Week 4: Chromatic Grays

Spring 2015_Color Studies, week 4: Chromatic Grays

Mixing Chromatic Grays

Required Materials: gouache, brushes, palette, sketchbook, pencils, water container, metal ruler, exacto knife and paper towels. .

Sketchbook assignment-Mix two different chromatic grays from each of the 6 colors on the color wheel..  One cool gray and one warm gray (middle range value).   Write the name of the prismatic color along with the two grays.  . Use 1x2 inch squares.

Chromatic grays –are subtle colors so diminished in saturation (muted and dulled to near neutrals) that they emphasize their grayness while still displaying a flash of hue.  Chromatic grays can be made by mixing various proportions of complementary colors together with the addition of white if necessary, to lighten the gray to match the value of a certain prismatic hue. Chromatic grays can also be made mixing a prismatic color with achromatic grays, black, a chromatic dark or other chromatic grays.  Add white if necessary, to lighten the gray to match the value of a certain prismatic hue.  Chromatic darks can be mixed from ultramarine blue and raw umber.  More blue results in a cooler dark and more raw umber makes for a warmer dark. Cut a sample of the resulting dark with white to check the temperature of the mixtures.

Note: In this class white is a necessity, not a virtue. The point is to create chromatic grays, not washed out pastels.

Muted color – Colors that have lost saturation in mixing, but whose parent colors are still easily identifiable (blue-green or red-orange).

Prismatic color – Pure hues that represent the spectrum colors at highest saturation.

Saturation – Intensity or chroma. Saturation refers to purity of hue and the measure of inherent light.

Value – the relative luminousity (lightness or darkness) of a color.

High key – refers to colors that are light in value.

Low key – Colors that are predominantly dark.

Outside Assignment: Chromatic Grays – Color studies/Variation on a visual theme/Family resemblance

• Create three abstract compositions based on a subject of your choosing. using neutralized colors or chromatic grays. The compositions should relate and carry a resemblance to one another.  Research, take photos, or find an image to draw inspiration from.  You want to have good interaction in your design; push the design, but don’t overcrowd it.  11-15 shapes is good, no more than 16-20 shapes.

-Create 6-10 sketches in your sketchbook, from which you will choose 3.  Paint selected designs on a 3x5” piece of Bristol board.   Mount your 3”x5” studies on 9”x12” Bristol. Craft is important. Keep border clean.

-The first should have a broad range of values. The second two should use a narrow value range with one in high key chromatic grays and one in low-key chromatic grays. Use high key hues in the high key version and low-key hues in the low-key version.