Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Discovering Color with Master Artists


Hello! Sharing a couple links to a free mini-workshop in color since it's the theme at Creative Every Day this month.

Explaining "How to Choose Colors", Roy H. Williams shows some of the practical applications of using color palettes used by the great Masters. If you want to jump right in, or go down the rabbit hole as he would say, click on "Associative Color". Every time you click on a painting you'll find a new painting, set of colors and eventually the mini-workshop using photoshop to analyse the Master's paintings. Even if you don't have photoshop you can do the exercise. Just eye it.
Leah has shared what's she's learned in a more in depth color workshop. Doesn't this adventure sound yummy? Create a color based on the scent of spices, pine or vanilla... Or color inspired by poetry . They are a more intuitive, playful approach to color.

While I've always rebelled against the color palettes of the masters, thought they were too dull and boring (I preferred something more whimsical and bright) my latest color adventures are to limit my palette (Oh, and explore my mixed emotions with pink, like in the piece above. Love it? Hate it? Can I make pink strong?). After reading more about the Byzantium era, and the use of colors to represent the sacred, I started to get really excited. My next show is going to be all about the golds. There were a lot of ochres in my last show, so I'm already going in the gold direction, and that was intuitive. Now that I know why will make for greater focus. There's plenty of gold inspiration in the works of the Masters. Doesn't this Klimt painting just blow your mind? (warning: some nudity) That's the color palette I want to study.

17 comments:

Liberty said...

Shayla I LOVE THIS piece of yours!
I used to hate pink but have grown into it.
This piece is beautiful and feels so warm and springy to me.
Feminine and strong.

bindu said...

Very cheerful painting! Looking forward to seeing your experiments with gold.

Jeane Myers said...

shayla, I love the simplicity of this piece and the pink - of course I'm into pink right now also - there is something very warm about it - and the Klimt color palette is just yummy!

MiKa Art said...

I love your new painting - it reminds me of the traditional Japanese/Chinese paintings. (Zen painting?) Beautiful!

Tracy said...

This was a fun post...and your painting to illustrate your thoughts serves well! Pink has always been my favorite color, so I gravitated to this painting of your right away. It is interesting to how we all react to colors, how we use color, what colors can be used to convey. While essentially the colors are cool in your painting, there is something warm there...the pink adds a heartbeat. I've always admired Klimt's painting. All that gold fascinates me...very dreamy...Happy painting, my friend :o) ((HUGS))

Regina said...

The Klimt provides a very inspiring palette. I favor working with a limited palette as I consider my knowledge of colors to be limited as well. But I have discovered that limited is not boring and have come up with rich & beautiful colors while making mixtures of the limited colors.
I like the simplicity & peacefulness of you new painting. The pink gives it a life that no other color would have.

Jeane Myers said...

Hey Shayla - in response to your comment on my blog, I'm thrilled for you! what kind of oils did you try and what are you thinning them with? :)

ArtPropelled said...

Your painting has an oriental feel to it....as well as a lightness and feelings of hope...for spring.
Love the Klimt palette and look forward to seeing this influence in your work.

Glennis said...

Hi, Shayla, thanks for visiting me. I love the workshops - very cool. I am also very interested in your post below about natural products. I'm definitely going to explore....

Jeane Myers said...

oh, yes! I tried thinning with walnut oil and it took a week to dry the first layer - I loved the way the paint moved though - after I'm over this initial thrill of exploration, I will go back to the walnut oil to lay down some pretty amazing layers, but I have to have my patience on for those pieces - the one I let dry for a week, dried to a very shiny gloss which I like! I am so happy that this may be a medium that you can use without the fall out! and in my mind, it's the best!

Patrice said...

I love Klimt - but it's the palette of Milton Avery that truly challenges me. To do so much with so few colors! I admire each artist's bravery for different reasons...

Excellent work, as ever.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the information..I seem to be learning lots from here..all this art stuff. Lovely one for sure. Happy spring Shayla :P

picciolo said...

I've got a great book with lots of flip pages of colour palettes through the ages, including byzantum, it took me a while to warm to it but it is great inspiration, there are so many colour combinations I wouldn't ever have thought of. I Love the colours in this piece of yours too
: )

Kasey said...

what a beautiful blog you have here.
xo

Shayla said...

Liberty, thank goodness we've got some warm, spring weather to inspire.

Bindu, my new palette is on its way. Yipee!

Jeanne, thanks for celebrating with me :) :) :) and letting me know the week long dry time is normal.I'm really excited about the oils. Big bonus: They're going to change everything and like you I find a challenge engaging, plus they just feel right.

Mika, thank you. Coming from you that is such a big compliment. I really admire a lot of traditional Japanese work. To me it is perfection, peace, order.

Tracy, I'd guessed that pink was your favorite color but wasn't sure- blue seemed a close runner up. I'd never thought of it in terms of energy and warmth. Thanks, that's a very useful insight.

Regina, it used to be that when I went to the art store, I'd hunt around for whatever new color that struck my eye. I ended up with way more colors than needed. Now I'm really excited about going back to basics with just 5 colors.

Robyn, hope yes. That's my favorite theme.

Glennis, he did a good job didn't he? I liked the color quiz at the end too.

Patrice, thanks for mentioning Milton Avery. I love his shapes too. Wow!

Mary Kate, what a lovely thing to say! I want to remember to say that to people: "Happy Spring"

Jane, ooh! That sounds like a great book.

Kasey, thanks. Back at you. Your photography is beautiful.

jo horswill said...

A Klimt colour palette sounds wonderful and rich, looking forward to seeing where you take it.

Rowena said...

These color explorations are great. I know that in the past six months I have experimented with pink and yellow... two colors that I have always shied away from and it has opened up new vocabulary to me. Orange, too, actually.
I also like the painting. Love the little graphic elements in there.