Color composition

Author: Zhong Shuheng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: The training objective of color composition is to cultivate creative thinking about visual art forms. In the training of color composition, mastering color theory is particularly important, just as musical composition requires a foundation in music theory. The study of color is based on scientific knowledge from four aspects: physics, chemistry, physiology, and psychology. These four areas of knowledge help us scientifically understand the nature of color, its visual principles, and the universal impact it has on the human psyche. Building on the scientific knowledge of color, we further explore the overall expressive forms of color art from an aesthetic perspective. Through these two areas of research, we can gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of color; in terms of color creation, we move beyond narrow circles of experience and step into a broader space for color expression.
Contemporary color art theory is a summary of color science and color art since the 17th century, a crystallization of the wisdom of many great scientists and artists. Due to the development of color science in the 19th century, Impressionist painters became aware of the inherent visual truth hidden in natural appearances. They began to realize that painting contains elements unique to it, independent and governed by its own laws—this profoundly realized element is color. Impressionist painters abstracted it from nature and expressed the inner laws of nature according to the principles of color itself, taking a step toward exploring the purity of art and bringing about a revolution in the entire concept of art, which gave birth to modern art. The development of modern art not only involved painting itself but also spurred a revolution in design, as we can see, modern design has brought tremendous changes to human lifestyles.
The new color stimuli of the 20th century made it inevitable for people in daily life to encounter color everywhere, and the scope of color design is astonishing. The color schemes of street buildings, public spaces, and work environments, the colors of transportation, street signs, and neon lights—all require consideration of a new color order, which constitutes the beauty of 20th-century urban life. Additionally, with the advancement of material civilization, human daily needs have led people to consider color in their living environments, clothing, home appliances, and even common household items (such as towels, toilet paper, etc.). The new color demands not only practicality but also aesthetic enjoyment. In the commercial field, technological advancements ensure product quality, and at this point, the choice of color often becomes a key factor in whether a product sells well. For this reason, goods whose sales are clearly influenced by color are called color goods. Thus, color design has become an indispensable factor in commercial competition.
The new color stimuli of the 20th century have placed humanity in a completely new spatial environment, reflecting the characteristics of the new era and symbolizing the progress of human civilization. All evidence shows that scientific, highly aesthetic color design has become an important sign of the development of civilization and technology in contemporary life. In modern art and design education, we must adopt a corresponding teaching method for color to ensure that our students develop a high level of proficiency in color. The course of color composition is designed with this purpose in mind: it systematically teaches students the scientific principles of color and knowledge of color aesthetics through logical and instructional order. Through systematic exercises, students gain practical understanding of color theory, elevating their perception of color from personal preference to a scientific realm, and creatively applying color in practice.