Color and “Light”

Glenn Hirsch

What is the ‘real’ color of the house?

The ‘real’ color doesn’t exist independently of the light

Monet painted ‘white marble’ in different times of day

color theory and ‘light’

1. “Value”

“value’ = the black-and-white of the color

Black and white is the “value” of the color

2. “Temperature” warm and cool varieties

of each color

Since color is “relative,” we use warm and cool versions of each color to enhance the feeling of “light”

3. “Chromatic Scale”

• Light to dark• Bright to dull• Warm to cool

Chromatic scale to enhance the illusion of “light”

Chromatic scale

Georgia O’Keefe

Glowing Light

Glowing, mystical, supernatural light

the light is coming from the object

Hirsch - Antediluvian Sleep

Hirsch

Fred Martin

theatrical light

Theatrical light Is the spotlight

Theatrical light is the spotlight

theatrical ‘back-lighting’ the light comes from behind the object

theatrical ‘back-lighting’ the light comes from behind the object

Monochromatic Color Schemes

Monochromatic color = varieties of the same hue

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Monochromatic Color scheme

creates a strong mood

Monochromatic Color scheme

creates a strong mood

Gustav Klimpt

Alfons Mucha

Picasso’s monochromatic ‘Blue Period’

same subject in two color schemes (monochromatic on right)

same subject in two color schemes (monochromatic on right)

Judith Klain, student

you can use more than one hue, it’s just that one hue dominates

Melissa Miller

Bill Puetz, student

Paul Wonner

twilight is a natural monochromatic color scheme

Daniel Rabier, student

Francis Picabia 1913

Variety of shape can be organized in a monochromatic color scheme so the shapes don’t appear too ‘busy’

Graham Sutherland, 1944

Abstractions in a Lost Tongue

Pyre

Maya Planet

Transfiguration

After the Flood

Creation Myth

Night Spirit

Quintessence