DESIGN’S MOST EXCITING ELEMENT: COLOUR

How we SEE Colour Without light there would be no colour. Things we identify as being red, green or orange, for example, are not innately those colours, but we perceive them as such because of what happens when light hits its surface. As an experiment, Isaac Newton, in 1666, directed a beam of sunlight into a glass prism. The light bent as it passed through and separated into colours! In other words, the surface of an object reflects some colours and absorbs others. We perceive only the reflected colours.

Light waves enter the eye through the pupil. Light hits the retina and a message is sent through the nerves to the brain. Therefore, the eye and brain work together to translate light into colour. Light receptors within the eye transmit messages to the brain, which produces the familiar sensation of colour.

ONLY REFLECTED LIGHT WAVES PRODUCE COLOUR! ***An object appears white when it reflects all light waves and black when it absorbs them all. ONLY REFLECTED LIGHT WAVES PRODUCE COLOUR! ***An object appears white when it reflects all light waves and black when it absorbs them all. ONLY REFLECTED LIGHT WAVES PRODUCE COLOUR! An object appears white when it reflects all light waves. An object appears black when it absorbs all light waves. ONLY REFLECTED LIGHT WAVES PRODUCE COLOUR!

COLOUR HAS THREE QUALITIES: Hue Value Intensity

The name given to a pure colour. HUE The name given to a pure colour. RED YELLOW VIOLET

The lightness or darkness of a colour. VALUE The lightness or darkness of a colour.

Made by adding white to a colour so that it is lighter. TINT Made by adding white to a colour so that it is lighter. + = HUE WHITE TINT

Made by adding black to a colour so that it is darker. SHADE Made by adding black to a colour so that it is darker. + = HUE BLACK SHADE

The saturation or purity of a colour. INTENSITY The saturation or purity of a colour. Colours that have been tinted, thinned out or darkened will be less intense. Yellow - HIGH INTENSITY Brown - LOW INTENSITY

The Colour Wheel The colour wheel fits together like a puzzle - each colour in a specific place. Being familiar with the colour wheel not only helps you mix colours when painting, but in adding colour to all your art creations.

Primary Colours Red Yellow Blue Primary colours are not mixed from other elements and they generate all other colours. Red Yellow Blue

Secondary Colours Red + Yellow = Orange Yellow + Blue = Green Created by mixing two primary colours together. Red + Yellow = Orange Yellow + Blue = Green Blue + Red = Purple

Tertiary/Intermediate Colours Created by mixing a primary and a secondary. red-orange yellow-orange yellow-green blue-green blue-purple red-purple

White, Gray, Black and Brown Neutral Colours White, Gray, Black and Brown

ColoUr Schemes Colour Schemes are a systematic way of using the colour wheel to put colours together… in your art work, putting together the clothes you wear, deciding what colours to paint your room…..

Monochromatic “Mono” means “one”, “chroma” means “colour”… monochromatic colour schemes have only one colour and its values. (adding white and black)

Complementary Complementary colours are opposite on the colour wheel and provided a high contrast. Yellow and Purple Red and Green Blue and Orange

Analogous Colours that are beside each other on the colour wheel.

Warm Warm colours are found on the right side of the colour wheel. They are colours found in fire and the sun. Warm colours make objects look closer in a painting or drawing.

Cool Cool colours are found on the left side of the colour wheel. They are the colours found in snow and ice and tend to recede in a composition.

Emotional Qualities of Colour Artists often use colour as part of the expressive content of their art to communicate emotions, moods, and atmosphere. Red – evil, anger, fire, heat, courage, love, and often thought of as sexy. Blue – calm, soothing, tranquil, cool, heavenly, spiritual, sadness or depression. Yellow – cheery, embodies warmth and light. Purple – symbol of royalty or wealth. Green – envy, signifies life or hope, cool and restful colours of nature. White – symbolizes purity, truth, innocence, and light.

Your TASK: Create a POP Art Self-Portrait! Your teacher will be taking a picture of you in the style of pop art. You will simplify this image even further and trace it into your sketchbook as part of your rough draft. There, you will plan out your colour scheme. Think clean, sharp lines and bright colours! Your final copy will be done in acrylic paint on canvas.

Step 1 - Choosing an Image

You had the image with you every day and were always ready to work Evaluation: Planning/Inspiration/ Rework (FOUNDATIONS) You had the image with you every day and were always ready to work You made good use of class time and met deadlines You have put some thought into your facial expression You have created a rough draft in your sketchbook You have successfully simplified your portrait Your image is drawn to scale and your facial features are in proportion and properly placed /20 Create/Evaluate (CREATING) Your good copy image is accurately drawn and painted You have successfully included 4 -6 colours Your colour choices lend themselves to the POP qualities of your art Your canvas is clean and free from any scuffs or unnecessary marks There are no smudge or fingerprints visible All pencil lines have been erased before you started painting You painting is neat and professional-looking Reflection (REFLECTING) You have clearly communicated your concept and what your facial expression means/what is says about who you are You have clearly explained your inspiration Your reflection is effectively conveyed in at least 1 paragraph /10