Quilting Arts

Yellow is the brightest with a 9, and
violet is the darkest with a 3. These
numbers can also indicate the relative
strength of any color.
This is useful information for fi ber
artists. When using multiple colors in a
quilt, one color may seem to dominate,
even though all colors are used in equal
amounts. This is due to the relative
strength of that color. The direct
complements of yellow (9) and violet
(3) produce the most dramatic example
of this.
In Figure 1, there are an equal
number of yellow and violet squares,
but, clearly, yellow dominates.
In Figure 2, the triad of orange (8),
green (6), and violet (3)—where each
color is represented equally—the orange
dominates, even though it accounts
for only a third of the squares. Why?
Because orange has a higher number on
the brightness scale.

yellow orange red green blue violet

986643

fi gure 1

fi gure 2figure 2

“Simple Pleasures” • 30" x 51"

In this quilt, the vibrant yellows and oranges

are counter balanced by adequate amounts of

violet and green.

Luminosity by the numbers