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COLOR
In 1671, Sir Isaac Newton named the visible colors of the rainbow the "spectrum".
The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of wavelengths.
___l______________l__________l________llllll______l_________l______l___
Radio Waves Microwaves Infared Waves Visible Light Ultraviolet Rays X-rays Gamma Rays
Humans can only detect a small range of wavelengths along the electromagnetic spectrum. These visible wavelengths of light range from
red to blue, and when seen all together, they are perceived as white light.
Different people perceive color in different ways. Some people can only see a very limited range of color, or are color blind.
People see color when the eye filters wavelengths of light, as different objects absorb or reflect wavelengths of light.
The texture of an object's surface or whether it absorbs or reflects light can also determine how it is seen.
An object which reflects wavelengths of light equally is normally seen as white and an object which absorbs light is dark.
The electromagnetic spectrum is made up of wavelengths.
___l______________l__________l________llllll______l_________l______l___
Radio Waves Microwaves Infared Waves Visible Light Ultraviolet Rays X-rays Gamma Rays
Humans can only detect a small range of wavelengths along the electromagnetic spectrum. These visible wavelengths of light range from
red to blue, and when seen all together, they are perceived as white light.
Different people perceive color in different ways. Some people can only see a very limited range of color, or are color blind.
People see color when the eye filters wavelengths of light, as different objects absorb or reflect wavelengths of light.
The texture of an object's surface or whether it absorbs or reflects light can also determine how it is seen.
An object which reflects wavelengths of light equally is normally seen as white and an object which absorbs light is dark.
A rainbow shows the separation of the different colors which when seen together make up white light. Since Newton, several notable
scientists have studied how we perceive color. Goethe studied after images, complementary colors and colored shadows.
Besides our own physical makeup and the mechanics of our individual eyes and brains, individuals perceive color depending on other
factors. These are the intensity of light, surrounding colors and light and our own understanding about the color of things that we look at.
For example, we might think of an apple as a certain red, but apples come in a range of colors. Are you thinking of primary red that you
might have seen on a picture card at school?
Lighting and surrounding colors may influence your perception of color. This is how many optical illusions work.
scientists have studied how we perceive color. Goethe studied after images, complementary colors and colored shadows.
Besides our own physical makeup and the mechanics of our individual eyes and brains, individuals perceive color depending on other
factors. These are the intensity of light, surrounding colors and light and our own understanding about the color of things that we look at.
For example, we might think of an apple as a certain red, but apples come in a range of colors. Are you thinking of primary red that you
might have seen on a picture card at school?
Lighting and surrounding colors may influence your perception of color. This is how many optical illusions work.
Are the reds the same to you?
Which blue appears darker to you?
Do the colors look different depending on their placement? Do the layered colors look jittery to you?
Stare at each center in the squares below and count to ten. Then quickly look at the white space below to see their opposite. Goethe believed this
complementary color sensation was perceptual and part of the mechanics of human vision rather than from just light entering our eyes.
Stare at each center in the squares below and count to ten. Then quickly look at the white space below to see their opposite. Goethe believed this
complementary color sensation was perceptual and part of the mechanics of human vision rather than from just light entering our eyes.
Complementary colors. They are opposites on a color wheel. Many people refer to color wheels to help them name, mix or use colors together.
Red, Yellow and Blue are the primary colors from which all other colors can be made.
Red + Blue = Violet
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Yellow = Green
So, Violet, Orange and Green are secondary colors.
Tertiary colors are a primary color plus a secondary adjacent color, i.e. red plus orange makes red-orange, found on a 12 color wheel, . Mixing
two of the right (or wrong) colors can make brown, three can make black. We add black to shade and white to tint.
"Simultaneous Contrast" is the effect 2 colors placed next to each other have on one another which changes our sense of perception of a color.
When the colors are complementary, this effect is most intense.
(For example, if we place red next to blue, the red will seem more yellow/orange and the blue will seem more green). Land believed in the
importance of boundaries to enable the human eye to estimate lightness, which he believed was the most important stimulus of color.
(Therefore, he used collages of colors in his studies).
Color wheels help to define colors, because different people view colors in a very individual way. Color is described in terms of value or
luminance, intensity, chroma and saturation.
When we look at the color red, there are many different reds.
A red hue may be more or less yellow, for example.
The purity of a color is defined by its saturation.
Chroma uses a comparison to gray to determine its purity.
The value of color (a hue's luminance) is determined by the amount of light that is reflected from it.
If we add white or black to a hue, we make it less intense.
Red, Yellow and Blue are the primary colors from which all other colors can be made.
Red + Blue = Violet
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Yellow = Green
So, Violet, Orange and Green are secondary colors.
Tertiary colors are a primary color plus a secondary adjacent color, i.e. red plus orange makes red-orange, found on a 12 color wheel, . Mixing
two of the right (or wrong) colors can make brown, three can make black. We add black to shade and white to tint.
"Simultaneous Contrast" is the effect 2 colors placed next to each other have on one another which changes our sense of perception of a color.
When the colors are complementary, this effect is most intense.
(For example, if we place red next to blue, the red will seem more yellow/orange and the blue will seem more green). Land believed in the
importance of boundaries to enable the human eye to estimate lightness, which he believed was the most important stimulus of color.
(Therefore, he used collages of colors in his studies).
Color wheels help to define colors, because different people view colors in a very individual way. Color is described in terms of value or
luminance, intensity, chroma and saturation.
When we look at the color red, there are many different reds.
A red hue may be more or less yellow, for example.
The purity of a color is defined by its saturation.
Chroma uses a comparison to gray to determine its purity.
The value of color (a hue's luminance) is determined by the amount of light that is reflected from it.
If we add white or black to a hue, we make it less intense.
You can use a glass prism to separate out the wavelengths of visible light which together are viewed as white light.
The prism bends the different wavelengths at different angles, because they travel at different speeds through the
prism.
The next time you look at an apple, think about what its color actually looks like to you, how many different colors it is
when you really look at it, and that it might look very different to someone else.
And when you view a painting, think about the artist's use of color and placement. Really look at it and know that your
own interpretation and perception will likely be a very different and unique experience, your own very individual view.
The prism bends the different wavelengths at different angles, because they travel at different speeds through the
prism.
The next time you look at an apple, think about what its color actually looks like to you, how many different colors it is
when you really look at it, and that it might look very different to someone else.
And when you view a painting, think about the artist's use of color and placement. Really look at it and know that your
own interpretation and perception will likely be a very different and unique experience, your own very individual view.
| "Beach Glass" 6 The Glass pieces 1, 6 & 7 are the same. Their color changes depending on their placement. Did Avery trick your eyes? |
Led by Matisse and Picasso, Fauvism was a
movement away from impressionism toward the use
of bright colors. The Fauves used color to express
emotion. Matisse spent many years teaching the use
of color. Later, Picasso and others moved toward
cubism.
Avery's style has been compared to Fauvism. "I like to
paint what I feel, not what I see," explains Avery.
movement away from impressionism toward the use
of bright colors. The Fauves used color to express
emotion. Matisse spent many years teaching the use
of color. Later, Picasso and others moved toward
cubism.
Avery's style has been compared to Fauvism. "I like to
paint what I feel, not what I see," explains Avery.
| "Lily Pond" 6 Can you find the rabbit (lower left corner), 2 frogs, lilies, fish, dragon fly, flowers? Do you think you would view it differently standing in front of it or at a distance? It is 30 x 30 inches in size. Avery uses some colors to make others "pop" or add dimension, others to blend or recede. She changes the value of color and moves light and dark within her paintings. This is an innate ability to choose and place color. |
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Reference:
"World of Wonder Exploring the Realms of History, Science, Nature & Technology", The Standard Times, New
Bedford, MA, Page A16, Tuesday, May 30, 2006. Copyright 2006, Triefeldt Studios Inc.
"World of Wonder Exploring the Realms of History, Science, Nature & Technology", The Standard Times, New
Bedford, MA, Page A16, Tuesday, May 30, 2006. Copyright 2006, Triefeldt Studios Inc.
Final Note:
An object's makeup, the physics of light and the action of light entering our eyes, lighting, surrounding colors (their boundaries, color
and lightness), our own physical makeup, the mechanics of the human visual system, our individual perception and understanding of
color and objects and how our brains process the information are all factors which affect how we as individuals see things in color.
An object's makeup, the physics of light and the action of light entering our eyes, lighting, surrounding colors (their boundaries, color
and lightness), our own physical makeup, the mechanics of the human visual system, our individual perception and understanding of
color and objects and how our brains process the information are all factors which affect how we as individuals see things in color.
To learn more about color use and perception, the following sites may be helpful: