Exploring Color: How to Use and Control Color in Your Painting (Paperback)

~ (Author) "When I saw the great Hall of the Bulls at Lascaux, France, in 1956, I was awed by the lines and colors applied by prehistoric..." (more)
Key Phrases: compatible triads, sectioned sheet, chromatic neutrals, Phthalo Blue, Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is a highly competent study of color, especially for the beginner. Leland explores the history, science, and theory of artistic uses of color before diving into comprehensive exercises and projects. One learns to control color in glazing, shadowing, and toned supports and sees the effects of six different palettes on the same painting. This volume is recommended for all artists in their early studies and can be followed by Zoltan Szaho's Color-by-Color Guide to Watercolor (North Light, 1998) for more advanced studies.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

This text illustrates the principles of using colour with numerous paintings and exercises designed to demonstrate how to use colour to plan stronger designs, develop better compositions, and convey moods and emotions.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: North Light Books; Revised edition (September 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891348468
• ISBN-13: 978-0891348467
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #39,074 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #9 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Graphic Arts > Use of Color
  #20 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Instructional & How-To > Using Color
  #100 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awsome art technique book, widely applicable, July 14, 2006

By	Margaret P. "mhp2027" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Wow! "Exploring Color" lived up to all of the 5-star reviews, and surpassed them all. I've never been able to say that about a book before. This book focuses mainly on the use of color in artwork -- why some color schemes work, and why others fail. Many other topics are covered and related to back to the use of color, such as composition, presentation, design and types of contrast. Example pictures are taken from a wide range of artwork in different mediums by various artists -- simply wonderful! After each description, the author inserts an exercise for the reader, to help you understand and apply the principle presented. These exercises can be done in any medium (watercolor, oil, pastel, cloth, etc.), and far surpass the "paint by number/follow me" exercises in books aimed at nervous beginners.

"Exploring Color " targets intermediate to advanced artists. Beginers should give it a chance, also. Try it, you'll be wowed.

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical advice on color usage, January 4, 2002

By	hamsterdance (TX) - See all my reviews

It is worthwhile to put the time and effort into learning color theory for any artist or artisan as a sound knowledge of the subject will increase his/her capabilities and give more satisfactory results. This book extensively covers not only the theory aspect but puts it into practice for the reader by giving specific projects to illustrate the point being discussed. It is chock full of photos of art on every page.

The history section on color is rather skimpy but it does provide some idea of how modern color theory and the color wheel came about. The rest of the book is broken up into subjects such as color characteristics, controlling color mixtures, palette color schemes, color contrasts, harmonizing light and shadow through color and unifiying color and design. Exploring color characteristics discusses some of the most common pigments and their classifications and properties (such as organics or inorganics, transparent or opaque, etc.). Palette color schemes discusses the many ways to organize a painting by color to convey a mood or feeling. One project gives instructions for painting a landscape using split primaries. Another compares the same scene painted using different color schemes (delicate colors, opaques only, intense only, earths only, etc.). Color contrast introduces projects for paintings that focus on temperature, another on intensities and still another on contrasting hues. The final two chapters discuss painting techniques such as glazing, painting on toned backgrounds, color in shadows, composition, the uses of line, shape, rhythm, repetition, balance, dominance and last but not least, color collage. Every point made is accompanied by photos of artwork illustrating it. Every subject discussed is acompanied with an "assignment" so the reader will have some way to actually practiced what was just covered. Exploring Color is a good addition to any artists library and covers the subject of color theory in a lively way that will inspire any artist/artisan to get back to work creating something with new understanding and vigor.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book changed the way I look at color, February 12, 2004

By	"thinkinrainbows" (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

I think every artist should read this book. it immediately changed the way I look at color. just ONE part of the book saved me a lot of headaches and explained a lot of the reason I was having so many problems working with color.