Color still life college self-study standard achievement rapid progress

Author: Bai Xueshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Different colors evoke different feelings. Red and yellow, for example, are associated with fire, the sun, and other objects, giving a sense of warmth and intensity, which we call warm colors. Blue and white, on the other hand, are linked to ice, water, and similar elements, providing a feeling of coldness and freshness, which we refer to as cool colors. In a composition, cool and warm colors are relative to each other. Warm colors only become apparent through contrast with cool colors, and vice versa. For instance, rose red and crimson are both red, and when compared to other colors, they fall under the category of warm colors. However, when these two colors are placed in contrast, crimson remains warm, while rose red leans toward blue, making it cool. When using watercolor, the more color varieties you mix, the grayer the result becomes. Therefore, it’s best to use as few color varieties as possible to achieve the desired hue. You should aim for rich colors that are both practical and harmonious—neither overly harsh nor overly agitated. This requires careful thought, the courage to experiment, and plenty of practice.