CC: Bit of Purple March 2018

Create a collage for your partner that is only neutral colors with just a bit of PURPLE.

Neutrals means no colors only shades of brown. You may choose to depict neutral with black and white.

Creative Collage General Rules

The focus of the art should be collage, but feel free to use other media and techniques.

Postcards can be any size but no smaller than 4 x 6 inches. Apply proper postage depending on size and bulk.

This is sender's choice so you can begin now.

Create something wonderful.

Be sure to write the name of the swap and your swapbot name on your postcard so you can get rated.

Remember to rate! That's part of the fun of being at swapbot.

Thanks and have fun.

Many of us enjoyed Fi's color series that began back in autumn of 2014. Has it been that long? Yep.

With Fi's kind permission, I'm going to give the color series a reboot. This will serve as a refresher for some of us and an opportunity for others to get on board. Once we all get back up to speed, I hope Fi will be able to join us and lead us in more creatively inspired swaps in this color series.

Text mostly lifted from Fi's original swap ...

Is there any color more extraordinary, exquisite, exalted, delicious, delectable, desirable, more je ne sais quoi? The color just seems to call for prose that is purple.

Purple speaks of high places; it's been associated with royalty for centuries—and for good reason. Nature did not provide an easy means of dying fabric purple. Historically, the production of the dye was one of the most noxious, laborious, time-consuming, and expensive processes around. Only the rich could afford it, and aside from King's robes and priest's stoles, the hue was hard to attain. Those who wore it certainly did so with pomp and circumstance. No shrinking violets in the courts.

The intention of this series of swaps is to explore the power of color used sparingly, with the greatest part of the collage being colors I am calling "neutrals." By "neutrals" I mean not just white, the infinite greys, and black, but also all the various shades of brown, which include cream and pale tan. This time you will create a collage with mostly neutrals and just a bit of purple. "A Bit of Purple" is the last one in the series.

So! Your challenge, this month, is to make one collage postcard of any size or shape with mostly neutrals and just a bit of purple as the allowed colors. You may use any shade of purple—lavender, periwinkle, royal purple, aubergine, and so on. This swap is "sender's choice," which is another way of saying, "don't look at your partner's profile." In fact, this whole series is about developing your own imagination as a collage artist, not about pleasing your partner. Think of it as a chance to expand your repertoire! You may, of course, add other media of all ilk to the PC, but collage should be the main medium. Mail it naked . Mini-FAQ:

How much, exactly, is "a bit of purple"? I've debated about naming a specific percentage—such as less than 5%, less than 10%, whatever. Instead, I've decided you should let yourself be guided by the examples I've provided below. Past that, it's up to you to decide what's "a bit."

Does the neutral portion have to include a shade of brown? Not at all. You may restrict yourself to black, white & grey in the neutrals, or even purely black & white with no shades of grey. You get to pick which neutrals you use. But if you can stay away from the very orange- or yellow-toned browns, and very blue- or green-toned greys, please do so. In other words, in your neutrals, lean toward undersaturated.

May I include a teensy bit of other color(s) than purple? Yes you may, so long as the amount of the other color(s) is quite a bit less than the amount of purple.

Some examples of mostly neutrals with a bit of purple... Images of collages that are neutrals with a bit of purple are hard to find!
* Heart of Darkness by Lisa Eisenbrey —>

• Poe's Dream by Theo Mercier

• Intellectual Faculties by ? —> be sure to scroll down

Have fun! I hope the examples will inspire you to try new and different things.

I hope you'll consider sharing a picture of your creation in the group's Creative Collage Flickr group. I enjoy seeing everyone's interpretation of these swaps and it's a way for us to continue to "mingle" after the swap ends.

Example at the top is from Tigermousecat at flickr

Another example from Corgifeet

A touch of purple from Tricia at flickr

Violentbloom at flicker