From red, blue and yellow, each artist can get a large number of different shades. And it would seem that in the modern world you can create millions of variations. But still, the question of how to correctly compose a color composition worries many. And this is not surprising. To combine shades means to choose two or more options so that their combination is as expressive as possible.
History of color composition
Every artist knows the name of the person who developed the modern theory of color - this is Johannes Itten. At the head of his system, he put the physiological perception of shades. To understand the whole point of his conclusion, you can carry out such an exercise with a color wheel: for a long time you need to look at the star and then remove it from the field of view, and in the place where the figure was, an image of a different shade will appear.
A feature of long-term perception is that our nervous system tries to compensate for the effect of color in such a way that as a result a neutral gray color is obtained. It is this shade that does not irritate the eyes - this is the main feature of the color composition.
Rule of neutrality
The combination of colors is harmonious if, when mixing two or more colors, the artist gets gray, dark gray or black. In addition to this important conclusion, it should be noted that the combination of any color with gray, white and black is a priori harmonious. That is, if an artist takes any color, then he will look perfect with neutral shades. This is because, for example, if you mix pink with black, you will end up with the same black color. With a gray tint, things are a little different. Adding to it, for example, green paint, we will not get a pure color, while the neutral color still remains.
The main rule of fashion designers, photographers, and stylists is based on this fact. For example, black and white suits with bright color accessories look great. And it doesn’t matter what it will be - green earrings or scarlet beads. The most important thing is that when choosing accessories, either one shade or, again, a color composition should be used.
Three categories in art
According to the theory of shades, there are three primary colors that cannot be obtained by any mixing - these are red, yellow and blue. If you mix all these three colors, then the artist will get a dark gray or black shade, depending on the proportions. That is, neutral gray colors will come out as a result. If a person mixes primary colors among themselves, for example red with yellow, then the secondary color will turn out - orange. And if an artist mixes blue with red, then he will get purple. It is worth noting that the final shade will depend on the proportion, so do not dilute the paint in white or black.
And already when mixing primary and secondary shades, the artist gets tertiary - this is green, yellow-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green and red-orange. The final result should be 12 colors in a circle.
It is he who gives out the maximum number of saturated shades. This is called spectral color spots of the composition. Using them, the artist can make a harmonious combination.
Triangle composition
So, the first point worth considering is the contrast of comparisons. This is the simplest example of how you can create a color composition, and it can be demonstrated with all the pure colors in the circle above. As black and white forms the strongest contrast, so yellow, red, blue form the most striking combination. When creating harmonious color comparisons, it is necessary to use those shades that are equally spaced from each other.
If the artist builds an equilateral triangle, the corners of this figure will show him a harmonious combination of the composition of the color scheme. It can be rotated as you like, and in any case, the corners will indicate a triad of harmonious colors.
Color shades
An isosceles figure will show colors whose combination is harmonious. But it is worth considering that all of the above applies to bright and less saturated colors. That is, if the artist adds the composition of the color wheel and decides to darken each of the shades, then the colors that he receives will also harmoniously combine with each other, and the triad will be preserved.
In the same way, if the creator starts using colors a little lighter than the original, the combination will remain harmonious.
You can get color combinations, which will also be harmonious, in other ways. The main thing is that the mixture of these colors with each other gives a gray or black tint.
Color and color composition
Harmonious compilation was actively used by artists in the 20th century. Looking through great paintings, you can see that color slides are actively used in clothing. For example, in all the famous paintings of Henri Matisse, where women are dressed, the harmony of colors is perfectly matched. The contrast of color comparisons is also well traced in the arts and crafts.
In folk art, the color scheme in the composition allows you to create a combination that makes the products very bright, filling them with cheerfulness. This is especially noticeable on Zhostovo painting: red, yellow, blue are in perfect harmony with each other. And the use of such a combination as yellow and red represents a tandem of warm and cold shades. This combination is always combined.
Two color poles
The division of colors into warm and cold is based on the perception of people. It is believed that the warmest colors are those that approach orange. And cold ones are shades that tend towards blue. So, for example, green is opposed to red, while together they look very harmonious.
It is conditionally possible to divide the color wheel into two parts, and then in one part there will be cool colors, and in the other - warm colors. When creating contrasting combinations of two poles, it is desirable that they be of the same lightness, that is, equally light or equally dark on the spectrum. As a rule, the combination of cold and warm space makes the picture lively and breathable.
For example, you can consider blue-green, purple and orange shades. These colors are close in terms of their lightness, but not in temperature. It is due to this imbalance that the movement of the image in color is created.
In decorative art, this contrast is also used cold with warm, while the work becomes more calm, not so bright and more peaceful.
Additional way
The following color contrasts in the composition are a combination of complementary shades. They can also be obtained using the shading circle. As mentioned above, diametrically opposite colors in a circle when mixed give gray or black colors and are complementary to each other. Therefore, the combination of the two colors is also harmonious. That is, if we connect only a couple of flowers in diameter, we get what is required. This, for example, a combination of red and green or a combination of purple and yellow. In this method, you can use additional colors. To do this, you need to draw not a triangle, but a rectangle. Rotating this figure in a circle, the artist will receive a combination of complementary colors. In this way, you can create not only four colors, but also six and eight.
This is a more complex combination of shades, but it also takes place. And perhaps the most striking example of the use of these combinations will again be Zhostovo painting.
The product that will be made using this technique will turn out to be bright, and in it it will be possible to meet almost all the colors of the tinted circle.
Ordinal paints
And the last rule that I would like to dwell on is the harmony of similar colors. If the artist takes the shades next to each other, he will get a harmony of similar colors.
Three colors next to each other, for example yellow, yellow-green and green, will give the artist the perfect composition. There are no similar colors for another example, because all colors close to each other create an excellent combination.
Exercises for fastening material
To learn any theory, it is necessary to put it into practice as soon as possible. Color composition is no exception, so here are a number of tasks that will help any creator quickly figure out the perfect combination:
- Creating your own circle. In the modern world there are a large number of colors and shades, so there is no need to create everything yourself. But, despite this, in order to create the most accurate combination, it is better to make your own circle. To do this, you need to take three colors: red, yellow and blue. Based on the above example, you need to mix shades with different proportions. This will create an individual circle on which it will be possible to rely in the future.
- The creation of still lifes. This genre is one of the easiest to create because you do not need to take a picture from your head, and the model is completely motionless. It is necessary to write a still life of warm flowers, and after - from cold. And only then the artist can proceed to the third picture, to create a harmonious combination.
- Seasons. Ideal compositions in nature itself are best viewed. The creator only has to choose the right shade when creating paintings on the theme: autumn, winter, spring and summer.
Do not think that these exercises will only help artists. In fact, such work will facilitate further creativity for both the architect in creating the interior, and the photographer in the processing of images, and even the designer in the design of any building.