COLOR CHOICES and APPLICATIONS

…more artistic musings

This POST explores the history and subject of COLOR.

PIGMENTS have been applied to surfaces throughout millennium. During ancient periods, trained artisans used assigned palettes for public or individual applications. COLOR CHOICE was one of the important elements during the Renaissance.

SINCE starting my artistic journey, creating a simple pencil sketch or creating fine art using a full range of pigments, historical recreations or restorations, I have always been fascinated with the science of COLOR and how it has been used throughout history.

THE PIGMENTS of WHITE, blue, yellow, black, red and green used for tomb decoration during this time period had symbolic meanings.

18th Dynasty PAINTERS PIGMENT PALETTE found in the VALLEY OF THE KINGS

Ancient Egyptian, Greek, Pompeian Artisans, along with Renaissance Craftsman, Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Pointillists, and the Contemporary trail blazers of the modern age all had their particular color palette of choice.

WINSLOW HOMER’S Watercolor Palette

AS TODAY Lapis-Lazuli, the semi-precious stone from Afghanistan, was more precious than gold. Dating back seven thousand years it was only used in the royal tombs of Ur and Egyptian Pharaohs. Obtaining it was extremely dangerous, just as it is currently. The pigment made from Lapis-Lazuli is called ULTRAMARINE. In Pompeii a tradesman’s palette included excessive amounts of Cinnabar and Vermilion. While APELLES, Alexander he Greats’ favorite painter, would use Yellow OCHRE exclusively.

EGYPTIAN TOMB DECORATION ~ Attic red-figure pelike, Greece, about 360 BC

PORTRAIT of a YOUNG WOMAN IN RED, c. 90-120

Original WALL PAINTING Fragment, 9 BC, Pompeii (center-upper) ~ Yellow OCHRE (left upper) ~ Pompeii RECREATION Panels-CLASSICAL Decorative Arts

Throughout history, an individual’s color preferences might often extend to their personal wardrobe. One such example is LEONARDO DaVinci and his choices. It has been documented that this Italian Master favored wearing dusty rose and dark purple clothing, Among his clothing inventory dated 1503-1505 is:

“One gown of dusty rose..one dark purple cape..one purple satin overcoat..dark purple, dusty-rose and black tights…two pink caps”.

GINEVRA de’ Benci, 1478 ~ MONA LISA, 1503 ~ LADY with an Ermine, 1489, Da Vinci

OLD MASTER PALETTE ~ Watercolor

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ONE of the first hurdles in my personal art exploration was to learn and understand COLOR complexity and how individual color/pigments related to each other. Learning how to mix pigments successfully, regardless of the medium.

My Personal COLOR CHOICES ~ Various Oil, Watercolor and Oil Sticks

Curiosity lead me to study M.E. CHEVREUL (1786-1889) a French chemist who developed the “chromatic diagram“ based on the RYB color model. CHEVREUL studied extensively color and their complementary, optical effects and perception. By 1839 he successfully published his findings.

M. E. CHEVREUL’S PROMOTIONAL BROCHURE

CHEVRUL’S CHROMATIC CIRCLE of Hues

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SOON CHEVREUL’s scientific color theories became a strong influence with IMPRESSIONIST Vincent van Gough, Post-IMPRESSIONISTS, POINTILLISTS George Seurat (1859-1891) and Paul Sognac (1863-1835. These artist’s took advantage and applied theory of COMPLEMENTARY colors, optical effects and perception.

SELF PORTRAIT – Vincent Van Gough ~ STARRY NIGHT (1889) – Vincent Van Gough

SUNDAY AFTERNOON on the ISLAND of La GRANDE JATTE, 1884-1886, George Seurat

COMBLAT le CHATEAU, 1886, Paul Signac ~ ROAD to GENNEVILLERS, 1883, Paul Signac

ANDERS ZORN (1860-1920) was a Swedish artist know for his paintings having an IMPRESSIONISTS style so much so that he became known as the “Swedish Impressionist”. Zorn traveled internationally painting three American Presidents, Grover Cleveland, William H. Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.

Ols Maria, 1918 (upper left) ~ Summer Fun, 1886 (upper center) ~ Self Portrait (upper right)

MRS. BACON, 1897 ~Oil

This Master Artist became famous for using a LIMITED PALETTE of only four colors. While I have yet to experiment with ZORN’S four color palette, I have to admit that I am curious. Found excellent information on the Jackson’s Art Supplies site.

Yellow OCHRE, VERMILLION, Lead WHITE/Flake WHITE, IVORY Black ~ Color CHART

Vincent van Gogh ~ Self-Portrait-1887

RECOMMENDED READING:

The LOST BATTLES : Leonardo, Michelangelo And The Artistic Duel That Defined The Renaissance – Jonathan Jones

THE ULTIMATE MIXING PALETTE, a World of Colors – Jane Blundell

THE BRILLIANT HISTORY of Color in Art – Victoria Finlay

COLOR A Natural History of the Palette – Victoria Finlay

GUIDE TO THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS AND TO THE THEBAN NECROPOLISES AND TEMPLES – Alberto Siliotti

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