Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6. A color wheel: Color dimensions in
pigment
Analysis of Art Works
The ability to perceive line separated from form
can become a major aesthetical skill providing
an increased awareness of the visual beauty and
function of line. For example, Morris Louis, “Al-
pha Pi” (1961, http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/
works-of-art/67.232) shows diagonal parallel lines
(acrylic paint) like a Zen-like spirit of meditation.
Louis resigned from shape and light in favor of
pure color. El Lisitzky, “Composition” (1920,
http://www.wikipaintings.org/en/el-lissitzky/
composition) displays revolving geometric objects
painted in colors that appear to be floating in the
air, thus creating a sense of depth and an illusion
of space. In “Unreal City” by Mario Merz (1968),
http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/secciones/pro-
gramacion_artistica/nombre_exposicion_claves.
php?idioma=en&id_exposicion=69words are
inscribed in neon light within a triangular frame-
work. Is it an elusive and ambiguous metaphor of
city life? “Composition” by Piet Mondrian (1929,
http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/d/destijl.html) is
built from simple elements - straight lines and
primary colors, in search of perfect balance and
the order of the universe.
The source of color is light. We see color
because light reflects from the object into our
eyes. Light is visible radiant energy made up of
various wavelengths. It is one of several electro-
magnetic waves listed in order of their frequency
and length: long electric waves, radio, television
and radar, infrared (felt as heat), visible light,
ultraviolet (invisible), X rays, and cosmic and
gamma rays.
Color is a property of the light waves reaching
our eyes, not a property of the object seen. The
white light of the sun contains all wavelengths of
light. When light falls on a surface that reflects
all white light, it appears white. When the surface
absorbs all the white light, we see the object as
black.
Color and Value
Color in Art Works
Color exists almost everywhere. In 1704, Sir
Isaac Newton discovered that all the colors of
the rainbow are contained in white light, such as
sunlight. When the light passes through a prism,
a band of colors is formed. This band is called a
spectrum. Newton also invented a color wheel.
He put the three primary colors: red, yellow and
blue, and the three secondary colors: orange,
green, and violet, in an outer circle. Black is the
sum of all of these colors. Intermediate colors
are the additional hues, which fall between the
primary and secondary colors. The mixture of
adjoining primary and secondary colors can
produce intermediate colors. See Table 6 for an
example color wheel.
We can compare the use of color in paintings. For
example, Michelangelo Buonarotti (1475-1564)
applied in his work large areas of vibrant, con-
trasting colors and the play of light over human
bodies (http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/
michelangelo/). Henry Matisse (1869-1954) used
in “The Dessert (Harmony in Red)” (1908, http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Matisse-The-Dessert-
Harmony-in-Red-Henri-1908-fast.jpg) primary
colors for creating a vibrant, unified pattern of
pure color painted thickly, without brush marks.
The Dutch/American artist Josef Albers (1868-
1976) explored the perception of color both in his
