Color Considerations, and Peaceful passage, daily painting by Everglades Artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Peaceful Passage, 2014, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

 

 

Color is everywhere today, more color than at any time in the past.  Everyone enjoys color in their home, clothes, and in the objects they use every day.  We relate colors to psychology, and most colors have both a negative and positive connotation.  The way you use color in your painting can set the tone or mood, and provide harmony.  

If you are a painter, considering what colors to use, you may choose a traditional color harmony, such as compliments, triad, or analogous colors, or you may look outside the traditional harmonies as you look for ways to establish a relationship between the objects in your painting.  Here are some points to help with color considerations:

 

          Color can lead you on a visual path

          Repeated colors can provide a rhythm in the painting

          Colors reflect on and off the objects around them

          Either warm or cool colors should be dominant a the painting

          Colors must support each other rather than clash

          Look for a dominant color, a secondary, and an accent in both color and value

 

Hope this helps with your color considerations!