The joy of colour and how therapeutic it can be

Rainbow at Oddicombe Beach, Torquay, growing up by the sea has been a huge inspiration for Nicola and her Inkwell Designs collection

As someone who also makes stained glass as well as designing pattern for textiles, I am fascinated by colour. Metals are added to clear glass to create different colours, did you know that gold is added to make cranberry pink colour, and colbalt is added to make a rich blue? The addition of natural daylight shining through glass at different times of the day makes it a more spiritual experience. You only need to stand in churches, some of my favourites are Saint Chapelle in Paris, Chartres Cathedral, and The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Ostend, to be bathed in light and feel the power of colour. Chagall’s church windows predominantly in blue hues, yellows and red are hypnotic.

Up until recently I only knew that colour made me happy and I decided to research this a little more. I read a wonderful book called The Secret Lives of Colour by Kassia St Clair. Artists from long ago were very much limited to whatever colours had been discovered or produced at the time, from all manner of pigments.

From a holistic point of view colours are associated with the different chakras in the body. Chakras are known to be in balance or out of balance, and it’s possible to realign them with their associated colours. Crystals bearing these colours can be used to promote certain feelings and well-being, the vibrations of the colours benefit different zones in the body.
Violet or White = The Crown
Indigo or Purple = The Third Eye
Blue = Throat
Green = Heart
Yellow = Solar Plexus
Orange = Sacral
Red = Root

For my textile designs I have the freedom to choose whichever colours I like, I’m spoiled for choice. I create my patterns digitally on my computer, although most of my designs will have started on paper. I am drawn to bold and bright colours and looking across the whole range, it’s possible to see that they have a Mid Century Modern feel to them.

If you are looking for particular colours with therapy in mind, this is a guide to help you decide where different colours are used throughout my Inkwell Designs collection:

White - is used as an uplifting background colour together with green, peach and blue, in my pattern Kew Gardens. I used this pattern to make an organic cotton scarf and also an organic cotton cushion cover.

Purple - this is used in my Tartan Flamingos pattern along with some pinks for the exotic birds themselves. I’ve made some scarves and also cushion covers from this design. The pattern is also available as a blank notepad and as part of a pack of A7 greetings cards.

Blue - used in my design Nifty Penguins, it’s cool and watery with swimming fish, and it’s available as an organic cotton scarf. Also available as a blank notepad and as part of a pack of A7 greetings cards. I also use blue in my Sea Blue Cutlery pattern tea towel too, it’s a great addition to a modern style kitchen.

Green - is the main colour used in my Scrumptious Strawberries pattern, which I’ve made in to a scarf. It’s the colour of strawberry leaves and it scattered with deep pink ‘pop art’ strawberries. This pattern is also available as a blank notepad and as part of a pack of A7 greetings cards, and the colour green as a versatile Cutlery bag.

Yellow - used in my Sunny Yellow Cutlery organic cotton tea towel, it evokes sunshine and summer and brightens up any kitchen. You’ll also find it in my zero waste Lemon Yellow Cutlery bags.

Pale Orange - used in one of my first designs, English Riviera, this colour evokes sunshine and holidays, it’s pure happiness! I made a scarf from this pattern and it’s also available as a blank notepad and as part of a pack of A7 greetings cards, and you’ll also find this colour in my Tangerine Orange Cutlery bags.

Bright Orange - used in my design Friendly Anemones, with bright yellow sea creatures in an underwater theme. I’ve made an organic cotton scarf from this pattern and a handmade cushion cover. Also available as a blank notepad and as part of a pack of A7 greetings cards.

Red - you’ll find this bold and bright colour in my Poppy Red Cutlery organic cotton tea towel.