how to use Unnatural colours?

[Lee^-]

hi

i'm coming across various drawings which have some unusual colors in them which you dont see everday. By this I mean, something like a blue and/or purple tints in flesh tones and such. Mainly they look like a base color after which they put proper tones on top of.

Is there any way to learn (besides trying and experimenting) these color tricks? they make a painting look really better

or maybe some artists which use this technique? (dont know whats called)

thanks
L

[t2vanden]

I've been learning this in my painting class. Start small. Try drawing a sphere on a flat surface, and paint the sphere one color and the surface another. Then take the darkest underside and reflect the color back into the shape. This will give you a better idea of how this works. Through experimentation and careful blending, eventually you can find something that looks "right". Then step it up, and eventually you'll more successfully use this technique more expressively in more interesting paintings.

[arttorney]

I would read this thread before using up a lot of paint trying things in trial and error mode:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=64674
This is about color over color work. For color next to color work maybe you should read up on some of the theories of the impressionists.

[DavePalumbo]

posting examples would help get you more relevant/specific info, but basically you can get away with alot of color freedom if your values are still correct.

[Lamp]

The fact that you think that it's "unnatural" to find blues and purples serving as "flesh tone" tells me that you have a lot to learn about the nature of light and color. In fact it is perfectly "natural" for skin to appear bluish or purplish -- if it is under blue or purple light, or if it is in shadow, for instance. There's no need to worry about what color flesh is, because flesh appears as a different color under every lighting condition. As Dave said, so long as the values are right your image will seem correct.

[aefx]

*Edit: just realised I said what Dave already talked about.

[TASmith]

1. every color is natural. It all exists naturally, it's just a question of finding it. Go out and observe colors around you.

2. Colors change as light changes.

3. Skin is highly reflective, so it can take on many, many colors.

4. There are three paths to wisdom: reflection is noblest, mimicry is easiest, and experience is the most bitter. Make your life easier. Do some studies of those works you saw. You can take it further by asking yourself, what kind of light source was there in that image? And then, try to set up a self portrait under similar lighting.

[Qitsune]

Makes me think of this post of James Gurney about toning a palette.
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/2008/05/toning-palette.html

[Ilaekae]

There is no such thing as an unnatural color, with the possible exception of those found in some children's cereals...

[nicehighs]

Ilaekae is right, also, If the values are spot on you can use virtually any color you want. I keep it that simple.

[Lamp]

It might also be worth noting the obvious: if the flesh tone is blue, the lighting and environment (if there is one) better reflect that as well.

[Anid Maro]

For the technical terminology:

Local Color = The "natural" color of the object, for example yellow in a lemon. This is the color you'd see when viewing the object with uncolored light.

Reflected Color = Color not originating from the object, for example blue light reflecting off of someone's skin. This is what you're referring to as "unnatural" color.

As Lamp said, if you get really outlandish with the reflected color then there better be a strong source for that sort of light. Also keep in mind that some surfaces are more reflective than others.

Finally here's the obligatory David Briggs link (http://www.huevaluechroma.com/index.php) along with the section specifically about colored illumination (http://www.huevaluechroma.com/104.php).

P.S. Before my definition of "reflected color" gets nitpicked, I know that most objects do not eminate their own light and are actually reflecting the wavelengths not absorbed. Nonetheless it seemed like a sufficient "layman's" definition. :)

[Lee^-]

anid maro - couldnt have put it better
thats what i meant by unnatural :)
i'm checking all the links you guy provided
many thanks to all of you!

[Slothboy3000]

Have you got any pics for reference anwyay? I'm curious to see them. :)