Colour and Contrast

'Cafe Terrace at Night' by Vincent Van Gough

HUE.  This is a specific colour, such as red or green.  The colourwheel has 12 different hues.

CHROMA:  This refers to the saturation, intensity or purity of a colour.    Colours on the colour wheel are of pure intensity or chroma.

TONE:  This relates to the lightness of darkness of a colour.  Every hue has a tonal value, which can be modified by either adding white or black.  Judging the tonal value of a colour can be difficult at first.  The best way is to half close your eyes until the colour almost dissapeares leaving nothing but the tone.

Last time we talked about the contrast between complimentary colours as well as warm and cool colours.  There are however other contrasts which are equally important if you want you paintings to look convincing. These include chroma, tone, and texture.

Chroma

If you are using a bright colour it is important to make sure you contrast it with it’s equivalent Dull colour. For example  if you have used a brilliant blue on a vase, make sure you mix up a dull blue (add grey, black, white or other colour) and use it somewhere to contrast the bright and dull.   If the blue colour is quite a dominant or an important part of the painting you may also

Lillies by Van Gough

want to contrast it with its complimentary colour orange, to bring it forward and give it more energy as Van Gough has done with his ‘Cafe Terrace at Night’ painting.  If the blue you have used is a bright blue, then the orange you contrast it with should also be a bright orange.  If the main blue is a dull blue you would then contrast it with a dull orange/brown.  For a realistic look try to include  a good variety of the same colour in various tones and brightness.  See how Vincent has contrasted the bright blue of the sky and the upper building with more dull blues elsewhere, and the bright yellow of the cafe wall with the paler table tops. Yet another contrast is between the complimentary colours yellow (the wall) and purple-mauve (road). In his ‘Irises’ painting he has used similar colour combinations.  Study the two paintings and look for more contrasts.

Tone

As with chroma or colour intesity, tone is also very important in creating balance in your artwork.  Make sure you balance light areas with dark areas and make sure you have a good selection of tonal values in your painting.  To check your tonal balance half close your eyes, try to imagine your painting in black and white.  It should still be interesting without colour.

Texture

By contrasting texture in your paintings, you create interest.  You can contrast smooth textures with rough impasto textures, water colour effects with pastel.  Without the right amount of textural contrast your work could  appear a bit dull or un interesting.

To find out more about ArteSpirals Art courses

please click here.

When it comes to contrast in painting there is more than black and white and complimentary colours to think about.