Monday, November 14, 2011

color and albers




"In order to use color effectively, it is necessary to realize that color deceives continually." Josef Albers.  To me, that's another way of saying- color doesn't define its "colorness" until it is next to something else. A ripe tangerine orange looks stunning next to a darker, grayer blue. The same tangerine sits much more quietly when placed next to a light value of blue. These four paintings are all painted from the exact same place and all use the exact same palette of 6 colors and white.  Each one has a different feeling and vibration.This effect can also be seen in lightly layered paint (or pastel.)

12 comments:

Ewen MacDonald watercolouristanbul said...

I love the simplicity of your paintings, they are magnificent...

Takeyce Walter said...

Beautiful, Loriann. I especially love the color combination of the bottom two. Warm and cool at the same time. love it!

Deborah Elmquist said...

You have a gift for explaining the essence of color and how its companion colors change its perceived color.

Katherine van Schoonhoven said...

Wow! You accomplish a lot with a limited palette. You are so right about the orange and how the nearby colors make it pop or sit quietly. If orange wanted a "wingman" ... I'd suggest the dark gray blue!

How goes the studio construction?

Brenda Boylan said...

Loriann, I always learn something new every time I drop by. These are so deliciously luminous! I might have to try this concept on my next piece. Thanks!

loriann signori said...

Thanks so much Ewen. I do try hard to keep out the "stuff" and make simplicity.It's sort of funny that simplicity takes more work!

Hi Takeyce,
Good to hear from you again.Thanks about the paintings..autumn is full of inspirational color...don't you think?

Hi Deborah,
You are so kind. Thank you.

Hi Kvan,I sure agree about the dark gray blue. That's why the autumn storm days can be soooo amazing/. Thanks!

Hi Brenda,Thanks! if you try it let me know what you think.

helen said...

Great colors!

loriann signori said...

Thanks Helen!

Donna T said...

I love how you make those colors glow, Loriann! These are beauties!

loriann signori said...

thank you Donna!

Jala Pfaff said...

Stunning works.

Soley said...

Your paintings are very unique, check out my blog at http://mysoley.blogspot.com