Exploration of Color

Skies 'a blue

2008-12-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

I began thinking again about color in our day to day world. And then I looked out the window and saw a blue sky. There is SO MUCH sky in our world. I began to wonder if that effect our perception of all other objects in our world. The fact that blue and green (sky and nature) are EVERYWHERE every other colored object can either harmonize or contrast with this large palette. So what if objects that contrast have a certain meaning to us simply because of the natural color contrast that is happening around us? Just thought it was an interesting question to ask myself.

Partitive!

2008-12-03T05:55:00.000-08:00

So, today i witnessed a perfect example of partitive mixing. There was an add on the subway and what it was is an image (of a person) created with a bunch of different little photos. Inside each photo there is obviously more than one color, but when you stand back and look at it the colors just mix optically to create a stunning image. I wish I would have had my camera so as to take a photo of it! Darn:(

Revelation

2008-12-03T05:52:00.000-08:00

It seems hat until having taken this class i have not truly observed how much color can not only affect an artist's work but more importantly humans perspective of something. Humans attribute feelings, emotions and memories to colors. Which means that different colors can have different effects on each individual. But also there are certain general color theories that effect all humans.

2008-12-03T05:50:00.000-08:00

Contrast of Hue! I always felt that what made this photo interesting was how colorful it was and how many different colors are in the image. This was taken at a market in China.

2008-12-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

Definitely a contrast of value. One light is shining to symbolize that the right side of the brain is turned on. (The artist). The contrast of value is used here to create symbolism.

2008-12-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

I see some slight complimentary colors going on here, with the green from the shore (trees and grass) and the red in her shirt. Note: The shirt is not a pure red, and the green seems to be washed out and not as saturated.

Look Back

2008-12-03T05:41:00.000-08:00

Having created work with my new color knowledge has made me want to look back at my old work and see if i can spot and color harmonies that we're created subconsciously. SO my next few posts will be simply images with a description of what subconscious color theory has been used.

Becoming Colorful

2008-12-03T05:35:00.000-08:00

Since i have never been a painter before, i have decided to test out my new knowledge about color and see if it would help me with my work. The results are in and I'm quite satisfied. I want to try something simple at first. I painted with 2 complimentary colors: Red and Green. This painting is suppose to symbolize the memories i have with my grandfather (as i posted earlier on in the year). When i think of my grandfather I think of poppies. So you can see the result above in the photograph. I really feel like the composition of it as well and the way the colors harmonize within the composition has created an effective painting. I say this only because when i look at it, it reminds me of my grandfather. Goal achieved!

Christmas!

2008-12-03T05:23:00.000-08:00

With christmas fast approaching (first of all: YAY!) we are bound to see the usual change in the colors we use for decoration. Oh yeah the christmas colors. While reviewing our notes today in class we talked about the primary colors in both additive and subtractive coloring. I have noticed that, in majority, christmas colors tend to come in threes and never one color on it's own. That being said these 3 colors don't actually a harmony, and yet christmas (and it's colors) make us always feel nice and cheery. But no, there is not a color harmony going on here guys! I have noiced that there are 2 sets of christmas colors: Red,Green and Blue, and also Red Green and Gold(derived from yellow).No what are these 2 sets of colors? They are the additive primary colors and the subtractive primary colors. But no harmonies? So why is it that they seem to go so well together? Is it perhaps because they are primary and we associate important to them being together? What could it be? I just thought that this was an interesting observation that will probably keep me thinking for a while. The photo you see at the top left is a photo of decorative christmas candles.

Consuming Color

2008-12-03T05:03:00.000-08:00

With all these wonderful discoveries that man has made concerning how certain color schemes can create appealing color harmonies, the commercial/consumer world was bound to catch on sooner or later. And they have! Companies want to make their product as appealing as possible in each and every day: scent, texture, VISUALLY. I dare you to take a walk through the grocery store and see how many products have used either some kind of color harmony,contrast or any other general theory to create their packaging. It's everywhere! Just in the picture above i've given you a small example of how it can be used. This Air Wick spray can is covered from head to know with pretty little designs and logos....but most importantly it is covered form head to toe with an analogous color harmony. Way to go commercial enterprises! The consummers won't know what hit 'em!

Favorite

2008-12-02T22:40:00.000-08:00

Made a painting today. I've realized that my favorite color harmony is a very simple one, yet a very precise one. It's green and red. A simple complimentary harmony. I think the reason why this color harmony remains so strong with me is because as a child some of my best memories we're with my grand-father. He was a WWII veteran and very remembrance day he would take me out to the ceremonies and he always gave me the symbolic poppies: green and red. The reason i feel that it's these specific memories that trigger such an intense harmony for me is because, without even thinking, I am automatically reminded of poppies. And even now that they have changed the center of the poppies to black, these poppies do not have as much of an effect on me.

Natural Harmonies

2008-12-02T22:33:00.000-08:00

So, ive been thinking...YES AGAIN! haha. someone stop me before i go coucou over color. So, I made a blog a few weeks ago about how certain colors are able to harmonize for some reason... I had yet developed any crazy theories over why our brains automatically attribute a harmony to certain colors being together. But then, I began to think about nature and it occurred to me that VERY RARELY will we see colors not harmonize in nature. Flower colors flesh tones, everything seems to harmonize together (unless compromised by external human forces). So what if our brains attribute color harmonies to the natural color harmonies that we see every day? I mean why wouldn't are brain feel comfortable with what it seems most often? Even if it is subconscious?

Is your color, my color?

2008-12-02T22:27:00.000-08:00

So i've been thinking about color and how we perceive it. And i swear I'm not going crazy! But i began to think again about the fact that color is a wavelength that is captured by the eye and then translated by the brain. Since everyone has different perceptions of everything, what if MY brain translates as RED is not what your brain translates as MY RED. What if the red I see is more like the blue you see? Am I making sense? i think so. I don't think we will ever be able to really know 100% certain due tot he fact that I cannot borrow someone else's brain and see what they see.

Baby blues

2008-12-02T22:20:00.000-08:00

So today i was hired to take photographs of a little girl with blue eyes. I took a shot that i really liked where her blue eyes looked nice, but didn't stand out as much as i would have liked them too. So, I decided to experiment with a color contrast: Contrast of saturation. I decided to maake everything grayscale(black and white) except for her blue eyes. The effect was successful and draws the viewer down to her blue eyes. See the result above! Click the photo to enlarge!

Living in harmony

2008-12-02T22:11:00.000-08:00

I dont know how we did it, but somehow man has figured out how colors harmonize (not to an exact science mind you!). Color harmonies re very important in understanding why certain visual imageries can make us feel a certain way. Like any other language, the language of color needs to be practiced and expressed through correct structure. In other words, some things work, and some things just don't work!

Approachable Colors!

2008-12-02T22:00:00.000-08:00

So today i went to do my audition, and the director was wearing a dark brown coat. It gave of a very intimidating vibe. I think that the saturation of jacket gave me an uneasy feeling but after he took it off, revealing his white t-shirt, h suddenly seem more approachable. I think color has a strong effect on our first impressions, no only of people but of things in general. Why does the desaturation of the coat make me feel uneasy? Is it perhaps due to the fact that often desaturated colors are used in dark and depressing imagery, or is it perhaps deeper than that? What if the wavelengths of desaturated colored objects effect out physiological perception of it? It is just a theory. Who know really? Color and human perception are two very mysterious things!

Subtractive VS Additive

2008-12-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

Today I learned about 2 different kinds of color mixing. Being a photoshop artist who has never painted before in his life, when asked what the 3 primary colors we're I was quick to answer Red, Green and Blue (oh yes, the famous RGB). WRONG! ...well partly. The truth of the matter is that RGB are primary colors, but only in the world of Additive color mixing . Additive color mixing is when colors are created through light (e.g. Computer screen, TV screen, stage lights, etc). But then why was i considered WRONG when saying that RGB are the primary colors. It is different here in the real world, in the physical world. For all physical purposes the primary colors are Red, Yellow and Blue - Welcome to the subtractive world. Subtractive color mixing is used for all physical purposes (e.g. Painting, sculpting, object, basically everything you see in the physical world). This strikes me very strong, especially the additive color mixing. For 2 reasons: 1. I am a photoshop artist and it is good to know that all complementary colors are based on the subtractive primaries rather than the additive (even when we are working with additive mixing) and so are all other color schemes and contrasts and 2. I am a theatre actor and to finally understand how light is mixed on a stage using additive mixing is truly fascinating.

Black and white, age old question?

2008-12-02T21:26:00.000-08:00

So after learning about how color is light reflecting off of a surface creating specific wavelengths, I also learned that White is therefor created by the total reflection of light and black is created by the total absorption of light. This brought back nostalgic memories from grade school when i had this very strange debate with a classmate on wether or not black and white we're considered colors. Are they? Because white is not a specific wave length creating hue, nor is black. But also theoretically you can mix a black. So what is the answer to this flustering question? After days of pondering, I have finally determined that although theory can offer a slight direction to this enigma; the final answer truly lies within the eyes of the beholder. I personally consider black and white to be colors, simply because they can used to ad tone and visual language just as the other colors can.

But i guess you can say that this question is not just black and white, but shades of grey!

What is color, really?

2008-12-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

I have learned that color is not exactly what i had thought it would be. Learning the physics and science behind color has demystified it's physical effect and has also showed me how how such logic can now be used in my advantage while creating artwork.

Light. It is something we sue each and every day, but little do many of us know that it is the root of every visual image we are able to capture. And I am not talking about ''painting light'' as in the differences in values represented in paintings and drawings. Im speaking of sheer physical light. Color is a direct product of the way light functions in our environment and our biological response (our eyes). Color is a wave length that is created when light reflects off a surface. The length of the wave combination determines the hue, saturation and value of color.

Very interesting stuff! Gives me much more insight into how color can be manipulated. This information can definitely be used to my advantage.

Colour Exploration

2008-12-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

SO, this will be where i will share my wonderful discoveries in the world of color! Stay tuned folks, its bound to be an interesting ride!