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!!!!
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!!!!
