Understanding Color

[PS Zant]

Since the search this forum button doesnt seem to work with all the other ones for me, I will just post my question for now. is this a know problem for using safari?

What are good exercises to practice use of color? I'm so lost when it comes to color. Example when I paint a red dress I will use for the shadows just a darker red till I hit black. I cant understand the why. Why should I go to purple for the shadows with the red dress? Is this something that comes with a lot of practice?

Hope you guys can help me so I can dive in and try to get the hang of color use.

thanks in advance

Paul

[Beeston]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112049
- Here is the thread you want.

[dpaint]

If you practice working from life you will begin to get a sense of what color does when it is in light or shadow. I recommend the book by Jim Gurney Color and Light (http://www.amazon.com/Color-Light-Guide-Realist-Painter/dp/0740797719) to help round out your knowledge while continuing to work from direct observation. The book is well written by one of the great illustrators of our time. Gurney doesn't just theorize about color he backs it up with hundreds of paintings and shows you what he means.

[PS Zant]

thanks dpaint I just ordered the book and will start painting objects from life.

[briggsy@ashtons]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=112049
- Here is the thread you want.

May as well add a personal invite! If you post some examples over there of things that have been giving you trouble I'll be happy to suggest some improvements/exercises.

[PS Zant]

wow thanks alot briggsy@ashtons. It's not that I have specific points I have problems with just color choice in general :) I will post some points at the thread.

[briggsy@ashtons]

No worries at all PS Zant, I'm always happy to take questions and suggest exercises on that thread. Just remember that theory and practice go hand in hand, so make a start on Dimensions of Colour (http://www.huevaluechroma.com/) if you haven't already. You may find it easier going if you read James Gurney's book first, as it's a very good first introduction to an informed approach to colour.