This is the second post in my series about BOLD COLOUR (the first was one is about “The Power of Bold Colours” – read the first one read it here).
Today, let’s see where to find bold colour inspiration, shall we?
Nature’s Colour Palette
Ahhh, Mother Nature ā the original artist with the ultimate paintbrush!!!
Imagine walking through a sun-drenched meadow, where the golden hues of wheat mingle with the soft pinks of wildflowers. Or picture yourself standing at the edge of a serene lake, mesmerised by the deep greens of surrounding forests mirrored in its tranquil blue waters. From the rich oranges of autumn leaves to the brilliant purples of blooming lavender fields, nature’s palette offers endless possibilities for inspiration!
So, the next time you’re feeling stuck in a colour rut, simply step outside and let Mother Nature be your muse. Trust me, she never disappoints š
I love this colourful tree in my garden! I was so surprised to find this combination of orange, purple and green… Doesn’t it make for a beautiful colour combination?
Here are a few more colourful flowers from my garden! The previous owners planted them and I am so grateful because I keep on finding suprises š
If you have a garden but no flowers, plant some!! Seeds are so cheap and all this colour will inspire you… Feel free to use the images below as references š
Wanderlust Adventures
Who says inspiration has to stay put? Take your imagination on a grand adventure and let the bold colours of far-off lands spark your creativity. Whether you’re exploring the bustling streets of a vibrant city or getting lost in the serene beauty of a tropical paradise, travel is like a passport to a world of bold colour inspiration. So pack your bags, hit the road, and let those colourful adventures fuel your artistic fire!
The photo and video below were inspired by a gorgeous little beach we stumbled accross on our big trip around Autralia. It is called Clairview Beach in Queensland. You can see on the video how it inspired me, and how I adapted it to make it more my own. And yes, it is a lot more colourful than in real life!!! 
Here are few more photos that inspire me from my travels around OZ…
Feel free to use them as reference for painting if they inspire you too š
Life’s ColoUrful Moments
Sometimes, the best inspiration comes from the everyday moments that make life so colourful. Think back to your favourite memories ā the ones that make you smile from ear to ear. Maybe it’s the bold red of your grandma’s lipstick or the vibrant yellow of a summer sunflower. Or maybe it’s the electric blue of your favorite childhood blanket or the rich green of your secret hideaway in the woods. Whatever it is, those personal experiences are like a treasure trove of bold colour inspiration, just waiting to be unleashed onto canvas.
One of those colourful memories for me would have to be my husband Pete’s 30th birthday! I was super excited and wanted to make it special for him, especially as he isn’t too fussed about celebrating – men, right? š And so I set out to make him a rainbow cake – my first time! I was anxious for it to come out right especially as he was going to cut it in front of the rest of the family!
I covered it in a fairly unexciting colour scheme of white and light blue… That’s right, just a cake with nothing interest going on ladies and gentlemen…
And then I held my breath as he started cutting through (there was no way to see how it looked until that moment)… Pulled the first slice out slow and lifted it up to everyone’s ”oohhs’ and ‘ahhhs’ š I was jumping for joy, so happy it had all worked out as planned and the cake looked beautiful! Ahhh… Life’s small glory moments š
Other artists!!
What would we do without other artists around us at all time (praise the internet!!)?? There is soooooo much bold colour inspiration out there that I must confess, it gets overwhelming!
I won’t put any images here for copyright reasons but feel free to take a look at my Pinterest account – it is overflowing with bold colour inspiration – from all kinds of sources: art journal pages, painted houses, flowers, artist studios and so much more!
My brain often gets all jumbled up by all the inspiration I get!
and finally… my art I hope!
For as long as I can remember, I have been using bold colours in my art.
Sometimes, I try to keep it calm and subdued but then I think “I’ll just add a LITTLE colour”, just to make it feel more alive and… Before you know it the whole thing is ALIVE LOL
Here are a few examples below but I think you will notice this throughout my whole website!! I’m in a particularly colourful playful mood at the moment and have lots of new paintings available (including some cheeky animals) – check them out here š
These are only a handful of suggestions but… There you have it ā a little tour of someĀ colourful sources of inspiration. Whether you’re soaking up the beauty of nature, jet-setting off on exciting adventures, or reminiscing about life’s most vibrant moments, there’s no shortage of bold colour inspiration just waiting to be brought to life in your artwork. So go ahead, let your imagination run wild and paint the world in all its bold and beautiful glory!
What is your favourite source of inspiration for your paintings? Please let me know below – it may help me and others too š
In my next blog post, I’ll talk a little about overcoming challenges when using bold colours – read it here!
x mimi bondi
PS: Blog posts take a lot of work to create ā your feedback and comments are truly what makes the hard work worthwhile š
Loved this Mimi, your amazing art, your beautiful energy and how you so generously support us all in our creative journeys no matter what stage we are at.
Just about all my mixed media were influenced from your videos and books etc.
Have been following you for years – so happy to see you are living your best life.
hugs and love always
Lynne from Australia
Lynne, oh my god, this means A LOT!!! From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your beautiful words ā„ ā„ ā„ mimi
This was a brilliant post. I love the paintings youāve done lately, I love your work anyway, but these bright colours, wow!
Itās interesting how you see something the āmimi-fyā it!
Your art makes the world a better place!
Cheryl Turtlemoon
Ahhhh Thank you lovely Lady Turtlemoon š š I’m so glad to hear your feedback on my latest paintings as I am trying hard to improve. The term ‘mimi-fying’ has been thrown around for years, so funny you mentioned it! xx mimi
Hi Mimi, you are such an inspiration. I love your paintings, your stories.
I love all colours but when I paint with bold bright colours the comments I receive from people who see the paintings are usually much āmoreā, much ādeeperā, much more ālivelyā. It seems that colours are truely āfeltā in a different way. I hope that makes sense.
Recently I painted a pebble sceneā¦just pebblesā¦the pebbles were built up using different purples + magenta.
It bought tears to a friends eyes. She said the painting āpopsā in so many ways that she could never forget it. She is an honest judge and wasnāt just being kind.
Like you, I believe rich, bright colour has the power to reach peoples emotionsā¦
Hi Kate, thank you, you are so sweet!! What amazing feedback to receive about your colourful paintings… It’s so hard to get people’s attention these days, and it’s so easy to get ‘numbed’ in our society, that if you can manage to reach into someone’s heart then that says a lot about the power of your art š