Monotone harmony (in florist literature it is also called monochrome) is based on a combination of colors of the same color tone, with differences in lightness and saturation.

The overall color tone gives this color composition a calm, balanced character. This type of harmony is very widely used in painting, arts and crafts, fashion design. But in the interior it is undesirable to use it, since the monopoly of one color in space, and even in large quantities, calls into human body discomfort, up to the manifestation of psychophysical disorders.

On our color wheel, this is a combination of colors from 5 levels of color tone.

The number of steps, of course, can be large. The achromatic equidistant color range (from white to black) is also harmonious.

Solid harmony in hair color design:

Harmony of related colors (nuances).

The harmony of related colors is based on the presence of an admixture of the same main color in them.

The main colors are:red, blue, yellow and green. This is a relatively restrained color scheme. For example, on our color wheel, these are red and red-orange, yellow and yellow-red, but not red and yellow. That is, related colors are colors taken from the intervals from a given color to the next main one.

In the color wheel, or rather, in the system of color wheels, there are 4 groups of related colors: yellow-red, blue-red, yellow-green, blue-green.

Consider how you can harmonize three related colors - pure red, red-orange and orange. The combination of these colors, taken from circle III, does not give a subtle color combination. To achieve harmony in a given color combination (and this is the balance of shades), it is necessary to balance the colors by changing their saturation or lightness. Therefore, it is better to take red from circle III, red-orange from II, orange from circle I (or II). You can also add to the two colors not a highlighted, but a darkened color, that is, take them from circles 4 and 5.

Thus, equally saturated color tones of the same lightness cannot form thin color combinations. But if you add a darkened or brightened color to one or two colors out of three, then the colors begin to blend harmoniously, focusing on the third, most saturated color.

polar harmony.

Polar harmony is built on the opposition of two main colors, which can be both complementary and contrasting.

For example, red and green, blue and yellow, yellow and purple. In polar harmony, not only two colors can be combined, but more. For example, pink, light green and dark green. The main thing is that these colors are varieties of the two main polar colors.

Many researchers consider this harmony the most comfortable for the eyes. A special combination of contrasting colors, since the phenomenon of consistent contrast is the law of our body's desire for balance and self-defense.

Physiologist E. Goering proved that the eye and the brain need a medium gray, otherwise, in its absence, they lose their calm. A mixture of complementary or contrasting colors gives a neutral gray color. A mixture of pure spectral colors produces white. On our color wheels, all diametrically located colors give a gray color in the mixture, that is, they form harmony. All color combinations that do not add up to gray, for example, red and blue, yellow and red, are expressive.

The combination of polar colors is characterized by the greatest activity, dynamism and tension. If you combine polar colors of the same lightness, then such a combination will ripple in your eyes.

You can bring them into a harmonious combination in several ways:

1. One of the colors should be smaller in area.
2. Add white or black to one of the colors;
3. Take all colors bleached or darkened;
4. Add a contrast to one of the colors. For example, if in pure contrast. For example, if you add a little green to pure red, it will turn gray-red and harmonize well with green;

Let's consider the 1st point in more detail. Since proportionality is the main condition for balance (remember that Proportion is the daughter of Harmony!), Itten, based on Goethe's conclusions, proposed in his book The Art of Color the following proportional approximate ratios of spots of contrasting colors:
Yellow: purple = ¼: ¾
Orange: Blue = 1/3: 2/3
Red: Green = ½: ½

The quantitative ratios presented are valid only when colors are used in their maximum saturation. As can be seen from the proportions, warm colors with a high lightness should be smaller in area than cold colors, since the strength of their impact is much more active than cold ones. Compliance with this rule will help create a polar color harmony that is comfortable for our eyes.

Harmony built on the principle of constructive construction (colors are located at the ends of geometric shapes inscribed in the color wheel: triangles, rectangles, pentagons, etc.)

Summarizing all that has been said, we can formulate the basic principles for constructing color harmonies:

The principle of the sameness of colors (monotone harmonies);
The principle of subordination of colors (related harmonies);
The principle of complementarity (polar harmonies of complementary colors);
The principle of opposition (polar harmonies of contrasting colors);
The principle of constructive construction (colors are located at the ends of geometric shapes inscribed in a circle: triangles, pentagons, etc.).

Let's take a closer look at the last principle. Many artists, designers adhere to the "good old" rule - do not combine more than 2-3 colors in a composition. Then very harmonious combinations are obtained. The strongest harmonic consonance is created on the basis of equilateral triangles. If three colors are taken at the ends inscribed in the color circle of isosceles triangles, then they will also constitute a harmonious unity.

And if you still need to combine more than three colors, then in order not to get a cacophony of colors, you can follow several methods:

* Combine colors according to the principle of constructive construction;
* Add one color to all colors;

Make one color dominant in the composition. This color will prevail in its total area in the color composition, and in its distribution on the plane it will become “comprehensive”, that is, it will, as it were, surround all colors from all sides;

A color composition is created from equally small color spots. This method was used by French impressionist artists of the 19th century - pointillists (J. Seurat and P. Signac), who created their harmonious picturesque paintings with small strokes and dots.

Harmony of complementary colors on the color wheel

Split Complimentary Scheme

Tertiary color harmony scheme

Each of us has “comfortable” colors in clothes and personal items, everyone noticed that it is pleasant for him to be in one room, and uncomfortable and depressing in another. Scientists have long proven the effect of color on the heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial pressure and muscle tension.

According to emotional associations, the impact of color is divided into positive, negative and neutral. Exciting colors include red, orange and yellow. To oppressive - purple, dark gray and black. To soothing - green and blue. No less important are the physical associations of colors: weight (light, heavy), spatial (protruding, deep), acoustic (quiet, loud) and texture (soft, hard, smooth).

IMPACT OF COLOR: There is no comrade for the taste and color
This proverb, like nothing, reflects the reality of the impact of color. It has been found that different psychotypes prefer certain ranges of colors, as shown in the figure below.

For example, we can recall the colors of the youth movement "emo", based on experiences, emotions and suffering in creativity, music and style. Their main colors are depressing black combined with pink, giving a melancholic state.

It has also been found that the same colors can be associated differently by people. The cleaner and brighter color, the stronger and more stable the reaction. Complex, low-saturated, medium-light colors cause different (unstable) and relatively weak reactions. The most unambiguous are temperature, weight, and acoustic associations.


Yellow and green colors cause the greatest variety of associations, and hence the different effects of color. This happens because in this spectrum the eye distinguishes the largest number shades. These colors are the richest in nature. Each of the shades of yellow or green is associated in consciousness with a certain object, phenomenon, taste, hence the richness of associations. Also, ambiguity causes purple, due to its duality.

IMPACT OF COLOR: Harmony of color
It's no secret that some color combinations seem harmonious to us, while others, on the contrary, are ridiculous. To create a harmony of colors in the interior is the key to the success of a harmonious life in the house.

The figure on the left shows simple patterns of color combinations in the form of four harmonious colors. To build harmonies to other colors, you need to rotate these figures with a vertex in the desired color.

The principle of color harmony is built on diametrically distant pairs and triads, so you can find not only four harmonious colors, but also less and more using halftones. For example, if you ignore purple, then a classical triad is formed in the upper figure, and a contrasting one in the middle one.

Do not apply colors in equal amounts. Harmony of colors is achieved through the main color (the background is usually less saturated) and accents. Contrast, brightness and saturation do not affect the rule of color harmony, the principle remains the same.

COLOR HARMONIES.

In nature, there are a large number of colors and their shades.
The human eye is able to distinguish up to 360 shades. A common person distinguishes fewer shades. It depends on the visual acuity, the age of the person, the illumination of the space, the mood of the person and the state of his health.

Colors are divided into two large groups: chromatic and achromatic. Chromatic - "colored". Achromatic - white, gray, black.
The chromatic colors that make up white daylight are distributed in a certain order, depending on the wavelength.

Primary colors: yellow, red, blue. Composite colors: orange, purple, green.
Composite colors are obtained by mixing two primary colors:
■ Orange = red + yellow.
■ Purple = red + blue.
■ Green = yellow + blue.
All other colors consist of mixing these colors in different proportions. Plus the difference in saturation and lightness.

Colors are conventionally divided into warm and cold.
Warm colors are colors that contain yellow and red. Cool colors - colors ranging from purple to green color wheel.
Warm colors are more dynamic, prominent and voluminous than cool colors. Cool colors seem to recede as the tone increases.

Color has three characteristics: hue, lightness and saturation.

Hue - the presence of a primary color in a complex color, which determines its place in the color wheel.
The color tone is determined by the name of the color: scarlet, crimson.

Saturation is the difference between a chromatic color and a gray color equal to it in lightness.

Contrasts in clothing are of great importance. Ornamental and rhythmic compositions are built on the contrast.
Colors that are on opposite diameters of the color wheel make up a great contrast: red-green, orange-blue.
Low contrast - colors that are at an angle of 90 degrees to each other.

Harmony is the basis of beauty. Color harmony = color balance.

10. Harmonies of combinations of chromatic colors of different hue, saturation and lightness (pure, whitened or blackened), with different achromatic ones.

11. Harmonies of mixtures and combinations of saturated chromatic color with achromatic colors of different lightness.

Hi all! In this article we will try to highlight the topic of color matching as much as possible. As a theory, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the translation of an article from the Adobe blog about color harmonies, the author Tony Harmer. And for practicing in practice, we have a video lesson: how to choose colors in adobe illustrator. The lesson will focus on the Color Guide panel, you will find the video at the end of this post.

Color harmonies

Color harmonies are combinations or combinations of colors that are pleasing to the eye. We use color harmonies all the time: when we choose clothes, when we decorate our homes or workplaces, and when we, as designers, want to convey some meaning or mood.

Color circle

The color wheel is a tool that allows the designer to select matching colors and create palettes. Johann von Goethe called it The Theory of Colors, but there is no real theory here. During the existence of the color wheel, many theories and ideas about color have been developed. But it is the color wheel that is quite convenient to use in practice when color matching. That is why it will be the starting point for our work.

Twenty-three color harmonies are built into Adobe Illustrator, all of which are available in the Color Guide (Shift+F3) and tool Recolor Artwork (Edit > Edit Colors > Recolor Artwork). Therefore, in this post we will look at them.

Features of the color wheel in Adobe Illustrator

Technically, the color wheel in Adobe Illustrator looks more like the LAB wheel, but visually it is closer to the RYB model, which has more in common with the traditional art model.

On the RGB color wheel, red is at zero degrees. At the same time, Cyan is on the opposite side, that is, 180 degrees. This is what the color wheel looks like in Adobe Illustrator.

At the same time, it can be seen with the naked eye that on this color wheel, the opposite of red is green, and blue is a little off to the side. But if you take the red color and rotate it 180 degrees using the sliders in the Recolor Artwork dialog box, you get Cyan! This is just a feature of the work of Adobe Illustrator, unlike, for example, the same Photoshop.

Color combinations, color harmonies

Here we will show you all the color harmonies using the example of color combinations, where red will act as the base.

Complementary colors

Complementary colors - everything is quite simple here, they are located opposite each other on the color wheel.

Adobe Illustrator has 4 variations for complementary harmony. They are no longer so strict in comparison with the classic complementary colors, that is, slight deviations from the opposite arrangement of colors are allowed.

Analogous colors (Analogous)

Analog Harmony generates four complementary colors with hues spaced 15 and 30 degrees clockwise and counterclockwise from the original color. The brightness and saturation of colors changes. There is a variation of analog harmony with 5 colors.

Monochromatic colors (Monochromatic)

This harmony generates variations in saturation and brightness. There are three of them: Monochromatic, Monochromatic 2 and Shades.

Triadic Colors

In triadic harmony, colors are arranged in 120-degree increments on the color wheel. As in the previous cases, there are variations with additional colors and changes in hue and saturation.

Square and Rectangular Pattern (Tetrads)

Tetrads are most commonly referred to as square or rectangular color combinations. You can also see a rhombus in the position of the flowers on the circle. The original Tetrad generates three complementary colors in 90 degree increments. But there are, of course, variations.

Compound colors (Compounds, secondary)

Compound colors are those that can be obtained by mixing the primary (red, yellow and blue). Harmony Compounds works in a similar way, producing compound colors that blend with the base color.

Contrasting colors (High Contrast)

High Contrast are essentially triadic harmonies that include the rules of some other color combinations.

Pentagram

And we will finish with the harmony of Pentagram. These are five colors in 72-degree increments on the color wheel. The saturation and brightness of the colors also change.

On this we can finish our journey into the world of harmonious colors. But we don't want you to be limited by these rules. People make rules, and they tend to make mistakes. That is why rules can and should be broken. Adobe Illustrator harmonies can be your starting point, and then amazing discoveries and creative experiments await. Any harmony can be edited through Recolor Artwork. So good luck with your color combinations and fruitful creativity!

How to Match Colors in Adobe Illustrator

In this video tutorial, you can take a closer look at the Color Guide panel (color guide). We will look at how to use the Color Guide panel to select color combinations based on harmonies. Also you will find a review of professional monitor for designers BenQ PD2700Q.

Another color matching video. This time we are considering such a tool as Recolor Artwork. Thanks to Recolor Artwork, you can choose colors in Adobe Illustrator right on the color wheel, recolor an illustration, adjust brightness and saturation. In addition, a review of the BenQ PD2700U professional 4K monitor.

And one more video for a snack. Useful scripts for working with color in Adobe Illustrator.

Want more practice?

Lecture 5. Types of color harmonies. Color color

Target:

theoretical acquaintance with the variety of color harmonies and features of color color for the subsequent implementation of practical work

4.1. Color harmony. Types of color harmony

The problem of color harmony belongs to the most difficult problems aesthetics, because a person's attitude to color is formed under the influence of many different factors. There is also scientific theory color harmony. The term "harmony" as an aesthetic category originated in Ancient Greece. This category is associated with such concepts as connectedness, the unity of opposites, measure and proportionality, scale with a person.

The harmony of colors implies a combination of common and different, taken in certain respects. For a large number time, due to the change in trends, styles, the influence of individuals in art, the system of aesthetic categories is being radically rethought, this comprehension is taking place at the present time. The concept of color harmony is also undergoing qualitative changes.

For artists, designers, whose professional activity is directly related to color, with the need to think through harmonious color combinations, knowledge of the basic principles of creating color harmonies helps to solve the issues of designing a color environment, coloring any thing intended for a person, his color preferences.

Color harmony in design is the consistency of colors among themselves as a result of the found proportionality of the areas of colors, their balance and consonance, based on finding a unique shade of each color. It should evoke certain positive feelings and sensations in a person.

There is a close relationship between the individual color spots of the work: each individual color balances or reveals the other, and two colors taken together affect the third. A change in any one color leads to a violation of this connection and the destruction of harmony. . Regularity is the main sign of harmony. It is assumed that due to harmony, we perceive an ordered combination of colors as an aesthetically positive wholeness. All attempts to formulate the laws of color harmony based on the alternation of balance, similarity, position in the color wheel, etc. follow from this premise. But, nevertheless, it happens that color combinations built according to all the rules are evaluated by the viewer as inharmonious. The combination of colors in itself, considered separately, can be both harmonious and inharmonious, but this may not be noticed in the general structure of a work of art.

The theory of color harmony, in the final analysis, cannot be reduced only to the solution of the question of which color is in harmony with which. General principles color harmony cannot be defined without regard to content, composition, space, form and texture.

Color harmony - a combination of colors that is pleasing to the eye, suggesting a certain consistency between them; proportionality and proportionality.

F. Hodler writes about color: “The effectiveness and significance of colors depend on their intensity, the place they occupy on the canvas, and on their position among others that strengthen or weaken them, depending on their greater or lesser proximity to white and black. The color of objects depends on the color of the lighting. It is known that it is color that often quarrels the artist with the public. For a long time she could not understand that a pink face in the air with a blue sky could turn purple; if it is illuminated by the rays of the setting sun, then even orange and bright red. Due to lack of observation, mainly due to lack of experience, these nuances of the artist are incomprehensible to the eye, they seem terrible exaggerations. The beauty of colors lies, first of all, in their chords, in the repetition of nuances of the same color.

The first theories of harmonic color combinations.

1. The theory of Rudolf Adams. In 1865, R. Adams invented a chromatic spectrum, consisting of a circle with 24 sectors, and its 6 degrees of lightness.

2. The theory of Albert Munsell. Munsell saw the basic law of harmonization in the related proximity of colors: “A simple and practically unmistakable series of color harmonies can be obtained within the same color tone. So, we can associate the low lightness of any color tone with increased lightness, or weak saturation with stronger saturation. He identified 3 types of harmonic combinations: monochromatic harmonies based on the same color tone of different lightness; harmonies of related colors of the color wheel (red and orange); harmonies of complementary colors (yellow and purple, orange and blue).

3. Classification of color harmonies by the German physiologist Brücke:

a) isochromia- a composition made in one color spot, tone (for example, on the basis of red);

b) homeochromia– composition within a small color interval (for example, yellow, orange and yellow-orange);

in) merochromia- a composition where colors are subordinate to one main one (for example, orange, purple and violet are subordinate to red);

G) poikilochromia- a method of complete crushing of color masses, a large variety of colors, where there is no main one and all colors are equally significant. Experience is needed to use such harmony.

4. Bezold's theory. Bezold built theories of color harmonies within the intervals of the color wheel. In a 12-step color wheel, colors are four tones apart, i.e. between them there should be an interval of 3 tones.

5. Theory of B. F. Ostwald. Ostwald believed that all colors containing an equal admixture of white and black are harmonious. And of the saturated ones, those that are spaced from each other at an equal number of intervals are harmonious.

6. Classification of color harmonies according to B. M. Teplov:

a) monophonic, built on one main color or a group of closely related colors (yellow, orange-yellow, orange, - in them in different quantities yellow is present)

b) polar, built on complementary colors (red with green, orange with blue);

c) tricolor, built on the opposition of three primary colors (yellow, red, blue);

d) multicolor, in which, with a wide variety of colors, it is impossible to single out the main one (difficult to use).

7. Theory of V. M. Shugaev based on the research of Munsell and Bezold. It is based on the color wheel, which is based on 4 primary colors 3 - yellow, red, blue, green. The author offers 4 types of color combinations:

a) a combination of related colors (yellow, orange-yellow, orange);

b) a combination of related-contrasting colors (from yellow to purple in the spectrum);

c) a combination of contrasting (mutually complementary) colors (blue - orange, red - green);

a combination of colors that are neutral in relation to kinship and contrast: yellow, blue, red (meaning pure colors without whites and blackouts).

Types of color harmony. The three main characteristics of color - hue, lightness and saturation - can act among themselves in various relationships, forming various harmonious combinations:

1) similarity in color tone, but difference in lightness and saturation (what Mansell wrote about);

2) similarity in lightness, but difference in hue and saturation;

3) similarity in saturation, but difference in hue and lightness;

4) similarity in hue and lightness, but difference in saturation;

5) similarity in lightness and saturation, but difference in color tone;

6) a combination in which colors differ in all three parameters (this is the most difficult case).

From the enumeration of these combinations, often used in design practice, it is clear how arbitrary the standards from the field of color harmony are, taking into account only the color tone.

When talking about color harmony, they evaluate the impressions of the interaction of two or more colors. Despite the apparent subjectivity of such an assessment, the harmony of colors has its own objective patterns.

On the basis of experiments, it was found that the main colors of subtractive mixing: yellow, red and blue represent a common color summation. Moreover, each of these colors cannot be obtained by mixing other colors. Therefore, the color wheel is built precisely on these colors (the main triad) (Fig. 8).

By mixing the primary colors, a secondary triad is obtained (Fig. 9). The circle (Fig. 10) is an image obtained by overlaying the image of the main and secondary triad. If you pad the spaces intermediate colors, we get a 12-step color wheel (Fig. 7) which, in turn, can be increased to a 24-part (Fig. 11).

1. "Monochromatic" or single tone color harmony built on the basis of one color tone; created by combining one color tone with its dark and light shades. As a result, it is possible to achieve, on the one hand, a strong tonal contrast, and on the other, subtle color relationships (Fig. 12).

2. "Opposite" (additional) color harmony, built on the basis of two color tones; created by using any two color tones that are exactly opposite each other on the color wheel (Fig. 13). This technique is usually used to create accents, because. Opposite colors are very contrasting with respect to each other. This allows one color to complement another in such a way that one of them attracts attention and the other is the background.

In the case of introducing into various harmonious color combinations achromatic colors, the contrast obtained by combining them is enhanced. Especially - with the introduction of white or black. combination of red and white flowers, for example, is so intense that it's not surprising how often these colors are used without the use of pastel colors to tie them to formal occasions. To be absolutely precise, a harmonious tricolor combination looks like this because of the contrasting red and green colors with achromatic black or white.

The combination of a "double" color (for example, red-orange) and an achromatic is a harmonious three-color combination, where black or White color will play the role of the illumination factor. At the same time, black or dark gray color makes the colors glow, and white color seems to illuminate the composition. This combination is quite common. The play of colors becomes richer, and, consciously executed, the color composition is more pronounced. Of course, it is not so easy to practical application, since when creating a harmonious combination, it is necessary to find suitable color nuances.

Tricolor harmony - "triad" created by using three colors that lie at equal distances from each other in a circle. She also demonstrates distinct and strong color combinations, being, however, the most difficult in terms of correct creation.

3. "Similar" color harmony built on the basis of three colors - achieved through the use of any three colors that are nearby (in one of the four sectors of the circle). Due to the proximity of the location, these colors are easily combined. This harmony has depth, it is distinguished by a rich originality, an elegant look (Fig. 14).

Creation of color harmonies with the help of models of geometric shapes. « Harmony of an isosceles triangle» is achieved by using any color and colors adjacent to its complementary color (the top is one of the primary colors, and the base connects the adjacent colors to its complementary color) (Fig. 15). The combination of such colors looks softer than the combination of just two complementary colors.

"Harmony of a Right Triangle" is achieved by using any color located at the top of a right-angled triangle and the colors located in the corners at its base (Fig. 16). The combination of these colors is quite expressive, and at the same time - well balanced.

A quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle, the sides of which are parallel to the diameters of the circle. It can be a square or a rectangle. The sides of the rectangles in this case are connected by two related-contrasting colors, and complementary colors are placed diagonally.

In the process of searching for color harmonies, you need to remember:

bright colors go well with muted colors;

warm colors with cold;

dark colors with light colors;

the introduction of achromatic colors enhances contrast (warm colors are best combined with in black, cold - with white or gray);

highlighting the main (dominant) color contributes to accentuating, strengthening the overall ideological content of the composition, its streamlining;

the use of variable shades of pure colors helps to remove sharpness and find softer color combinations.

Based on the generalization of data from various studies, the following types of color harmonies can be named:

1. monochromatic or single color, sustained in the same color tone with a difference in lightness and saturation: used for strong tone contrast, for subtle color relationships.

2. bicolor(opposite or additional) contrast (contrast of two primary colors or two groups of colors): used to create accents, to complement one color with another;

3. tricolor(triad): used to create depth and elegance and for distinct color combinations;

4. four-color;

5. six-color;

6. gamut limited by the limits of a small interval in the color wheel;

7. gamut, the colors in which are subordinate to one primary color;

8. achromatic harmony

9. combination of achromatic and chromatic scale

In order to quantitatively and qualitatively balance the colors that harmonize with each other and create an artistic image using the selected color combinations, it is necessary to develop a coloristic flair and intuition.

What is color unity, the relationship of colors, harmony and the influence of the color environment on objects? Before answering this, I would like to ask the reader the following question: what do you think, which of the painting options above is correct? I specifically wrote one of the sketches with an error so that it would serve as an illustration of how not to do it. There is no relationship between green and light brown in this image. They are written separately from each other and look different. Two versions of a still life with a ceramic mug show well why the relationship of colors is important. Well, now let's look at everything in order.

Color unity and the relationship of colors in painting

To better understand what color unity is in painting, imagine a still life illuminated by a red lamp. All the multi-colored objects of this still life, say, green, yellow, blue, will acquire a red tint. In real life, this happens when the orange light of sunset turns the green of the forest orange. Or the cold light of the blue sky in the window illuminates the interior of the room. That is, light affects the individual colors of individual objects. He brings them together. It's like looking through colored glass. Of course, in life this does not manifest itself as powerfully as in this example, but the principle is just that. Moreover, in addition to the unifying color, the following pattern will also appear: if the light has a warm tint, then the shadows will be colder than the light; if the light is cold, then the shadows will tend to warm shades. Such a color contrast of light and shadow brings a play of warm and cold colors into the painting. The dynamics of warm and cold enliven the painting. But at the same time, one must not forget about the unifying color of the lighting.

In addition to the light source, the color of individual objects will also be affected by reflected light. If we return to our still life with a ceramic mug, then brown will be reflected in the green drapery, and green will be reflected in the brown mug. Such a reflection of neighboring colors is called a reflex in painting.

The above examples show how the color of individual objects is affected. Therefore, in whatever colors objects are painted, in painting all colors must be subordinate to each other. Such subordination and consistency gives rise to color unity. Without it, the painting will be fragmented. She will lose harmony and become "decorated".

Moreover, even if in the depicted plot the objects are illuminated with “pure” white light, and the reflexes are almost imperceptible, then the relationship of colors still needs to be “invented”. That is, the artist needs to “fantasize” and bring reflections into painting from himself, relying on the above principle, and not only on nature. After all, the subordination of colors is dictated not only by nature or physics. This is a prerequisite for creating a harmonious and integral painting.

Color unity is very important, without it it is impossible to achieve color integrity. This is similar to how the parts of a complex mechanism must fit together. It cannot be assembled from randomly found parts. Such a mechanism will not work. All individual nodes and elements must function smoothly as a whole. Also, colors in painting should be subordinated.

But color unity does not mean that you always need to mix some color into all other colors. This does not mean that we should always write as if we were looking into stained glass. In painting, you can also meet a sharp, pure color, without mixing. However, it must be balanced by appropriate colors in other parts of the composition. Then it will look harmonious, and the painting will become both uniform in color and contrasting. In addition, sometimes in the work it is necessary to introduce an accent with the help of pure and saturated colors, without balancing. And it happens that somewhere the artist introduces reflexes, and somewhere leaves the color pure. In general, everything is not so simple. However, with all this, the relationship between the local color and the environment must be preserved.

This can also be compared with the figurative "immersion" of an object in a color environment. That is, the colors surrounding an object will affect its color, which is called the local color. Therefore, it is impossible to write objects separately from the environment or color environment. This is due not only to reflexes and reflection of light. This is also due to the need to harmoniously combine colors. Therefore, the artist should not work like a camera, he should not simply copy nature. The artist slightly transforms the image, takes into account the above principles, and is also based on a sense of color. But what does it mean to harmoniously combine colors? To answer this question, let's look at key color harmonies.

Color harmonies in painting

In addition to color unity based on reflections and uniform lighting, which I described above, it is worth mentioning the subordination of colors based on color harmonies. That is, on such combinations of colors that give rise to consonance and color consistency. But what are they? Let's take a closer look at the following types of color harmonies:

• harmony of related colors;
• harmony of contrasting colors;
• harmony of related-contrasting colors;
• harmony based on color repetition.

Harmony related colors

Related colors are colors that have one color in common. For example, orange and yellow are related because orange contains yellow. Green and blue-green, red and purple are all related colors. They look alike, that's why they're called that. If colors from the related category are nearby, then they will always be in harmony with each other. These combinations can be called "win-win". However, such color relationships are most often “calm”, “soft”. Therefore, it may be necessary to add “a little pepper to this dish”, that is, contrasting colors. But this is another kind of harmony.

Harmony of contrasting colors

Contrasting colors are the following three pairs: red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow. These colors reinforce each other. They contrast and create harmony. Harmony based on contrasting colors. Therefore, in some cases, they can be used in pure form and in doing so they will form consonance and unity. They will be subordinated as complementary colors and blend well. However, caution must be exercised here. Success depends, so to speak, on the context. The quantitative ratio of colors plays an important role. That is, how much area is occupied by one color and how much by another. The environment also matters a lot. After all, painting rarely consists of two colors.

Harmony of related-contrasting colors

As the name implies, this harmony contains both related colors and contrasting ones. Therefore, this combination is probably the most difficult, but also the most interesting. Matching one contrasting color to another contrasting color is not a problem, as well as related to related. But, combining both groups is not so easy. Let's look at an example to help you understand this. Let's take yellow and purple as the central contrast pair. And let's introduce blue around. To make the impossible and bring blue and yellow together, we mix them. As a result, they will not become related, but a new color is formed - blue-green. And he will just become related to both of them and act as an intermediate link. As for blue and violet, they are initially related. As a result, we will get the following colors: yellow, purple, blue, blue-green, yellow-green.

Harmony based on color repetition

Very often, color unity is based on a simple repetition of color. When women choose an outfit for themselves, they are often guided by just such a repetition: a red handbag or a red scarf is selected for a red hat ... In painting, such a repetition of color also gives rise to harmony and coloristic integrity. This is especially true when the color of the picture consists of completely different, “foreign” colors. This technique is realized in painting in two ways. Consider them on the example of a still life with an orange.

The first way: the repetition of color in its purest form in different parts of the composition

Orange orange stands out too much against the blue drapery. To form the relationship of these opposite colors, we introduce orange into blue. For example, in the form of an ornament on this blue drapery. The ornament is simple - it's just stripes of yellow and orange. They seem to “invade” or “weave” into a large mass of blue and dilute it with warm colors. This repetition of orange in a blue environment creates their relationship and harmony.

You can also write in a manner similar to impressionism. That is, we introduce orange into blue in the form of strokes of paint, like a mosaic. The Impressionists loved to compose the desired shade from pure colors. They placed strokes of paint of different colors side by side, as a result of which they combined and mixed in the eyes of the viewer. This is called optical color mixing. Similar way will also help to combine our orange with blue.

But what if we don't write like the Impressionists? If the plot does not imply any ornaments in drapery? If we need a solid uniform background? In this case, you can use the addition of orange to blue by literally mixing them mechanically.

The second way: adding color to neighboring areas by mixing it with other colors

The easiest way to achieve unity in objects painted in opposite colors is to add one color to another so that they mix and form a “something in between”. The main thing is to avoid dirt in such mixtures. In our case, I mix a drop of yellow and orange into blue. We get blue with a warm tint. That is, the blue color will not be in its pure form, but in mixtures with warm colors. We do the same with orange orange. By adding a little bit of blue or cyan to orange, we get orange with a cold tint. Thus, orange and blue “merge” into each other, which creates color unity and coloristic integrity. And this does not mean that all blue fabric should be with a warm tint. You can leave its fragment in a pure blue-blue color. This will create an appropriate contrast between the drapery and the orange. But in some fragments of this fabric we will add yellow and orange, and then the blue in these places will become warmer. Then these areas will become "support" for the orange.

In the illustration, I posted a study with the introduction of yellow into blue and blue into orange, as well as a study without such mixing, where the background and orange are written in pure colors. As you can see, the difference is not big. But she is. In the first version, the yellow-blue mixture of colors is barely perceptible. However, this is enough to link the background color and the orange color.

In the second version, as I said, the orange with the background are written in pure yellow-orange and pure blue. However, the painting did not collapse, but remained intact. Why? As you may have noticed from the previous paragraphs, this pair of colors forms a contrasting harmony. That is, these colors, although contrasting, are harmonious at the same time. Therefore, the second etude does not look ornamented and fractional. And this means that such an option is also acceptable. However, it borders on embellishment, and if other combinations and a different composition were chosen here, then there could be no question of any harmony.

Color or color scheme

Speaking about the relationship of colors in painting, one cannot but say about color. There are two opinions about the meaning of this word. In the first case, coloring means a system of color combinations in painting, built on consonance. In the second case, color is understood as the overall color of the picture, or the totality of the prevailing colors. Therefore, one can often hear how some work is said to be done in warm colors, or, conversely, in cold colors. There is also a warm-cold color, etc.

Once I came across the formulation that color is an orchestra of colors. I like this definition the most. It emphasizes the importance of color consonance, color unity and subordination of colors. By the way, one of the meanings of the word “harmony” is unity in diversity. Thus, we see that colors in painting should not "live" separately from each other, but should create a single whole.

In view of the importance of this topic, let's sum up and repeat the key points that will help novice artists work on the color of their works. We have considered coloristic integrity and unity based on unifying color added to the rest of the colors in the picture. We also discussed the relationship of colors in the form reflexes (reflections) from neighboring items. In addition, we thought about the subordination of colors based on key color harmonies . In addition, we saw how harmony and unity can be achieved through color repetition . All this is the foundation of painting. But in addition to these principles and logic, the artist must also be guided by a sense of color. This feeling is somewhere innate, and somewhere developed over years of practice. Without it, there is no way in painting. Therefore, it can be called ideal when feelings and reason are inseparable and guide the artist in the process of creating beauty.