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The Way To Happiness The philosophy of these lessons: Look, Learn, Practice

Chapter 17 of "The Way To Happiness" deals with Competence. I've found that too many limit their own progress as an artist with the concept that they "haven't got the talent." 90% of being a good professional artist is about looking for yourself, learning (including good study habits), and practicing what you have learned to become Competent. If you are interested in a free copy of "The Way to Happiness", please email me for one.

Interested in other lessons?

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Lesson 35

1. Thought

"Dividing your palette into warm and cool segments was the first step in understanding color temperature. You're now going to learn how to identify and paint warm and cool combinations within a particular bracket of color. At first glance all the blues on the wheel appear to be consistently cool. However, between the various blues lies still another series of warm and cool temperature changes. So, too, with all the other primary and secondary colors. For example, cerulean blue appears cool next to cadmium orange. But, put a swatch of ultramarine beside cerulean blue, and the color takes on a warmth and also, because of the contrast, brings out the cool purple cast unique to ultramarine. This is because cerulean blue contains a small amount of yellow whereas ultramarine is tinged with violet. There are similar effects with the juxtaposition of each set of analogous colors on the wheel. Permanent green light appears cool beside cadmium yellow pale yet warm compared to thalo green or viridian. Alizarin crimson looks warm beside cobalt violet, yet cool next to cadmium red. Compound this with value and color intensity changes, and the number of possible color mixtures obtainable becomes nearly endless." - Charles Sovek, Oil Painting, Develop your Natural Ability.


2. Word for the week:

Original Print: A print pulled under the artist's control in graphic arts, such as etching, lithography, etc.; not a mechanical or photographic reproduction. - North Light Dictionary of Art Terms.

Note: You'll find some controversy going on in the field of "Prints" currently, as many artists have opted to produced "editions" or "limited editions" of "signed Prints" using offset lithography -- the same process that is used to produce thousands or millions of color reproductions in color magazines and books. They are signing and selling these as "original limited edition prints", sometimes with large price tags. It is a questionable practice.

3. Practice: "Learning bears fruit when it is applied."

Seven color rules given by Sovek in his book:
1. No single color has a specific temperature identity until compared with another color.
2. A color appears most intense when placed next to its complement.
3. Avoid placing two equally intense primary or secondary colors beside each other.
4. Every object in light should appear consistent with the color temperature of the source of the light. (If in yellow light, mix in yellow in the light areas)
5. Every object in shadow should contain some color complementary to the temperature of the light. (If the light is yellow, mix in purple in the shadow areas)
6. Not only does a color appear brighter when illuminated by the light of a similar color but also duller when illuminated by the light of a complementary color.
7. The color of a light will intensify those colors analogous to it and neutralize those which are complementary.

--- Try out these rules, either looking at something you're working on already or setting up a still life to demonstrate their truth or untruth. Take these and any rules with a grain of salt. They are not laws --- just guidelines. You are still the artist and you are in charge.



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Last updated: March 1, 2004