Beginner colour choices...

[beadysam]

Hello all
I am a complete newby. I've got a kiln on order from Bill (thanks Bill!) and a load of tools and a torch (Bobcat) from Frantz, I've also ordered a few extras from Arrowsprings and bought a few bits from the forum too. I haven't yet bought any glass. My idea is to buy a small quantity (1/4kg) of most of the range of effetre and a lot of clear - yes, I know effetre clear is rubbish, but it doesn't matter when I'm just learning, and I will splash out on some Lauscha when I know what I am doing! I also want to buy a larger quanity of a few colours - maybe 4-5 - and work pretty much exclusively in those colours until I have mastered each technique, shape etc. Moving onto pretty colours will then be something to work toward.
Does anyone have recommendations for colours to use for doing this? Colours that aren't shocky, troublesome, or unpredictable, hard to work etc. I don't want colours that are too garish as I have to look at them but they probably need to be of a fairly good contrast so I can see what I'm doing and look back at the finished beads and see what I have done. any suggestions would be welcome...
Thanks
SAM xx

[Cosmo]

Here are the soft glass colors I use most...

Black - Most everything I make uses black. Just the regular black, not intense black.

Ivory - both light and dark - Goes well with most everything. Also works well in conjunction with silver.

Coral - Just a really neat color.

Petroleum Green - Does some really neat things when heated.

Purple #254 - You need to get it hot, but with a Bobcat you shouldn't have a problem. Again, does really neat stuff when you get it hot.

[Heather/Ericaceae]

I agree with Chad that all those colours are awesome cool to work with - check, check and check, they're my favorites too! However, I'm a bit more conservative about the purple 254, also known as Evil Devitrifying Purple or EDP. It's a gorgeous colour, but as a beginner there is a pretty high chance that you'll find it very frustrating because it goes chalky if it's held at medium heat. It's also really expensive! It's up to you of course, but my advice would be to wait a bit on the 254.

For choosing your colours, I'd recommend checking out Chris Fischer's Moretti Characteristics Chart. It's a great visual reference for all the colours, with notes on what they do.
http://www.chrisfisherart.com/Moretti%20Glass%20Characteristic%20Chart.htm

One thing not mentioned on that chart is copper vs. sulphur colours. Copper-rich glass (turquoise, petroleum green) reacts with sulphur colours (ivory and all the opaque warms, ie red, orange, coral, etc.) by creating a neat-o dark outline. Very fun to play with!!

Enjoy your glass! -Heather

[Cosmo]

Yeah. I wasn't going to throw EDP in there, but I've noticed that a lot of beginners get stuff too hot, so it sort of lends itself to that. Yes, it is a little more expensive, but I'm used to buying $50/pound boro, so it's still cheap in my eyes.

[suzanne]

I give beginner classes and always pick out their colors ( I love doing that:D) and what they really like is Ivory and turqoise, both pastels, but they react really cool toghether ( even beginnerbeads look really advanced using the two of them together) . Coral does the same thing with Ivory or Turqoise, and transparent aqua is neat as well. Black and white are always good. Sky blue pastel, Nile green, all the purples and ambers by moretti, periwinkle pastel and spring green transparent, all easy colors, but really nice together,

Good luck!
Suzanne
( ps you might want to concider getting some frit, just moretti frits will do the trick)

[beadysam]

Thanks everyone for the replies - keep them coming!

Suzanne
I have to confess I have already indulged myself - I am in on the bulk frit buy!
The colours you suggest sound lovely, but I really love the turquoise and ivory together and really don't want to be sick of the sight of it by the time I've mastered a technique!LOL! B&W sounds good as its a colour combination I respect and is a real contrasting pairing - but actually I am not that keen on myself so it doesn't really matter if I get sick of it! I do actually like B&W but its a bit sophisticated for me....I prefere BRIGHT! I sometimes think I'm a colourblind magpie....

Heather - thats my big sisters name too!
Thank you for the link, that chart is fab and a resource I am sure I will use again and again. I am definately going for the cheap colours for practice but when I think I'm getting there with a particular technique, I will reward myself by using `sexy` colours. Like a donkey with a carrot...

Cosmo
I am a bit tight fisted so the EDP will have to wait until I know what I am doing - I love purple though so I can't see me waiting too long....
The other colours I love and the reactions sound promising too. thanks

SAM xx

[kimberly]

If you like the Ivory and Turquoise, why not choose some colors that go with that or complement the combination:
Black
transparent ambers
reds (transparent and opaque)
Copper Green
coral
cobalt (a good transparent for beginners)
Tongue or Powder Pink (not usually for beginners, but really smashing with Ivory and Turquoise)

[Kita]

You could always buy a sampler and find out what you want to work with. I would stay away from the opalino and alabaster colors to begin with. They boil and are harder to work with.

[Kevan]

I wouldn't buy too much of one color of glass to begin with.

[WillfulOne]

My suggestions are:
Ivory
Turquoise
Black
Aqua
Coral