D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • FA L L 2 0 1 8
40
HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THE FIVE CATEGORIES AND MANAGE TO COME
UP WITH 460 DIFFERENT SHADES OF NATURAL COLORING?
roughout the first Fall season of the study, I shared my new
hobby with friends and acquaintances, and most of them responded
with enthusiasm! I was already seeing two categories of color within
just the Fall foliage—monochromatic and also multi-colored items
that I referred to as "inspirational." During this time I took a step back
and re-thought what I was trying to accomplish. Ideally, my study
would ultimately show the spectrum of color found in the Rocky
Mountain West. at's when I identified the five categories I felt
would convey the colors found throughout the Rocky Mountains and
beyond. ose categories are Fall Color, Wildflowers, Rocks, Soils and
Natural Grasses. e 460-color collection came later. Looking back, it
would be accurate to say that this project evolved as organically as the
subject matter itself.
WHAT ROLES DID ROPER GREEN AND JIM SCHUMACHER PLAY IN DEVEL-
OPING THIS MASSIVE PALETTE?
After a couple of years in the field, we had identified close to
1,000 items represented in the five categories. Although this was
not a scientific study, I felt there was an adequate representation of
the colors found in the various categories, so I began the curation
process. at's when my friend and colleague, Roper Green, got
involved. Roper and I have been friends since college and he's done
"Jeff Keller has curated
an inspiring and authentic array
of colors based on indigenous soils,
wild flowers and natural artifacts."
CARL MINCHEW
VP COLOR INNOVATION & DESIGN. BENJAMIN MOORE & CO.
Fireweed along Sourdough Creek
Silky Phacelia
JEFF
KELLER
