Basic Elements of Art: Color

Interpreting and creating art involves understanding some basic concepts of color. Color offers insight into the artist’s mood and message. It also enables the artist to demonstrate time, depth, and shadows.

Color has the capacity to trigger strong emotional responses. It is a powerful tool for artists. Pay attention to the colors used in both the positive and negative spaces.

The use of color can be complex. Knowing some terms associated with color will help you better understand art.

Basic Art Color Concepts

Achromatic is color free, or black and white.

A circular diagram in which related colors are arranged next to each other and complementary colors are on opposite sides of the circle is a color wheel. Primary colors; red, yellow, and blue; cannot be created by mixing hues, or other colors. Colors that fall in the green/blue range on the color wheel are considered cool colors. Yellows and oranges are considered warm colors.

The saturation of a color is a measure of a color’s purity or brightness. Different saturations of color can evoke different emotional responses from viewers.

Complementary colors are colors that that complement or complete each other. Complementary colors are often pleasing to the eye. The appearance of a hue under normal lighting conditions is considered local color, while optical color is the viewer’s perception of the color.

The term hue refers to color. The hue is the distinction of a color which allows it to be labeled. Hues that are actually the same may appear different based on lighting, shades, distance, and the background against which they are viewed. Darker hues, shades, are created by adding black. Lighter hues, tints, are created by adding white.

Lighting enables sight. Lighting is extremely important in art. It is used to reveal or highlight shapes, form shadows, or create radiance or glow. The direction from which light enters a picture or photograph affects the resulting work.

Understanding the basics of color will help you better understand an artists’ work. Remember that each work is unique and must be viewed within its own context, or the context of a category of paintings to which it belongs.

There are infinite shades of color. Artists must choose colors that will reflect the scene, mood, and atmosphere of the work they are creating. In choosing color, artists are aware that certain colors evoke certain feelings. The knowledge of the psychology of color helps artist render their best possible work.

Some examples of color relationships and symbolism include:

Red – aggression, authority, passion, rage, violence

Yellow- sun, life, vision, renewal, spiritualism, enlightenment

Blue – sorrow, serenity, oceans, change, expanse (as sky)

Green – envy, new birth, regeneration, life

Brown – earth, natural, depth

Black – evil, depression, darkness, lack of understanding

Orange – Creative, citrus, fresh

Purple – royalty, luxury

Sea green – fresh, cleansing

White – innocence, pristine, clean

Colors can take on different meanings for different people. The symbolism and meaning of a color should be considered in light of an artists’ work, and the feelings it evokes within you. You may view a piece of art with a preconceived idea about a color, and the artist may use it in such a way that it opens up new understanding and appreciation of that color.

View art with an open, yet discerning mind.

Resources:

“achromatic.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 03 Sep. 2007. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/achromatic>.

achromatic.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 03 Sep. 2007. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/achromatic>.

“color wheel.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 03 Sep. 2007. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/color wheel>.

color wheel.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 03 Sep. 2007. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/color wheel>.

“complementary colors.” Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 03 Sep. 2007. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/complementary colors>.
Rathus-Fitchner, Lois. “What is Art?” Understanding Art, eight edition. California: Thompson Learning, Inc. 2007.