Color Story: Sienna
September is here and this month’s color story evokes all things Fall… say hello to Sienna.
Living in Michigan means being able to enjoy all of the seasons in their truest form. Fall is cool evenings and crisp mornings. Cozy sweaters and trips to the apple orchard.
While it’s still technically summer, September for me means the beginning of Autumn — my favorite time of year. In fact I love the season so much, I named my first child after it!
This month’s story is full of Autumn splendor. Sienna is a deep, earthy shade of red. It is the color of maple leaves, strong spices, and warm fireplace bricks. It is calming yet alive and is shown to be gaining popularity over the more subdued Terra Cotta that has been used everywhere for the past year.
Sienna has a long and rich history, especially in the arts. A naturally occurring pigment derived from clay rich in iron oxide and manganese oxide, it is one of the earliest known colors used by humankind. It can be seen in cave paintings and is still a staple in any artists’ paintbox.
The name Sienna comes from Siena, a picturesque Italian city-state where it was mined heavily during the Renaissance. While the actual clay pigment can vary in color depending on how it is treated, our Sienna most closely resembles Burnt Sienna, which is created by heating up the raw material.
In modern applications, this color can be used in any application of design and has been quite popular in illustration and textile design.
SIENNA MOOD
Ahh, Sienna, what a lovely mood you create. You transcend red, orange, and even brown, and exist as your own gorgeously unique hue.
Renaissance artists called this color Terra Rossa, meaning red soil.
Because this color literally comes from the earth, it brings with it a treasure trove of earthly qualities. It is both grounded and exotic. It is warm, vibrant, organic, and posh. A timeless hue that will always be in style.
“Autumn begins to be inferred / By millinery of the cloud / Or deeper color in the shawl / That wraps the everlasting hill.”
COLOR PALETTES
BOHO DREAMS
The 1970s are back, baby! And this color palette is retro while totally in style. A lavish shade of deep, aqua blue compliments Sienna perfectly. Add in accents of dark leafy green and rich chocolate brown to create your very own Boho dream.
Inspiration Image Credit (L to R): Chasing Daisies Blog. Creative Market Photo Presets. Pinterest. Behance: Madison Beauty (All photos have been linked to original source.)
FIBER ARTS
This calming color palette is an updated take on neutrals. The cool, pale gray offsets the warmness of the other three shades, while creating a light and airy feel.
Inspiration Image Credit (L to R): Marc Jacobs Beauty. Afloral. Etsy Art Listing. Khaore. (All photos have been linked to original source.)
AUTUMN SPICE
We just couldn’t resist… you simply can’t have an Autumn inspired color without a little spice! While these colors may all be relatively dark in value, the pop of bright crimson red will offset the other three moody hues.
Inspiration Image Credit (L to R): Regardsetmaisons Blog. Pinterest. Pinterest. The Everygirl. (All photos have been linked to original source.)
#theyolksienna
Join in on our month DESIGN CHALLENGE! Create a piece of art in a square format, featuring the monthly color, and post to Instagram using the tags @hatchcreativeservices and #theyolksienna to enter the challenge!**
Full details on our Monthly Design Challenge, including instructions on how to participate, are listed below. Thanks!
Sienna
Color Formulas
HEX #B43E21
RGB 180, 62, 33
CMYK 21, 88, 100, 11
Entries from last month’s Design Challenge: Citron
Design Challenge Deets
**Please read the following carefully.
By tagging your piece on Instagram as part of the design challenge, you are agreeing to allow Hatch to use your image in a future blog post and/or other blog promotions with credit listed in the form of your Instagram username. Complete challenge instructions and disclaimers are as follows:
How the challenge works:
Each month we will unveil the color of the month, just as we did here.
We’ll give you tons of info and inspo to get you started.
Then YOU will create a square design, illustration, or any form of art featuring that color.
Post it to Instagram by the end of the month! Make sure to tag Hatch @hatchcreativeservices and use that color’s unique “color coded” hashtag so we can find your entry. September’s hashtag is #THEYOLKSIENNA
We will review all of the entries and pick a few favorites to be featured in the next month’s Color Story post!
DISCLAIMErs
The Yolk Color Story Design Challenge is FREE to enter. There are no fees, forms, or other requirements to submit an entry.
This is a friendly, creative design challenge open to anyone who wants to participate.
A number of entries will be selected by Hatch to be featured in the next month’s Color Story. There are no prizes or other incentives. Just the sweet, sweet feeling of creating art and connecting with other creatives.
This design challenge, Hatch, The Yolk, or any of our collective entities, are in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administrated by, or associated with, Instagram.