Cobra Lily is a paper artist and teacher who creates these beauties one petal at a time in her workshop outside Seattle. Her gorgeous photos caught my eye on Instagram on a few weeks ago, and I couldn't resist placing an order for my new little studio. What I appreciate most about Kate's work is the artistry that goes into each and every piece. From the teeny tiny filaments and anthers to the hand-painted artichoke and succulent tips, her attention to detail is second to none. Blush pink peonies are great and all, but this dramatic color palette and unique combination are remarkably refreshing. THANK YOU, Kate, for making me a beautiful bouquet that will last forever!

---

MOSS #544E0D / EVERGREEN #292E0F / NIGHT #252332

AUBERGINE #20121E / ROSE #C2005B / TIGERLILY #F5241A

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

a stamen-inspired color palette

Romantic, dramatic, and moody color palettes are all the rage right now, which may explain my current obsession with aubergine. This week's wedding-friendly mix includes pale blush pinks, nude, two shades of eucalyptus, and...you guessed it!...aubergine.

---

AUBERGINE #291C2A / PALE PINK #E0C5C8 / BLUSH PINK #F4E4E4

NUDE #F0E1DA / EUCALYPTUS #85A4A1 / SHADED EUCALYPTUS #304147

---

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names. 

Happy Friday!

a seagull-inspired color palette

If you've ever lived near the ocean, seagulls are quite honestly more of a nuisance than anything else. They're loud, messy, and in your face. Buuut...now that we live in a landlocked city, I kind of miss the poopy food-snatchers.

---

FADED AUBERGINE #3C283B / GRAY #808085 / SMOKEY BLUE #94ABAB

SEAFOAM #C7E2D9 / MINT #D9F1E4 / MINTY WHITE #EAF5E7

---

PSA about web-safe colors: The "hex codes" above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names. 

Happy Friday!

a lemongrass-inspired color palette | fresh from the farm

I normally wouldn't pair bright, grass green with deep aubergine, but I like how unexpected it is. Sometimes you just have to mix things up!

P.S. If you weren't told this was lemongrass, would you have known? I had no idea the base of the plant could be so colorful.

---

GRASS GREEN #4DB254 / SEA GREEN #6FB4A1 / ICY MINT GREEN #B7DBD7

LAVENDER #A0A9D2 / VIOLET #904983 / AUBERGINE #361D3A

---