I would like to see what anyone thinks might look good as for as colors on this clock. I like to exterminate with wild colors combinations since I didn't get to do things of my liking while trying to make a living for it was always trying to please the customers...And you know lots of times they didn't really know what they wanted except they wanted to be happy...

 

All I know, it won't be the same as the picture.

Judging from your other pieces, I don't think you need any help. What ever you choose will be striking and beautiful.

Jess, how about black, with gold leaf highlites or another contrasting color for highlights?

I remember, from back in the late 60's, some exoctic colors and designs but would rather not repeat the experiments on how I saw them.

 

That said, artist- Peter Max- did a lot of creative color/designs. You might check out the web for some of his ideas. Certainly would make a completely different clock!

Use whatever colors float your boat - as you said, you are not trying to please anyone but yourself on this one.

I tried reading some books on complementary colors.   As they turned out, they were for artists and my left-brain just couldn't follow their text or thoughts.   (I've had the same problem trying to read Krenov.   The wood just never told me what it wanted to be, maybe I just had the radio on and couldn't hear.)  Well, sometimes my wife even sends me back to the closet with, "You're going to wear that together????"

 

YMMV.

 

http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm

 

https://brightside.me/article/the-ultimate-color-combinations-cheat-sheet-92405/

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

sometimes my wife even sends me back to the closet with, "You're going to wear that

...just yesterday.....

Keith, you, Lew and I apparently graduated from the same art class. Or didn't graduate..... 

 

Edited August 23, 20178 yr by Gene Howe

The closest I got was two "History of Art" classes.   I took them because I wouldn't have to write any essays.

One art class. "Art Appreciation". Had an A going until the day the prof brought in a Jackson Pollack print. She asked us to critique it. I said it looked like he framed one of his old palettes. 

How was I to know pollack was one of her heroes and that print hung in her home? 

12 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

One art class. "Art Appreciation". Had an A going until the day the prof brought in a Jackson Pollack print. She asked us to critique it. I said it looked like he framed one of his old palettes. 

How was I to know pollack was one of her heroes and that print hung in her home? 

I bet that smelled when you stepped in it, Gene

2 hours ago, kmealy said:

The closest I got was two "History of Art" classes.   I took them because I wouldn't have to write any essays.

I took those, too! What's really scary is that sometimes I see a painting and remember who did it.

I like John's idea but go a little farther. Gold leaf on the inner shape. Red on fret work with black accents on the curves.

 Gerald I have more steps to do yet. I will be toning it down a bit. Being a water stain if I hit it too quick the clear lacquer will have air bubbles in the finish. I still have some 50 year old supplies that is still good to use. This being one of them. It will have some of that black you mentioned only toned down some. I have a larger pattern of this clock  which will next and something down your lines I have been laying out the colors and thinking. This next clock being about 5 inches longer than what my scroll saw can handle so I still have that problem to think over. Cutting the carving pieces out will be my problem for the blade I use is really thin like .018 wide. Just the clear lacquer over what you see will make this way too bright.. I been using india ink green and blue for this color.  This color is a few drops of ink in a cup of water.

7 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

 Just the clear lacquer over what you see will make this way too bright..

 

Have you ever used a glaze?  This will tone it down a bit and highlight the carvings/scroll work.  It sort of adds an "instant antiquey"

 

Here is a job I did a while back.  The retailer sold several versions of this piece and the customer wanted the one with the highlight painting that would take six months to get in.   This started off as all walnut finish, I applied the white, then light blue lacquer by hand, then glazed with a burnt umber glaze (dark red-brown) and sealed with another coat of clear lacquer.    It would work much the same over a transparent stain.

 

I use a lot of glaze. Its  good on bare wood instead of stains. Easier to control.

a few more steps

That is really popping Jess, beautiful!

Cal

Another home run by Jess!  Looks great.

Danl

Very Nice Colors!