Value and the Subtractive Color Theory
I have been learning about value and the subtractive color theory, and I have included my value scale and subtractive color wheel above. I do not remember the last time I created a value scale or color wheel, but it was much harder than I thought it would be, (particularly the value scale). I thought that if I had nine pencils with different levels of softness, that they would all create different values, but they did not. Granted, the hardest pencil is much lighter than the softest, but I thought it would be easier to create gradual values trasitioning from dark to light. I also thought that my red, blue, and green would be more intense, but they seem muted for some reason. I used an equal mixture of magenta and yellow, for example, but the resulting red looks more like a red-orange. Also, the black–made up of all of the colors–looks like a warm gray.
While the acrylic paints decided to ignore my color mixing instructions, I still enjoyed working with them the most because I feel like I have more control with a paintbrush than I do with a pencil. Also, it is more of a smooth application (which is more pleasant to me), because I am applying liquid to the surface of the paper, rather than scratching off graphite. I do enjoy drawing, but seeing the color is more enjoyable to me because color affects my mood more than the varying values of pencils.
The most important discovery for me was how challenging it is to mix a color to be what you intend it to be. Thinking about the Renaissance painters and how they had to mix their own colors (before 1841, when the metal tube was invented), makes me appreciate their talent even more now that I had a quick preview of the difficulty of color mixing. Artists still mix their own colors today, but now they have a vast array of premixed colors to choose from, should they want to forego mixing colors on their own.
I have been a professional graphic designer for 13 years before transitioning into Buffalo State College to major in Art Education, and while I always knew that CMYK was the printing method (printing primaries), I am ashamed to say that I did not know that CMY are the subtractive primaries as well. Embarrassing. But that is to the credit of the videos, because they taught me something that I will never forget (probably due to the embarrassment). I felt that the instructional videos were very succinct and informative!
Until next time!
While the acrylic paints decided to ignore my color mixing instructions, I still enjoyed working with them the most because I feel like I have more control with a paintbrush than I do with a pencil. Also, it is more of a smooth application (which is more pleasant to me), because I am applying liquid to the surface of the paper, rather than scratching off graphite. I do enjoy drawing, but seeing the color is more enjoyable to me because color affects my mood more than the varying values of pencils.
The most important discovery for me was how challenging it is to mix a color to be what you intend it to be. Thinking about the Renaissance painters and how they had to mix their own colors (before 1841, when the metal tube was invented), makes me appreciate their talent even more now that I had a quick preview of the difficulty of color mixing. Artists still mix their own colors today, but now they have a vast array of premixed colors to choose from, should they want to forego mixing colors on their own.
I have been a professional graphic designer for 13 years before transitioning into Buffalo State College to major in Art Education, and while I always knew that CMYK was the printing method (printing primaries), I am ashamed to say that I did not know that CMY are the subtractive primaries as well. Embarrassing. But that is to the credit of the videos, because they taught me something that I will never forget (probably due to the embarrassment). I felt that the instructional videos were very succinct and informative!
Until next time!
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