ONYX - The translucent colour

In November we are celebrating Colour of the Month #15, Onyx - The translucent colour. I will go through the origin, chemical composition, varieties and colours, and uses and applications. I had the chance to experiment with a green variety of the Onyx stone during my residency/teaching experience in Argentina. 

COURSE IN DESIGN, COLOUR THEORY, ALCHEMY

 

I will like to share my experience of teaching in Argentina about Design and Colour. I taught a course on Design, Colour Theory and Alchemy to locals with no design or colour formation whatsoever. It was a fulfilling, heart-centered experience of sharing my knowledge and wisdom with others. 

PINK RHODOCHROSITE - ROSA DEL INCA

We are celebrating colour of the month #14. Rhodochrosite is a pink manganese carbonate mineral used as an ore, a gemstone and a crystal specimen. 

Azurite Blue / Colour of the month #12

Azurite has been used as blue pigment for centuries; extensively used in Egypt, East Europe and China. It is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by breaking down copper ore deposits.

BURNT SIENNA: Colour of the month #10

The earth colour pigments known as Raw and Burnt Sienna are traditional colours, which consist mostly of iron oxides, hematite and goethite. One pigment is yellowish-brown and the other is reddish-brown, which differentiate in the thermal processing of the raw material.

Colour Alchimia at Bota Fogo in Milan

Super excited and inspired after my latest workshop in Milan. I met really interesting people and creatives; it was a multicultural group mainly Italians, a New Yorker and a Lebanese. Most of them colour designers for the automotive and fashion industry, art directors and industrial designers. 

M U M M Y BROWN: Colour of the month #7

Photo: Studio Laura Daza

While studying Egyptian history and historical pigments I found an incredible and scary story behind one of these pigments.  Mummy brown, Egyptian mummy or caput mortuum, which means dead head in latin, was a pigment favoured by Pre-Raphaelite painters.

Colour Alchimia at FIUHouse Barcelona

Photo: @ard_hez Moodboard by Héctor Noguera

Colour craft was considered one of the most valuable crafts in Ancient times because colour was the most expensive commodity there existed. Today this craft is largely neglected been replaced by digital technology and synthetic alternatives. 

M a l a c h i t e green : Colour of the Month #6

Green has been used since Antiquity, in the form of green earths and minerals such as malachite. Malachite is perhaps the oldest known green pigment, discovered by Egyptians about 3000 BC. Malachite is a copper carbonate natural occurring mineral, which is also found along with a blue colour mineral called azurite.

COLOUR ALCHIMIA AT ELISAVA

It was an honour been able to teach what I love at the renowned Elisava in Barcelona from the 25 – 28^th June. Elisava is the first University in Spain teaching Design since 1960, having a long trajectory in Design and Engineer. It is considered to be one of the best Design Schools worldwide. Keep reading below.

Colour Alchimia in Bogota, Colombia

This is what happened during our Colour Alchimia workshop held in Bogota, Colombia in the creative space called Locus, located in Quinta Camacho, an eclectic area in the city.
I had an amazing group of Architects and an Industrial Engineer with a passion for illustration. Have a look!

COLOUR ALCHIMIA WORKSHOP AT SOF

Hey colour lovers,

It's been a while, I know!

I've been a little bit disconnected recharging myself and meditating about new workshops and projects. 

I want to share with you what happened during our Colour Alchimia workshop held at School of Form in Poland last year in November. 
A 4-day intensive workshop with super talented students from Domestic Design course. 

C o l o u r A l c h i m i a workshop at ABADIR

What a beautiful experience of sharing colour with colour lovers!
This is what happened during the Colour Alchimia workshop at ABADIR - Accademia di Design e Arti Visive in Catania, Sicily, which took place from the 20 - 21 July, 2017. I am thrilled to share my story and the experience of teaching this workshop in the beautiful island, which makes it a unique place to be. It has this summer vibe near the Edna volcano.

V E R D I G R I S / Colour of the Month #5

We are celebrating Colour of the Month #5!

While living in London and traveling abroad, I have always been curious about the pale green colour seen on rooftops and domes of various churches and traditional buildings. It creates a beautiful contrast with the architecture and city landscape. 

W h i t e s h e l l / Colour of the Month #4

In March we're celebrating Whiteshell colour made from disposed eggshells! It's fascinating to know that eggshells were used for multiple purposes in Antiquity.  In Egypt, ostriches were quite used animals; the feathers for decoration, the eggs for food and the shells for ornamentation and pigment. I can say that holding an ostrich eggshell is a fascinating experience; admiring its colour, size, texture and hardness makes you think about the beauty in nature.

C O L O U R P R O V E N A N C E / Colour of the Month #3

We are CELEBRATING colour and each month I will introduce a different colour palette and story. I will be presenting my project Colour Provenance, which is palette made up of eight ancient colours from the animal, plant and mineral world including Saffron: a golden colour; cave and primitive colours such as natural Ochres; first ever used green Malachite and blue Azurite and so many other fascinating stories and origins behind natural materials and colours. 

O C H R E / Colour of the Month #2

As we start the new year here is an update on new colour vibes! This month we are celebrating the deep-warm and vibrant Ochre colour. Also known as natural earth, soil and terra, which still is a big trend today. You may find inspiration and insight on how to apply this colour today, creating smart colour swatches and inspirational mood-boards! 

L A G U A J I R A / Dessert landscapes

Inside Colombia's most adventurous and arid experience. La Guajira, Colombia is far away - blissfully away. The environmentally protected peninsula is located in the Northern part of Colombia - 4/6 hours from Santa Marta.

V I L L A de L E Y V A / An enchanting spot in Colombia

P O M P E I I / The city of eternal colours

The Traveling Colour Book got new colour inspirations from the ancient city near Rome called Pompeii. ‘Materia prima’ such as natural earths, marbles and stones were seen in architecture and interiors; mosaics and frescoes embellish the walls, floors and ceilings of the ruins.