Colour Your World

Hey there, art lovers! Today, we're going to take a dive into the colorful world of color theory. If you're new to the game, don't worry. We're starting with the basics.

First things first, let's talk about the colour wheel. You may have seen one of these bad boys before. It's a circle that shows the relationships between colors. The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. From there, we get secondary colors by mixing two primary colors together. For example, red and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, and blue and red make purple. And then, if we mix a primary color with a secondary color, we get tertiary colors. So, for example, red-orange is a tertiary color.

Now that we have the basics down, let's talk about how colors interact with each other. When we place complementary colors (colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel) next to each other, they create a high contrast, eye-catching effect. For example, if you've ever seen a painting with bright green leaves against a red background, you know what we're talking about.

One example of a painting from art history that features bright green leaves against a red background is "The Red Vineyard" by Vincent van Gogh.

Here is an image of the painting:

As you can see, the painting prominently features a vineyard with bright greens set against a red complimentary, creating a striking and eye-catching contrast. This painting is a great example of the effective use of complementary colors in art.

On the other hand, analogous colors (colors that are next to each other on the color wheel) create a more harmonious, subdued effect. This can be great for creating a mood or atmosphere in a piece of art. One example of the use of analogous colors in art history can be seen in the painting "Water Lilies" by Claude Monet.

Here is an image of the painting:

As you can see, the painting features shades of green, blue, and purple, which are all adjacent to each other on the color wheel and therefore analogous colors. Monet uses these colors to create a tranquil and serene mood, as if the viewer is floating on the surface of a pond surrounded by water lilies. The use of analogous colors in this painting creates a sense of harmony and balance, allowing the viewer to be fully immersed in the scene.

So, why does all of this matter in contemporary art? Well, artists are constantly experimenting with color and its effects. Take Yayoi Kusama, for example. She's known for her use of bright, bold colors in her installations and paintings. Her work is all about creating an immersive, sensory experience for the viewer.

Here is a link to a video of this installation. https://youtu.be/glR3YgJa7_4

This is "Infinity Mirrored Room - Filled with the Brilliance of Life" (2011), which features a vibrant mix of colors and shapes. The bright pink and red polka dots contrast with the blue and green background, creating a dynamic and eye-catching effect. The repetition of the circular shapes also adds to the overall harmony and balance of the piece. This is a great example of how Kusama uses color to create an immersive and sensory experience for the viewer.

Another artist who has used color effectively is Mark Rothko. His large, color field paintings feature blocks of color that seem to vibrate and pulsate. The colours in his work have been said to evoke emotions and create a spiritual experience for the viewer.

Here is an example of a Mark Rothko painting that is a great example of colour theory:

This painting, titled "Orange, Red, Yellow" (1961) is a classic example of Rothko's signature style, which is characterized by large color fields and a focus on the emotional power of color. The painting features a bold use of analogous colors, with the warm hues of orange and red blending together seamlessly and transitioning into the bright yellow at the top of the canvas. The juxtaposition of these bright colors creates an intense and immersive experience for the viewer, inviting them to contemplate the emotional impact of color. This painting is a great example of how colour theory can be used to create a powerful and emotive work of art.

So, there you have it, folks. A brief introduction to color theory and how it applies to contemporary art. The next time you're looking at a piece of art, pay attention to the colors and how they interact with each other. You never know what kind of mood or emotion they might be evoking.