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.
Fig. 136. [↑]
Fig. 137. [↑]