What Color is Red Anyway?

Practice seeing and recording nuance in color with still life.

 I'd like you to set up a still-life, and paint it from life. All of your still life items must be in the red color family (as in my photo examples, though your composition should not be as complicated). 

In the attached photos you can see that the bow looks different in color and temperature depending on what colors it is near. When on its own the bow appears warmer and more purely red, when sitting near other examples of the color red it appears cooler and nearer to purple. Both photos were taken within 3 minutes of each other under the same light. 

________

  • Utilize the timer for painting times and breaks as we have been doing.

  • Paint for a maximum of four consecutive hours.

  • Follow the method we have been using... though each object may be observed individually for its unique average dark and average light in steps 1-3. Step 4 will be bringing one small section of your entire composition up to "finish" before moving on. Don't get hung up on what "finished" means... it's whatever you decide.

You will need to use a more full palette, I recommend adding the following to the Zorn Palette.

  1. Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red

  2. Cadmium Yellow

  3. Ultramarine Blue

  4. And perhaps a Transparent Oxide Red or Burnt Sienna (only if you have it)