Kinetic Contrasts

Andy Warhol rarely smiled, but today he'd have much to grin about. The pioneering pop artist's bold, graphic style is enjoying another 15 minutes in the spotlight. A small Warhol painting of a can of Campbell's soup recently sold at auction for $11.8 million, and the 20th anniversary of his death next February will inevitably trigger a new wave of tributes.

But Andy can't claim all the glory. Other modern abstract artists, such as Paul Klee and Piet Mondrian, also are having a major impact on the way we see the world: bright, saturated color accents against a backdrop of black and white; lines that are clean and sharp; glossy finishes. The impact is thoroughly modern and pulsing with energy.

"Strong contrast is the driving look and feel," says Ralich Spak. Apple lifted this look for its iconic iPod ad campaign, featuring black silhouettes against colored backgrounds. "That was such a strong and dramatic graphic imprint that it sparked interest in the original silhouettes," says Eiseman.

The look resonates, in part, because technology has influenced our perception, Eiseman says. "We spend a lot of time looking at screens, moving graphics and pop-up ads. Our eyes have become accustomed to juxtapositions of color. We've had TV cartoons for many years, but this is in a much smaller, intensified space."

New to the mix is the pairing, borrowed from the fashion runways, of strong, bold colors with very pale hues, she adds. "Fashion always pushes the envelope, and the more you see something, the more you get used to it." The pale color functions "almost like a tinted white," Eiseman says. "They support each other really well, without looking like the same-old, same-old."

Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect Sherwin-Williams paint colors. To confirm your color choices, visit your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store and refer to our in-store color cards.

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