Color in Contemporary Painting: Integrating Practice and Theory [Paperback]

Charles LeClair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1997

Explains how to make use of colour in oil, acrylic and watercolour painting. Colour theories are outlined, but the main emphasis is on the way contemporary artists actually use colour. The book's thesis is that once artists have become acquainted with fundamental colour principles, they can begin to have fun with colour and play with it spontaneously. A number of approaches to colour are set forth as a guide, including building a picture with colour blocks, enriching colour with shadows, heightening colour intensity, achieving freshness with broken colour, painting with sunlight, experimenting with abstract colour systems, fantasizing with colour and creating space with colour. Each of the sections of this book are illustrated by the work of artists of historical importance as well as by the work of contemporary artists. There are also a number of development studies of the author's own work. Each section closes with a group of suggested exercises. Charles LeClair is the author of "The Art of Watercolour: Techniques and New Directions".

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Watson-Guptill; First Paperback Edition edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823007413
• ISBN-13: 978-0823007417
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #575,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, January 10, 2000

By 

K. Yingst - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color in Contemporary Painting: Integrating Practice and Theory (Paperback)

Le Clair offers a comprehensive look at color for the serious artist. This book is a college course in understanding the various color schemes and how they're affected by other surrounding colors. Each chapter is backed up by terrific color plates representing contemporary artist's work. If you are a painter or work with color, this book is for you. Not a simple "how-to" instructional, but rather an intelligent approach to considering color choices before you apply them. This book is for the artist as well as the teacher.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quality reproductions and clear prose - highly recommended, May 25, 2003

By 

ajw (Central New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Color in Contemporary Painting: Integrating Practice and Theory (Paperback)

"Color in Contemporary Painting: Integrating Practice and Theory", while not a traditional art technique book, is still an invaluable reference for practicing artists as well as those interested in contemporary art. Full of high quality reproductions from a wide variety of artists, one can simply skim the book as a source of ideas and things to try without even reading the text. However, the text is very clear, helpful, and readable as it describes the artists' styles, approaches, and use of color. There is no mumbo-jumbo and even the most "art critical" discussions of the artworks are in plain English.

The book is organized into 11 sections, the first few of which are introductory and include a perfunctory and adequate description of color theory. LeClair then proceeds through Albers & optical art, color & structure, figure/ground & space, color harmony, gesture, light, expressionism, and what the author calls "advanced color games." Since the book was written in 1991, a few of the discussions about what is "hot" in the contemporary art scene may be out of date as of 2003, yet the book is still relevant and most of the artists discussed are still important today. Perhaps the only thing missing is that there is only an occasional mention of actual pigments used by the painters. A thorough 2-page index makes looking up aritsts, subjects, or painting titles easy. Highly recommended.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite edit, October 15, 2004

By 

An editor (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Color in Contemporary Painting: Integrating Practice and Theory (Paperback)

I edited this book many years ago and STILL consult it about color questions. (Yeah, I'm an editor, but I used to be an artist--one who, while I was still painting, desperately needed a book like this. And after that, needed it even more when I chose art history as my muse.)

Am I prejudiced toward this book? Yes, of course. For instance, I love Diebenkorn's work and helped choose the painting that graces the cover. And Charles Le Clair, the author, taught me so much, even though we sometimes did battle over his writing quirks (and my editing ones).

I see now, more than a decade after Color in Contemporary Painting was first published, that even though the paintings Charles used to explicate various uses of color are still valid in that context, perhaps a 21st-century update of some kind may be called for. BUT: Really, how much does color use change in major ways that differ from what Charles has presented?

SO: Here is a plea: Suggest some newer examples. I will forward appropriate ones to the publisher.