We recently caught up with Coco Republic Design School colour consultant Sharon Gage. She opens up about her impressive 25 year career as a colour specialist.
What drew you to the world of colour?
Colour has been, and always will be, the anchoring feature in my life. My earliest and most fondest memories of colour are from my childhood – watching my mother sew and bring home wonderful coloured fabrics to make clothes for me and my siblings. I was always mesmorised by the colour combinations, patterns and beautiful textiles that lay before me. This firstly drew me to the world of fashion design and then ultimately to the wonderful world of colour and interior design, where I now play. Today there is nothing more I long to do, than to teach in this field and to share my colour knowledge to the next generation… in the hope that I will eventually tell the whole world about colour.
Why is it important to study colour theory?
It is so important to study colour theory as it ensures you gain a solid understanding of the basics in relation to colour. Understanding the theory of colour is like learning to read a new language.
What is the best thing about being a colour specialist?
The best thing is having a vision for someone’s residential home or commercial space and being able to enhance its appearance by providing a contemporary colour scheme that you know will look amazing. To be able to transform a space and make it even more magical, just by waving a paint brush of colours to the walls and providing a final colour scheme and story for my clients, is a hugely powerful thing.
Another wonderful thing about being a colour specialist is understanding the power of colour to control human emotions. Learning to understand how colour can literally change people’s lives just by the impact it provides is so rewarding.
Another wonderful thing about being a colour specialist is understanding the power of colour to control human emotions. Learning to understand how colour can literally change people’s lives just by the impact it provides is so rewarding.
What would your number one piece of advice for someone wanting to embark on a career as a colour consultant?
Just go for it. To be able to offer colour advice to my residential, commercial and overseas clients and to help them enhance their interior and/or exterior spaces is a wonderful privilege.
What is your favourite colour and why?
My favourite colour has always been green. It is my happy, go-to colour. It has of course, evolved over time. As I have matured, so too has the colour green. The green hue I once loved years ago is now not as bright or as intensely mid green as it used to be. These days my favourite green hue is more of an aqua/blue based colour. The psychology of colour comes into play here with this colour now depicting a more cooler, calmer, contemporary green hue, more in keeping with the freshness of the ocean and the green/blue hues found in nature.
If you’re interested in studying colour or another aspect of interior decorating - you may want to check out the courses on offer from Coco Republic’s Design School. They have various courses on offer - some lasting a few weeks, others just a few days, and covering a variety of topics. Click here to check out the courses. And if you’re interested in winning a course of your choice - check out our Instagram competition on right now.