Color training

Author: Zhang Jianming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-10-01
Features: Color is one of the fundamental courses in college-level art programs and also a mandatory subject in art major entrance exams. The exam typically consists of two types: still-life painting and still-life drawing from memory. Still-life painting is usually done in tempera, making the use of "water" and "powder" extremely important. Generally, water in tempera painting serves to mix, dilute, and clean pigments, while reducing the purity of colors and increasing their brightness is primarily achieved by blending white and other hues. The use of water must be flexible: in the bright areas and foreground, less water can be used to give the painting a certain thickness, but the colors should not be too thick, as overly thick layers are prone to peeling. In the darker areas and background, more water can be used to achieve transparency. However, excessive water may cause the colors to flow and seep on the canvas, sometimes resulting in dot-like color particles on the paper, leading to a lack of color purity. During the painting process, the first layer can have more water, while the second layer should have less. Additionally, adding white to tempera paint can enhance the painting's texture and produce rich color variations. White should not be overused, as too much or too dry white can make the painting appear dull and murky, creating an unpleasant powdery effect. This is especially true for the background and dark areas with soft rendering, which should be painted transparently and should not use too much white. Tempera paint contains a certain amount of powder, and when applied to highly absorbent paper, the colors appear darker when wet but tend to be lighter and slightly less pure when dry. The more powder in the paint, the greater the variation. Properly using "water" and "powder" in tempera painting can create a smooth yet textured effect. Therefore, mastering the application of "water" and "powder" is a crucial aspect of mastering tempera painting techniques.