Elements with Enid: Color

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The element of color refers to the visual response of the eye to reflected wavelengths of light. We perceive these as various hues which range from red to violet, as in the rainbow, plus neutral white, black and gray. Color also refers to value (lightness and darkness), tint (a hue with added white) and shade (a hue with added black). Artists combine colors in specific “harmonies” of planned or logical groupings of specific hues and their various values to create sensory, emotional and intellectual responses in viewers.

Students studied Enid’s use of color harmony in screenprints, woods, fabrics, finishes and jewels in order to learn color theory. By analyzing color in one bag or across many, they could better understand how Enid used color to achieve specific effects, sometimes clearly related to her subject (e.g. blue-green pavans and fish, gold-encrusted money trees), sometimes more obscure aesthetic choice (totes in bone linen, warm woven leather, striking red suede).

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The Color Exhibit

The Color Element installation cleverly revives folding accordion peg boards like those used in Collins of Texas showrooms in the 1960s. A rainbow of ribbons connects bags made by students to their Enid Collins inspirations.

Floral Art student Becca Catlin discusses how Enid's "les fleurs" design inspired her own.

Asst. Prof. Wendy Osburn explains how students (and Enid) used a variety of color schemes.

Osburn worked with Adler to select bags showing Enid’s mastery of diverse color schemes.

Closer view of designs by students (above) and Enid.

Enid’s 1969 “flutterbye” tote in a vibrant warm analogous scheme. Her later 1971 box bag of the same name uses sets of complementary colors.

A lovely lesson in color theory.

Brooke Isbell’s “Best Fronds” bag reflects the color scheme of Enid’s popular “upsa daisy” bag, and nails her wit with a floral pun.

“upsa daisy” mini coffin-style box bag by Enid Collins, ca. 1972 from a 1968 design.

A vibrant, fun art exhibit to see.

Bags designed with colors from the cool end of the spectrum.

More student bags and their Enid inspirations.

Bags with student arrangements of permanent botanicals.

“Flight of the Dragonfly” by Arianna De La Rosa captures Enid’s whimsical style and a favorite theme: stylized flowers and insects.

Renee Bradicich’s “Royal Eight,” a gorgeous interpretation of Enid’s “pavan" (French for “peacock”).

“milles fleurs” canvas tote by Enid Collins for Collins of Texas, 1972

“bird in hand,” mini box bag by Enid Collins for Collins of Texas, 1967

Floral Art student Carter Wood talks about how she and classmates interpreted Enid’s works for their own designs.

The collection also provided the exhibition with pieces of vintage advertising.

Display of bags using neutral and achromatic color schemes.

“The Blossom of Love Between Birds” by Eliza Oberle (left) interprets the colors and subject of a 1969 “love birds” Collins bag with pastels, while Carter Wood’s “Floral Fly” puts a twist on Enid’s “flutterbye” using a similar achromatic scheme.

Glittery “Blossom Amid the Buds” by Grace Hye.

Enid often used flashy yellows and greens in her money-themed designs to evoke gold and “greenbacks.”