The Season Naming Systems

May 20, 2009

In previous posts, I’ve used the naming system originated by Color Me Beautiful’s 12 season scheme. More recently, I learned the SciArt system and I’ll stay with it now, except in the Makeup Model articles till that series is done.

There are a few big players in this game, each with its strengths and particular ways of approaching color analysis of human beings. They all use different naming systems, making the entire subject seem more complicated than it is. When a given season has 3 or more different names depending on who is talking about it, it’s not surprising that people are confused.

Everyone has their own “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots” for placing a person into a season. They also have their own names. Someone who just wants to know their palettes will get lost in the Deeps, Darks, Trues, Firelights, Sunsets, Daybreaks, and so on. It seems to me they’re describing essentially the same thing, namely that most people are a blend of 2 seasons where 1 is most pronounced.

Once you’ve been coded into a season, your color palette is much the same. It’s how they get there that’s different. That right there is the whole difference. This is why the same person can be given a membership to several different seasons depending on the analysis system and so begins to doubt the validity of the entire process.

People have been delving into this topic for 100 years. You probably know Color Me Beautiful (CMB)’s original book by Carole Jackson from the 1980s. That company has published many more books on color and image since then. They are probably the most globally well-recognized name in color analysis from the strength of the marketing that accompanied the original book.

The CMB 12 Season naming system is also the most recognized. Visit Lora at Pretty Your World to find a better explanation and examples of this system than anywhere else.

Before CMB was released, Bernice Kentner of Color Me A Season (CMAS) wrote about 4-season analysis. She has since expanded her system to include 16 seasons, including the 4 Absolutes and then each one blended with the 3 others.

I love to read Bernice’s books. They have an old-fashioned style that reads like a cross between a conversation and one of the original Nancy Drew books. Scattered along the way are some utter and unqualified color analysis gems. This lady has some huge experience and a most observant eye. She delved into the personalities of people in the various seasons and season blends. She also discovered that the pattern and design of the iris (colored part of the eye) correlated to season.

The SciArt system makes sense to me. They didn’t invent a brand new system of organizing color. Instead, they remained true to the original color notation system that was developed in the early part of this century by Albert Munsell. Theirs is a 12 Season system as well. It appeals to the analytic, scientific aspect of my personality. Everything has a reason. There are no smudged edges.

I’m going to try to organize it for you. Remember that every system arrives at the season in a different way BUT the palette for each given season (or its equivalents, see below) is much the same. Once you’re a True Summer or a Dark Winter or whatever season, your color palette is very similar across the systems regardless of which one analyzed you. It’s all about the method, not the colors themselves.

Let’s do this : I’ll start with each pure season and use the 3 adjectives that most define it. Then I’ll take the season from the pure colors and move more towards each of the 3 definers in turn. I’ll call them Simpler Seasons, though no such nomenclature really exists. It just points out that certain definers can be predominant, in fact usually are in any given person. So Spring is a season of colors that are light and clear and Warm. You can have Pure Spring, or you can make light into Lighter Spring, or clear into Clearer Spring, or you can make it Warmer.

Red flower.

You can see the closest comparable season from the other analysis systems. A blank means there’s no equivalent.

Simpler Season	Color Me Beautiful	Color Me A Season	SciArt
Pure Spring (light and clear Warm)	Spring (in the 4 Season system only)	Absolute Spring	True Spring
Lighter Spring	Light Spring	Pastel Spring	Light Spring
Clearer Spring	Clear Spring	Striking Spring	Bright Spring
Warmer Spring	Warm Spring	Glorious Spring
Pure Summer (light and soft Cool)	Summer (in the 4 Season system only)	Absolute Summer	True Summer
Lighter Summer	Light Summer	Sunshine Summer	Light Summer
Softer Summer	Soft Summer	Indian Summer	Soft Summer
Cooler Summer	Cool Summer	Moonlight Summer
Pure Autumn (dark and soft Warm)	Autumn (in the 4 Season system only)	Absolute Autumn	True Autumn
Darker Autumn	Deep Autumn	Striking or Bronzed Autumn	Dark Autumn
Softer Autumn	Soft Autumn	Gentle Autumn	Soft Autumn
Warmer Autumn	Warm Autumn	Golden Autumn
Pure Winter (dark and clear Cool)	Winter (in the 4 Season system only)	Absolute Winter	True Winter
Darker Winter	Deep Winter	Sunset Winter	Dark Winter
Clearer Winter	Clear Winter	Firelight Winter	Bright Winter
Cooler Winter	Cool Winter	Snowfrost Winter

Posted by Christine Scaman | Filed Under Color Analysis

Comments

6 Responses to “The Season Naming Systems”

Rosalie Weiss on May 21st, 2009 11:26 am

I have been trying to follow all your info about the seasons and must say I am fascinated. I noticed that you have changed your season for yourself out of autumn. I just looked at your current email essay to us and see that there are 4 different systems. This I did not know and am only familiar with two.

I think I am a warm autumn like you thought you were but now at some point I guess I am going to have either you or the woman you have been following do an analysis.

Do I understand correctly that you are becoming a color analysis coordinator and giving up the veterinary work? I honestly need you for that, also-maybe you will do a greener kibble email.

I owe you still a long personal email but I do read all you send and keep 90%of them!

Rosalie
Christine Scaman on May 25th, 2009 4:04 pm

Hi, Rosalie,

I hope you’re keeping well. There are a number of Season naming systems, several more than those I’ve described. I think you would enjoy being color analyzed because you have an open mind. You can’t go into it with the notion that “I know what suits me better than anyone else does”, in which case the money is best spent elsewhere. Do you know how to find a Sci\Art- trained analyst near you? The company originates in Florida, I believe. Follow the Appointments link on the left side of this page :

http://www.coloranalysis.com/category_s/90.htm

Regarding leaving the veterinary world – I guess we are all made up of many parts. I’ve been a vet for 20 years. I don’t want to be 70 and look back and think that I denied a whole other part of myself just to be a vet for 40 years. Life has made me want things that I didn’t want back when I made the first choice. However, I will make the transition gradually. You know, A Greener Kibble might be an idea worth pursuing! That world generates a story each day, might be useful when I run out of gas on the other topics.
Taji on May 27th, 2009 12:20 pm

Christine—i forgot how to do a general post on your blog. My topic is Turmeric. I’ve always used some and after the foods for preventing cancer books that you talked about—i’ve used more. In replacing my bottle a while ago, I bought a cheaper import brand, i bought another import bottle, and then i bought Mcormick—regular grocery store brand. They all smell metallic to me—–maybe it always smelled this way but i don’t think so. have you heard anything on contamination? i did a little search this am and didn’t see anything yet. i’m not sure i now anyone here to ask—although i do live close to ” Little India”—i could go get some there.
Christine Scaman on May 27th, 2009 1:10 pm

Oh, Taji, I haven’t a clue. I buy my herbs and spices in small quantities at the Bulk Barn and they always seem fresh. I wonder the same thing though, about contamination, it seems it could happen so easily.
I think Little India would be a fine place to ask. Also, google “Indian cooking” or “Indian cooking blogs”, might be helpful . I recall Cooking With Korma as being good. Finally comes to mind, since turmeric is a mainstream supplement these days, that Dr. Andrew Weil’s site might be a good contact/resource.
Fil on January 25th, 2010 12:43 am

I was trying to find the Sci\ART book earlier today and came across the sad news of Kathryn Kalisz’s (the founder of the company) death earlier this month in the Florida shooting that killed several people. We have heard so much about her work through Christine, for which I am truly grateful. Truly sad and senseless.
Christine Scaman on January 26th, 2010 6:58 pm

It’s true, Fil,

As indescribably horrible as this loss has been, for the family, it must be unbearable. In the shootings, Deb, the office manager, and Captain Reed of the Florida police were also shot and killed. Kathryn is survived by her 3 daughters, one of whom was shot and lost a pregnancy, but is expected to live. I think of this terrible tragedy every day. Hopefully enough of Kathryn lives on in her family, her writing and teaching, and in her analysts to continue her journey.