In Color

[CharlieDearing]

I know a majority of us use black as a backing color for our fretwork and portraits. Some use a single color...maybe even a couple (like red under a rose and green under it's stem and leaves). I am curious if anyone has ever "colorized a cutting"" by using more than one color in the backing.
I have done Marilyn Monroe portraits and used all black except red behind just her lips. I think it dresses that kind up.
Attached below I have shown an example of multiple coloring on backing (in the form of a pattern) and the difference it makes. I'd love to know if anyone has ever tried this. I think only some pics can do well with color but.....in case it's too small to see it all, I have grey behind the shading in the "white" stripes (white stripes being not cut out), red stripes cut out and backed with red, field of stars cut around the stars and backed with blue, black behind the statue of liberty. Yes, I know some of the stars are floaters...it's a work in progress.

[Jediscroller]

I rarely use colors for backgrounds, though I have used scrapbooking paper as a background when I wanted the affect as shown in the attachment.

[Sawduster]

I add color from time to time , but only successfully as an enhancement so far
Kitchen Window.jpg hug a soldier.jpg

I use felt and the problem I find with lots of color is placement of seams so they do not show. i use another copy of the pattern glued to the felt in order to size it correctly but it has proven problematic where 2 colors meet in an open space

[knothead]

Robert,
Great use of color. I do it sometimes but when you only have a 1/8 sliver of wood to separate the colors, it is a real pain getting the felt seams not to show not to mention cutting the felt to fit.

Tom

[jacks699]

Hi, Charlie; I agree with Sawduster. Greg.

[JohnB]

G'day Charlie,
I use felt as backing and often use different colours. The only time I have combined more than one was, as you mentioned, green and red for a rose backing.
As Robert and Tom so elegantly put it, Getting coloured felt joined at the right place, when there's not much place to do it is a pain.

[lucky788scroller]

I sometimes use differing colors on a backing besides just black. I have also used patterned materials for backings, and they look great as well.Dale

[Rivari]

One of the best backers I have found and use is a material called "Foamies" you can find them in many different colors. I get these at Wal-Mart in the Crafts section and they are cheap (30 cents). Neat stuff and real user friendly.

[JohnB]

G'day Todd,
I was wondering what you would use those for. I was at the local junk, cheap, Chinese import, whatever shop yesterday getting a couple of frames and sheets of card when I came across "Foamies". I couldn't figure out what they'd be used for.

[PuzzledMoose]

Foamies - aren't they cans of beer that have been shaken before opening?