About Bernie Burson

I love color and harmony – and I love seeing how thrilled my clients are when they discover how wonderful they can look in the colors that are perfect for them.

I first had my colors done at a color draping party in the 1980s (yes, I’m old). It was very similar to the Color Me Beautiful model of four seasons. I was horrified to be told I was a Spring because I badly wanted the Winter palette. The Spring palette didn’t look like it would work well in a business environment. Nevertheless, I made an effort and bought the colors I thought would work. I was stunned at the results, especially one day when I was walking down the street wearing an off-white suit and a coral-pink silk blouse. People opened doors for me, stepped aside to let me pass, said “After you!”  This had never happened before. I became a true believer.

Years later, I decided I wanted to learn to do color analysis. The woman who did my original palette was not doing that anymore, so I soon discovered that the San Francisco Bay Area was where many high-level color designers worked. I arranged to meet Sharon Chrisman, who became my teacher and mentor. She introduced me to the Suzanne Caygill way of doing colors. That’s when I found out I had avoided wearing my olive-green eye color for many years because, in the basic four-palette system, that was an Autumn color.

I also found out why I didn’t like several of the colors in that original palette. I was thrilled to be given my skin tones, my perfect reds, and an overall sophisticated-looking palette. I also learned that a mid-value teal works on everybody.

I did a lot of paint mixing, took a lot of classes, and got really good at this. I joined Color Designers International, earned the CDI credential, and was President for several years. I’m still on the board because I believe we represent the best way to do color. I’d love to share that with you.