When you’re painting, do you find yourself wondering what color to use next? Do you have problems mixing colors to get the exact hue you want? If so, this book is for you. No matter where you fall on the skill level spectrum – beginner to professional – Exploring Color Workshop, 30th Anniversary Edition by Nita Leland, will show you how to use and control color through the use of hands-on exercises, step-by-step demonstrations, and tons of excellent color-knowledge tips. The best part is that you don’t have to leave the comfort of your studio to learn!
If you never know what to do next, the eight demonstrations in the book let you look over the author’s shoulder as she describes how to plan your artwork, sketch the composition, and consider the colors that will be most effective in the piece. You’ll see how to transfer the composition to your painting surface and test possible color combinations before you use them. From background to foreground, from basic color unity to contrast and details, these step-by-step demonstrations will help you develop a strategy for painting.
Each chapter in the book covers an important topic: Discovering the Joy of Color, Learning the Language of Color, Exploring Color Characteristics, Controlling Color Mixtures, Working with Harmonious Colors, Expanding Your Palette with Color Schemes, Using Color Contrast, Expressing the Harmony of Light and Shadow with Color, and Unifying Color and Design. Whether you need instruction in all these topics, or just need to polish your techniques, you’ll find helpful, clearly written information and plenty of beautiful paintings to expand your color skills.
Whether you work in watercolors, oils, acrylics or pastels, you can benefit from the information in this book. The author suggests that you reserve time every day to do an exercise; collect color samples to give you ideas; and even make exploring color a group project by sharing the information with your artist friends. As you read the book and do the exercises, you’ll discover your own color preferences and strengthen your knowledge of effective color use.
About the Reviewer
Kay Sluterbeck has won several Associated Press of Ohio awards for her editorial cartoons as well as many for her paintings and drawings in regional competition, including her watercolor and ink artwork, “The Open Door†was the cover of The Art-to-Art Palette Journal’s 2005 Spring/Summer print edition, Vol. 17 No. 1.
