Hi Everyone!
We’re excited to launch Creative Clues, a new monthly feature of Art Starts at Louisville Visual Art. With each new Clue, we’ll provide some pointers to help you succeed and improve.
Creative Clues Showcase
CLUE: TOGETHER
Deadline for artwork submission is July 29, 2021 at midnight
How to: Color Theory 2.1
Color Harmony
Color Harmony means using color combinations that work well together. These color combinations may help an artist express an emotional feeling or to help tell a story or statement.
There are so many color combinations. How do you know which colors to choose? First consider the message of your artwork. Do you want to express a loud, strong statement? What about painting a calm, quiet landscape? How about creating a yummy, scrumptious still life?
Once you have decided, check out these color combinations and see what works for you.
Color Combinations
Achromatic – this color combination technically does not use color. By mixing special black paints (like Lamp Black or Ivory Black) with white paint or water, you will come up with a gray scale of colors. How would you use this color combination in a painting? You may choose to have your composition be the star of this artwork, and let the color combination be a supportive element of your artwork.
Monochromatic – this color combination uses only one hue plus black and white. For instance, red plus black and white. What would you do with this color combination, how would you make it work?
Analogous – on the color wheel, this color combination uses 3 to 5 colors adjacent to each other (beside each other). This is a very subtle and pleasing combination.
Complementary – on the color wheel, this color combination uses colors that are opposite each other. This combination leads to a lot of high contrast. It is usually best to use one of these colors as your key color (main color) in your artwork and use the opposite color as supportive color.
Warm and Cool – when planning your artwork consider the mood you want to convey. Warm colors on the red, orange and yellow side of the color wheel emote a fiery, hot and energetic feeling. Cool colors on the blue, purple and green side of the color wheel give off a sense of calm and peacefulness.
Colors and Feeling
Copy this list of colors. Now think about the color as you look the color word. Use a descriptive word to tell how that color makes you feel.
Pink -
Blue -
Gray -
Red -
Black -
Light Blue -
Lilac -
White -
Orange -
Purple -
Brown -
Green -
Yellow -
Zebra Here! Zebra Where?
Practice your color combinations. Print off the zebra pdf several times.
Download the Zebra
First try coloring the zebra with an Analogous color combination. Keep going and finish up the back ground in the same color combination. Where did that zebra go? Analogous color combinations are great for camouflage!
Next try coloring the zebra with a Complementary color combination. You are probably seeing a pretty vibrant zebra. The colors may even be popping off of the page. If you look at paintings by the POP Artist Andy Warhol, you will see he used complementary colors in many of his creations. The colors are a bit shocking!
Print off a few more zebras and try some of the other color combinations. How do these zebra artworks make you feel? What kind of story or artwork would you create for these zebras?
Check out these artworks and next time you are in a museum or a gallery, or even in the story looking at a package design – ask yourself, how do these colors make me feel? How are these colors influencing me?
Henry O Tanner, The Seine, 1902
Look at the color combination in this painting by Henry O Tanner. What is the color combination in this painting? What are some words that describe this painting?
Vincent Van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889
Here is a painting you may all know by Vincent Van Gogh. What is the color combination in this painting? What are some words that describe this painting?
What is your favorite color combination?
Remember to use your past How To pages to come up with creative solutions for your new clue:
January 2021 - Winter
February 2021 - Heart
March 2021 - Chair
April 2021 - Spring
May 2021 - Breeze
June 2021 - Light
Send in your TOGETHER artwork
Deadline for artwork submission is July 29, 2021 at midnight.
Content: family friendly (LVA will determine if artwork is appropriate to share online.)
Ages 5 to 105!
Photo Guidelines: here is a nifty link, if you want to learn to take great pictures of your artwork
Consent and Permission: By filling out the form below, you give LVA permission to display your artwork and information in the Creative Clue Showcase. *NOTE: if you are under 18 years old, please have a parent or guardian complete the form.
Address: email artwork to: artstartshere@louisvillevisualart.org
Social Media: you may share your artwork on Instagram: #artwithinreach, #ArtStartsAtLVA
LVA will notify you if your artwork is in the Creative Clues Showcase at the end of the month. artstartshere@louisvillevisualart.org
Remember to use your past How To pages to come up with creative solutions for your new clue:
January 2021 - Winter -Thumbnails
February 2021 -Heart - Research
March 2021 - Chair - Develop Your Artist Eye
April 2021 - Spring
May 2021 - Breeze
June 2021 - Light
July 2021 - Together
August - Trees
Send in your BREEZE artwork
Deadline for artwork submission is May 27, 2021 at midnight.
Content: family friendly (LVA will determine if artwork is appropriate to share online.)
Ages 5 to 105!
Photo Guidelines: here is a nifty link, if you want to learn to take great pictures of your artwork
Consent and Permission: By filling out the form below, you give LVA permission to display your artwork and information in the Creative Clue Showcase. *NOTE: if you are under 18 years old, please have a parent or guardian complete the form.
Address: email artwork to: artstartshere@louisvillevisualart.org
Social Media: you may share your artwork on Instagram: #artwithinreach, #ArtStartsAtLVA
LVA will notify you if your artwork is in the Creative Clues Showcase at the end of the month.