Kitecraft : $b and kite tournaments — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Kitecraft : $b and kite tournaments
John Stuart Mill · en
Some very satisfactory results are obtained by using good colors, say
blue and black, relieved with gilt. Red and white makes a pleasing
combination, also red and black. A circle divided into three parts
presents a little problem in color harmony analysis. There are three
primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. We may use blue in a color
scheme. Combining the other two colors, red and yellow, we get orange.
Orange is called the complement of blue, but orange is too strong, and
a better color harmony is formed by the addition of some of the third
color, the blue to the orange, which will give a brown. Now brown and
blue make a better color harmony than orange and blue. So it runs, two
primary colors give a secondary, but the colors are more pleasing when
subdued with the third color or by the addition of grey or white. Red
and olive will need dividing paths of some strong color, black or
white. When gilt is used it must be edged with black or some very dark
color or it loses its effectiveness. While orange is too strong for
combination with blue, it is good with black. When yellow is used with
the purples it should be a modest yellow.
[Illustration: FIGS. 130, 131, 132, 133.]
[Illustration: FIG. 134.]
[Illustration: FIG. 135.]
Just as in landscape where the highlights are warm colors, we seek a
cool color for shadows, and vice versa, so with color combination we
strike across the color circle and choose a warm and cool color for
balance. Some of the analogous hues are very pleasing, but unless
quite a little variation of color is used, the design soon loses out
in the distance. Browns, greens, reds, blues, etc., may be used in
their individual color schemes, but the throwing in of some opposite
color has a spicing up effect that is helpful. A dark brown, medium
brown, a dull yellow, and a light but not brilliant yellow, give a good
combination. Some color schemes that are very beautiful for rugs and
interior decoration do not carry far enough to be used on a kite. Some
very brilliant colors that might shock us close by, are charming when
far up in the air.
But this is not a treatise on color work, and the subject is so
great, that we must leave it here. Sometimes striped effects are
made with gummed papers similar to passe-partout. The little mirrors
mentioned are such as are used on gowns and draperies. They are set
in little rims of light brass and with a good allowance of paste may
be stuck sufficiently well to any portion of the kite to hold during
a tournament. The mirrors might be found at Chinese stores. Whirling
devices, to be treated in a following chapter, may also be used for
ornamentation. Tassels, streamers, and banners all serve a purpose of
artistic makeup when properly used.
[Illustration: FIG. 136.]
[Illustration: FIG. 137.]
CHAPTER VIII.
MESSENGERS.
[Illustration: FIG. 138.]