Project #3: “Cropped Selfies” Colour Theory, Cubism, Portraiture

Part 1: Colour Theory

Colour Theory Colour is an element of art and design A balance between subjective and scientific Colours can influence mood, emotions, and perceptions; take on cultural and personal meaning and attract attention The challenge is balancing these complex roles that colour plays to create an attractive effective design Traditional colour theory can help you understand which colours might work well together and what kind of effect different combinations will create within your design

The Colour Wheel A colour circle based on red, yellow and blue (primary colours)

Some terms… Hue: synonymous with color; or name of a specific color traditionally refers to one of 12 colors on color wheel Shade: hue darkened with black Tone: hue dulled with gray Tint: hue lightened with white Saturation: intensity of a color Value: lightness or darkness of a color

Three levels of colors Primary colors – cannot be created by mixing colors (blue, yellow and red) Secondary colors – mix the primary colors Tertiary – mix secondary +primary

Colour Schemes… Primary, secondary, tertiary Colour values- tints, shades Colour schemes – Monochromatic: one colour, tint + shades Analogous; colours next to each other on colour wheel Complementary: colours directly across from each other color triads: three colours equally spaced split complementary: made up of color and complements (e.g. blue, yellow-orange, red-orange) Tetradic/double complementary: two complementary pairs warm colours, cool colours

Colour Harmony Harmony – pleasing arrangement of parts; it engages the viewer and creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience When something isn’t harmonious, either boring or chaotic Viewer not engaged, bland

How to achieve colour harmony: Colour Schemes A colour scheme based on analogous colours

How to achieve colour harmony: Colour Schemes A color scheme based on complementary colours Use a colour scheme to achieve colour harmony

How to achieve colour harmony: Reading Colour Which colour combination with the same purple rectangle looks better?

How to achieve colour harmony: Colour Context How colour behaves in relation to other colours and shapes is a complex area of color theory Compare the contrast effects of different colour backgrounds for the same red square Red appears more brilliant on a black background and duller on a white In the orange one, the red appears lifeless; in contrast with blue which exhibits brilliance

Part 2: Cubism

Cubism Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque KEY IDEAS: Cubism rejected the concept that art should copy nature or that artists should adopt the traditional techniques of perspective, modeling, and foreshortening Abandoned perspective Instead…emphasizing the two dimensionality of the canvas Reduced and fractured objects into geometric forms

Analytic Cubism - style less literal and more conceptual Synthetic Cubism – collage

Part 3: The Project

Project #3 Instructions For this project, we will be combining the following grades into a massive mural on the wall: Grade 7/8 and Grade 9-12 You will demonstrate your knowledge of colour theory and “analytic cubism” through a self portrait

Requirements You will be using pencil crayon for this painting The shapes must be geometric Portrait needs to be shoulder and up You must choose a colour scheme – its tints and shades – and make conscious decisions based on the colours that you used

Instructions Print out a self-portrait /use a mirror– black and white and/or colour – no fancy poses…needs to be JUST your face Pick a colour scheme Draw lines through your face to create interesting shapes The more complex you make it, the better your mark will be Colour– with pencil crayon– no shading – needs to be a flat colour (no skin colour needed)