The Design Element or is it the Selling Element.

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avbill

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Oct 18, 2007
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Although, Design and its elements are subjective there are rules to the design you must know first. One of those elements is color. So basically wood is a brown tone overall theme. So, that else is there to know. So how do you display the added element of the kits' plating to make the pen handsome, pretty, whatever adjective you want to say? Well most kits are either gold (warm tone) or silver (cool tone.)
The manufactures are confusing the issue with two-tone or satin finishes. Just to name two. So how does one decide? You can use color in two different ways by completing the color or by contrasting the color element.
By completing the color you have selected the different colors that blend together to complete a prefect object. Wood being a brownish–tone you think that a gold plated finish would complement the tones in the wood; and it does. But how well does it. Just look at the house colors today. Where the design element is showing a contrasting color will it help design feature? If you sell your pens your customers will tell you; with a purchase.
Contrasting the color becomes tricky. Does that two-tone black really help make the instrument stand out! In most cases if the maker put some thought into the process yes. Yet the majority the answer is no. The average pen turner does not realize the element of color and puts together what he has in the shop.

Recently a pen turner asked about what goes well with copper plated pen kit. The different members came up with these; Amboyna, African Ebony, Tulip-wood, Bloodwood, Lace Redwood Burl, Desert Ironwood, Koa, African Carolwood, Apple wood, Chakloe, Padauk, Purple-heart, Texas Ebony, Zebra wood, Alternative Ivory, antler, copperhead, Snake wood, IPE, or even denim jeans. *
Now if you broke these different woods into two groups this is what you would get.

Contrasting colors
African Ebony, Apple wood, Holly, Texas Ebony, Zebra wood, , IPE, Alternative Ivory or even denim jeans. And even antlers.
Completing colors
Amboyna, Bloodwood, Canary-wood, Chakloe, copperhead, Desert Ironwood, Koa, Lace Redwood Burl, Padauk (African Carolwood), Purple-heart Snake-wood, and Tulip-wood.
In a contrasting form the African Ebony or Alternative ivory would be the two better materials for contrasting with a copper plated pen. . For completing material Amboyna, Desert Iron-wood or Koa would be an excellent choice. I am a bit surprised that Cocobolo, or Kingwood were not suggested.
Take some time now and study the color chart from any paint company. And review where the color hue of the wood blank is compared to the kit color. . Does it enhance the total being? Or does it fight the color of the kit. You will know it. Or does the wood and the kit's plating contrast each other creating a dynamitic theme. In the library there are PDF on the Best of the Best. Study them so you can easily input the design lines and color themes so it becomes second nature to you.
Look at the work from these people. Skiprat, DCBluesman, The Oklahoman, and there are several many others They have a excellent understand about balance, color, and the design element to deliver an outstanding finish pen all the time.

* These woods were the different suggestions from IPA members
 
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