1950's Colour Palette

In 1950's illustration, drawings and prints had a very distinct palette of colours. I have noticed that some colours, to me, seem to have areas where the colour is exaggerated, and areas where the colour is not so much. Some 50's illustrations also include a slight 'hue', to my eyes.

http://images.bridgemanart.com/api/1.0/image/600wm.ADV.7858930.7055475/395408.jpg < image reference at this link.

This image above, is a great example of the use of colour in 1950's style illustrations. This image in particular features really strong oranges, blues blacks.

Over my research, I have noticed that these 1950's illustration tones, almost resemble coloured pastel tones. An example of pastel tones can be seen below, as this colour wheel demonstrates the various pastel shades of each colour.

http://www.joshuakeenes.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/pastel_midring_3.09-1.jpg < image reference at this link.

 This 'pastel tone style' seems to be repeated across the genre, as I prove in the following example images below.

http://bluebirdsunshine.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/birds.jpg < image reference here at this link.

Note the smudging of the grey on the bird's backs.

http://img1.etsystatic.com/022/1/7172827/il_340x270.493626587_ncjj.jpg < image reference at this link.

Compare the pinks and greens on the children's shirts, to the colour wheel.

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/a2/37/1a/a2371a91a3209d3373fdd524ad3a7243.jpg < image reference at this link.

Compare the colours in this illustration, to the colours in the colour wheel.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sqp30Ub_xSE/TqR_AMe7l9I/AAAAAAABKkY/CwETNXlxyLU/s640/il_570xN_250529960.jpg < image reference at this link.

Compare the blues on the image with the the pastel colour wheel above.




It is in my conclusion, I have decided that using pastel-like tones in my illustrations would, on the basis of this research, be the best colour to use, in order to get an accurate colour style of the 1950's.

I might try using chalk, and oil based pastels, some coloured pencils, and paint might work too, as long as I stick to the palette.




Thomas.