I once had the opportunity to interview Tomie dePaola -- author and illustrator of over 200 children's books. Does Strega Nona ring a bell? Maybe it's just my inner elementary school teacher speaking. Anywho, during our Q&A, I asked him the generic question,
"What's your favorite color?"
His answer was simple.
"White -- all of the other colors look great against it."
I went home and transcribed our interview and that answer stood out to me. For someone who's known for his whimsical and colorful folk-like artwork, I just found this so bizarre. Years later, I scroll through images on blogs, flip pages of magazines, and I realize the wisdom in his answer. He was so right.
The white in each image gives room for every other color to pop. What a selfless hue!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Z44xSJUCvgyhWdWMj4Bl1ci1Eab5GQMN8H6n6VqFhP_qm6vCEQ2Ur4AqO6hv_J9hPDnb4wJS-JvrSKLmgZvFfOjwbdE3gycTm9s6J81-YhY2kiDtdXyBqYVt3pcj8Sx4cMC5TeL8jpdV/s1600/46737578_zULoRXkT_c.jpg) |
Prayer Chair a la Eames. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtX8u2479_S_bGeRkxUaogkhKCjvPuihNyE36E-RD36wovQNYW6PkvcqLAer0aGR7yHnJ1Ysha8FrRuntZg1i1roo1yE1b0luSV9uDHfUVUtSGCMVM9uO0DmLRdqtL7S9E_M2zvl_MuJh/s1600/hbx-kitchen-island-barstools-0710-ewart-15-de.jpg) |
Laurie Thiel's Home, House Beautiful |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65NOtocvaEBfZApYI5Vl04SdyV5WoJK1bPHfGQnVzU4CEg24iczNS0xjPFaE3jytuKKszqrrxDmCgM5in_eGxMbgyI9SLEUIy6DdwIjepyveAlQ3kfuIX5ISaLn_iRue3Jgld1gdlLJSO/s1600/bathroom-white-sink-mirror-0710-ewart-14-de.jpg) |
Laurie Thiel's Home, House Beautiful |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG5bomRns55c9fsP5GvdCZwbKoUFvNTxUpZC_Z1CO7MYTnnCxsanTBKa5Wu5Puks0Df1C7ctk5FVBkHiu_n3kSukTWugEQxbUpjE5u3aemLGxa0Npupem9B0y8KCQWes9NAaxioGYd0WR/s400/Screen+shot+2011-02-14+at+4.36.03+PM.png) |
*image via Kate Spade |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVYCC2f563BafgCaz83f1QYXOsrOoLgTTPQusCGadM4U1X0CjR9lwPas_DYAQ0fYYaW1W00eHtTVf_lpF6y9PcXY8q1ZHdLSJwW4_4YqXehNiU-q82O6UxPsgEDyiBXz2T6nbsU6CU6zH9/s1600/bedroom-children-lamp-0710-ewart-12-de.jpg) |
Laurie Thiel's Home, House Beautiful |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybgvwhX3JeRAcy3xD-E__sOGHPzxCL9-zRoV1vmaJ3FnkhbicDoKyLlVgdCE_22fhm8pXZ26PUUaXa5KEh8nGGMpu1MKXipc0ihVhMvezt4WhPgmPzpgn6MgX69FOqq5lbSuUUNRyT7j-/s1600/dining-table-bookshelf-white-0710-ewart-05-de.jpg) |
Laurie Thiel's Home, House Beautiful |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsIYrS0LfoJpH4jvMLQOL46N23-xativdsotirR5gLC1AkXAaw5gVi88gvSRNt6E9El-jx3adlO0SnucmerH3xA1pk11ALvK6cL_i5i6kPpcvUrl4wDazJVGqcPt0Q589zQlDR5NnFv2po/s400/IMG_2127.JPG) |
Bella Foster |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJdQ7jXgAagc2IB5YLdQRWQZRewRSGtnXSQU-pZCoUFP9zB5hZTugULrumMHqD7q4KoNHwlBh_WLTQYGmyHyImxLjJJd__TySo2cNku_W335iFd2RxPNSdtWpdX1hp6kDWhq0ylgVfOWQ/s400/IMG_1252.JPG) |
Cow, Alex Katz |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyYxKEuPjGHB5-6QXfBXx74hXoQouwigmnYBFNYS0VtQaS2WTDXygZXjWRirkIYZSt_9tT0kZj3YYqVcUN9GquyVezpuvbiSPJgsMxuR5l8PEy_18xjYekpf4k62nkODezL58FGsNAV9p/s1600/46709826_XOrnR5Lf_c.jpg) |
*image via Kate Spade |
Do you agree with Tomie?
(dePaola, not Tommy Smythe -- Sarah Richardson's design sidekick -- although I'm sure he also shares our common love of white.) Sorry for the confusion, this final photo is just for fun!
YOU INTERVIEWED TOMIE!? His books are incredible! I love all of them. His website is adorable, too. I'm green with envy!
ReplyDeleteAlso.. I love the "Love Is All You Need Banner".. how cute to put in a bedroom!
Sure did. He was precious!! I wanted to squeeze him and hug him and jump into that amazing mind of his!!
ReplyDeleteThat banner blows my mind. I love it so much!! I've been wanting to make something like that for awhile. It's stinkin' adorable:) It makes me wish I had thought of it!!!
Love this...I think most of my furniture would be white if I didn't have a Berner :)
ReplyDelete