Lessons in Color Theory - Color Interaction

COLOR immediately attracts attention.

Color Theory is the art and science of color interaction and its effects.

For artists and designers color theory is of interest because they need to know the expressive effects of color on our mind and spirit.

COLOR INTERACTION

Color Interaction refers to the way colors influence one another.

COLORS ARE NEVER SEEN IN ISOLATION.

Color also looks different depending on the lighting and adjacent colors. Below is an example of simultaneous contrast. When you look at the two brown squares, how light and dark does each look?

For most the brown square on top of the left blue side appears brighter. This is due to color contrast. Blue and orange are opposite colors. Because the brown square has a lot of orange in it there is the appearance of contrast. This causes BOTH the blue and brown to appear brighter than they actually are.

So, clearly, the change of a single color in a work of art or design can dramatically change its appearance.

THE BEZOLD EFFECT

What you see below is called the Bezold Effect.

Color theorist William Bezold (1837-1907) realized that change in a single color can substantially alter our perception of the entire pattern. As you can see below the pattern on the left has a dominant yellow color. The pattern on the right uses a dark blue instead of yellow. It's amazing how unique each pattern appears!

Color interaction can be used to make optical illusions, too. Do you think the gray lines on the left are the same exact shade as the gray lines on the right?

YES. They are the exact same shade of gray.

As you can see, the relationship between colors has a significant impact on what we see.

PROJECT IDEA

Want to do a simple experiment with color to test the Bezold Effect? Draw a checkerboard grid and color every other square with yellow - same as a regular checkerboard pattern. Then fill in the remaining top half of the squares with red and the bottom half with pink. See how the two colors interact with the yellow. Which yellow looks brighter?

Artist Profile - Andy Goldsworthy

Are you an avid hiker, naturalist or just like to sit out on in the fresh air? Or do you simply enjoy beautiful sights? Of course, beauty can be found just about anywhere. Because I am lucky to live in a wooded community I am treated to a daily concert of sights and sounds and no day is the same. The Artist Andy Goldsworthy Source: Kidzworld.com As someone who has always enjoyed nature and art I was thrilled to discover the art of Andy Goldsworthy. Although I've known his work since the mid-nineties he never ceases to enchant me. If you don't know who he is, prepare to be amazed. Goldsworthy is a man who enjoys the colors and textures of nature and presents them in a way you likely have never seen before. And, you don't have to be a nature-lover to appreciate his art. Rowan Leaves & Hole Source: Morning-Earth.org Goldsworthy is considered a pre-eminent "Earthworks" artist. This trend in art-making was popularized in the 1980s and 9...

How To Make a Rainbow Leaf Drawing

Do you like to draw or maybe just like the idea of drawing and don't know where to start? Drawing, like any other skill, is learned. And you have to start from somewhere. I find the best place to start is with simple and colorful shapes. The following post will show you step by step how to make a colorful leaf drawing. There is no pressure to be perfect here. This is a small drawing. It's just a matter of you finding a half hour to an hour of time and some very basic materials. You will need a piece of paper, a ruler, a pencil, eraser, a black pigment marker (I use Faber Castell but a thin Sharpie is fine) and some color pencils. Do not use a ball point pen as it will smear. Do not use crayons as they will also cause the ink to smear. This drawing will fit a 5x7" mat or frame. Draw a box that's just a bit larger than 5x7" on your paper. Using your pencil draw the shape you see on the left. Erase as needed until you like the shape. Draw two li...

How to Decoupage a Picture Frame

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