Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Color Harmony and Variations

Color Harmony exercise  by Meera Rao

Using Faber-Birren color triangle, we explored color harmony on day 4 of the 'Variations' workshop with Myrna Wacknov.  The roll of dice said my combination for color harmony was Tint-Tone-Shade-Grey and to use intermediate hues.

I mixed the tints, shades, tone and grays for the two colors on  cards as reference as I painted the figure combining a shape drawing, value pattern and used the colors to create  mood.  This was the hardest exercise for me but well worth the effort. Once I had the colors down on the cards, the painting went very smoothly. Best part of the day was to see all the combinations and how they worked out in everyone's paintings during the critique session.

Fifteen years ago I had done a similar exercise with one color only in a Doug Walton workshop (only other workshop I have attended!) and suddenly color harmony theory became much clearer - I guess nothing like accumulating years of experience for an ah-ha moment!!! It also became clear to me that there is great value in methodically trying the color harmony combinations to get a better grasp of all the possibilities  and the mood they create.

Do you have tested and true color theory that you use? Do you use color wheels when you paint? I would love to know how you go about choosing colors and mood.  Or are you a 'fly by the seat of my pants artist' as I seem to be most of the time!!!! 

8 comments:

Lisa Graham said...

Love your piece here Meera. I fly by the seat...and then if I don't like it there is always gesso. : )

Meera Rao said...

Lisa, I think you have internalized all the theory behind it - thats why it works more often than not :)

Crystal Cook said...

This is so cool Meera. I really love the colors you've used. :) i don't use the color wheel, I'm a pantser. But I do know the color wheel well, and I think that influences most of my hastily made decisions.

Meera Rao said...

Thanks Crystal! You know your colors well and thats what matters :) There is something to be said about gut level choices !

padmaja said...

Meera, I love the way you are learning and I wish I could do something like this. But nothing technical goes into my head and stays there and so I just play with colors intuitively all the time!

Fernando Santos (Chana) said...

Belo trabalho...Espectacular....
Cumprimentos

Meera Rao said...

Padmaja, thank you! Having never gone to art school, I really wanted to take advantage of the workshop to the fullest :) - besides, that was the whole point --to learn new things!

Meera Rao said...

Obrigado! Eu aprecio os seus comentários!

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