Fundamentals of Visual Arts: Color

Color Theory In the visual arts, color theory is a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual impacts of specific color combinations.

Color theory principles in West first appeared in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c.1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c.1490), (During Renaissance) But a tradition of "colory theory" began in the 18th century, initially within a partisan controversy around Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of so-called primary colors

By 19 th Century various color theories were proposed by scientists and artists Earlier in traditional arts color was always considered as a filler. The drawing was the main component With new researches in color theories and the expressive quality of color, it was emancipated (freed) from the clutches of drawing

PRIMARY & SECONDARY RED BLUE YELLOW PURPLE GREEN ORANGE

Some Important Terms HUE – a particular gradation of color SHADES AND TINT- by adding black and white resp) MONOCHROMATIC- one color WARM AND COOL COLORS- COMPLEMENTARY COLORS SATURATION – brilliance or depth of color

Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors of the RYB color model

Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are of “opposite” hue in some color model Analogous colors are neighbours on color wheel

Complementary and Analogous Colors

Barnett Newman, Dionysius, 1944, 67x49in. Complementary colors Analagous colors

Van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888

Matisse, Seated Riffian, Complementary colors Analagous colors

Some examples and techniques from traditional Western Art FRESCO- SFUMATO CHAIROSCURO IMPASTO (modern)

Fresco (plural either frescos or frescoes) is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings Michaelangelo Sistine Chapel 15 th CE

Sfumato Monalisa by Leonardo da Vinci 15 th CE Leonardo da Vinci described sfumato as "without lines or borders, in the manner of smoke or beyond the focus plane."

Chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro is characterized by strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition Sacred and Profane Love. 1602–1603, showing dramatic compositional chiaroscuro by Giovanni Baglione

Impasto In English, the borrowed Italian word impasto most commonly refers to a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area (or the entire canvas) in a very thick manner using a brush,palette knife or directly the paint tube. Paint can also be mixed right on the canvas. When dry, impasto provides rich texture

"Crags and Crevices"(1961): Jane Frank

Vlaminck: Fauve Painter 1903

Modern Art Movements which gave tremendous importance to color Impressionism- Optical mixing Post Impressionism- Emotional and expressive quality of color explored Fauvism- Wild application of color Color Field Abstraction

Monet, Impression: Sunrise, 1872

Post Impressionism Paul Gauguin The yellow Christ Symbolic use of color

Vision after the sermon Paul Gauguin

Fauvism Henri Matisse Early 20 th CE Exploring the express ive quality of color

Color Field Abstract Expressionism

Monochromatic - using only one color

Mark Tansey, The Bricoleur’s Daughter, 1987

Michaelan gelo Sistine Chapel detail (monochro matic medallion)