Color is one of the basic elements of art.
Exploring the myriad possibilities of color keeps many artists endlessly intrigued and busy. A beginning artist needs to do some research and experimentation to gain an understanding of the mechanics of color-mixing. Next, she learns to add white to create tints and black to make shades. The artist applies what she has learned by using color in her drawings and paintings. She gains an understanding of how color can affect the mood of an image or surprise the viewer with an interesting or unexpected contrast. It takes practice to discover use color in interesting ways.
Tint Color Chart
Mix each color with white to create a variety of tints.
A color chart is a way of practicing color-mixing using a specific art medium such as acrylic paints or tempera paints. The completed chart can be kept and used as a reference tool. Some artists produce a chart for each medium they work with. A tint is a color that has had white added to it. To make a mixing chart showing tints, begin by choosing a paint medium and a paper, canvas or board at least 9 inches wide by 12 inches long. Use a ruler and pencil to divide the surface into a grid. Label the vertical axis "Color" and the horizontal axis "Saturation Ratio." Down the vertical axis list each color by hue as well as its name on the paint container. For example, one particular red is known as "cadmium red light" while another very different red is "Indian red." Across the horizontal axis, label each row 1:0, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and so on. These ratios show parts colored paint to parts white paint. Starting with unmixed color, place a dab of color in the box under 1:0. Next mix together one small brush load each of color and white; dab the new tint in the box under 1:1. Add another dab of white to the mixture and paint the box under 1:2. Continue as desired. Go to the next color and begin a new row, adding white as before. Somewhere on the chart list the brand and medium of paint as well as a labeled dab of the unmixed white paint.
Surprising Landscape
Use watercolor paints to create an unexpected landscape.
In this exercise the artist creates a watercolor landscape using unexpected colors for each element. Use pencil to plan the picture plane and lightly sketch a landscape onto watercolor paper or tag board. On a separate piece of paper, list every element and its normal or expected color. Use a color wheel to find a color that is several positions away from the original color, and choose one for each element in the painting. For instance you may end up with a yellow sky, orange trees and purple fields. Changing the expected colors may evoke a dreamlike or surreal feeling.
Monochromatic Portrait
Create several portraits using different color schemes.
A monochromatic image makes use of one or mostly one color. Variation and interest are achieved by mixing the color with white to create many tints and using either black or another dark value to create shades or grays. A monochromatic image may or may not contain some other colors in very small amounts. A good exercise in monochromatic color is to create a series of portraits or self portraits with this kind of limited palette. Use a printer to duplicate a set of three or more identical drawings. Use paints, pastels or any other media desired to finish each one with a different monochromatic color scheme. Display them together. The contrast will be striking.
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