Colour through the decades : 40,000BP - 1800's

The art of painting began back in the pre-historic era about 40,000 years ago. Human beings are known to have painted their surrounding  i.e their caves for purposes of aesthetics and communicatioin. Paint was generally made out of local elements found naturally such as coloured earth and soot. These were mixed with organic materials such as animal blood and fatty oils to form a liquid compound. The paints therefore comprised of earth tones which leaned towards black when mixed with soot and redish when mixed with blood.

 Illustration 01: Hand stencils estimated between 35,000-40,000 BP

 Colour palette generated from prehistoric art

Application

Brown palettes sometimes refered to as earthtones became a trend in 2015 interior design. The palette included extensive use of ivory, terra cotta and dark brown. This colours can be used with both light and dark woods.  The palette brings a feeling of warmth and calm to a space. 

2000 years ago, painting became common practice. The Egyptians invented their own paint made by mixing oil or fat with lead, earth, animal blood, ground glass or semiprecious stones in an industrial process. Use of grass introduced a green tone to the palette. Their palette mainly consisted of red, blue and yellow which we now refer to as primary colours. Other paint colours that they invented were white, black and green (made by mixing blue and yellow). These paint colours together with furnishings were adversly used in the living spaces of the pharaohs. 

Illustration 02: The Funerary - Ancient Egyptian art

 Colour palette generated from Egyptian art

Application

Heritage colours are bright and colourful and comprise of blues, greens and browns. In the modern day application, sash green makes the perfect tone that is contemporary and calm. This colour can be paired with accents of yellow and sand.

 PS

 Accessorising the Egyptian look and feel can be fun!! Emeralds and gold make the perfect combination.