A R T 100 Introduction to Art
WEEK 4: Color. Sketchbook: draw a picture of a bird using colored pencils or watercolors. Draw a picture of the colors of the sky, viewed over time. Alphabet of Art: choose two pieces of art especially concerned with color.
A L P H A B E T O F A R T - color
Pablo Picasso, Old Guitarist, 1903, pablopicasso.org
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Picasso painted this after his good friend died. It had been a rough time for Pablo, he was impoverished and spending time studying those less fortunate in life. Blue is a color often used to portray low spirits. Picasso uses blues with varying intensity and value in combination with body language to convey mood. The light blue of the skin is iridescent almost deathlike, contrasting with the dark blue of the background and clothes. The dark background on the right provides contrast to the subject, emphasizing him, but I also wonder if it doesn't also portray a precipice of a void of suffering and darkness of spirit. The brown of the guitar is the only sign of 'life', of warmth. Even though sad, the guitarist still finds a way to strum his guitar. This painting is exquisite in it's portrayal of the differing qualities of the color blue. Even though subdued the colors are rich and deep. The warmth of the brown used for the guitar is a perfect counterpoint. I find this image to be visually active, not flat. There is a wide range from the white of the skin to the almost black of the blue. |
Another significant use of the color blue, this piece is by re-known Indian artist Kailash Raj. It depicts Lord Vishnu, who is blue for a very different reason from Picasso's work above. Along with symbols, color plays a defining role in Hindu art. Each color has meanings and are used specifically. Blue is used when portraying qualities of heroics and depth of character. Lord Vishnu was devoted to protecting humanity and vanquishing evil, hence his depiction as blue. His clothes are saffron, which represents the spiritual fire that purifies and is worn by holy men. Yellow traditionally represents the mind, knowledge, peace, happiness, meditation and Spring. I'm wondering if it used here to signify Vishnu's vast knowledge. Green represents nature, is festive, and also signifies happiness. In all, I would say, through the colors and symbols used, that this image is a happy one reflecting the peace available to us through Vishnu's wisdom. |
Vishnu & Lakshmi on Garuda, Kailash Raj, watercolor on paper, exoticindiaart.com
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Just Because It's Color. . .
fashion.linio.com.mx
Betsy Johnson. Betsy is known for not only her outrageous style, but also her over the top use of color. There is a happy flamboyance to Betsy's work. She makes a statement using bright, primary colors. Not for wall flowers!
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vendomepress.com
What better way to use color than on a lamp shade where the light source positively ignites the color. Beautiful bright colors, even the base is rendered with appropriate tones, such as brown and green. Truly a work of art.
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S K E T C H B O O K
This eagle had a huge, almost totally black shadow across the left side of her body that I had difficulty in depicting accurately. The shading at the bottom is supposed to be shadow on white feathers. All those feathers were a challenge as each one was an exercise in various shades of brown. Eventually, overwhelmed, I went with a representational effect, rather than realism. She seems to have a devilish grin and is in need of an obvious haircut. But I did get an actual color, other than pencil brown, in there. |
S K Y
My rendition of the sky over a period of 4 hours one cloudy afternoon. I started at the bottom and worked up, a layer at a time. There wasn't much change throughout the afternoon, though at one point, in the last half, a bright spot appeared, for a moment. The first time I tried this I used a brush (this is watercolor) and couldn't get my strokes to look right, so I tried again with something else. A round cotton pad. I was able to at least simulate the round shapes I saw, and by applying different pressures, the infinite variation of light and dark. |
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