Kessler - Color Harmony in your Paintings

COLOR HARMONY

IN YOUR PAINTINGS

MARGARE TKESSLER

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Color Harmony in Your Paintings. Copyright 2004 by Margaret Kessler. Manufactured in China. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Publications, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. (800) 289-0963. First Edition.

Other fine North Light Books are available from your local bookstore, art supply store or direct from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Kessler, Margaret.

Color harmony in your paintings / Margaret Kessler. 1st ed.

p. cm

ISBN 1-58180-401-6 (hc: alk. paper)

ISBN-13: 978-1-60061-517-7 (EPUB)

eISBN: 978-1-44031-720-0

1. Color in art. 2. PaintingTechnique. I. Title.

ND1488.K47 2004
752dc22

2003064961

Editors: Stefanie Laufersweiler, Maria Tuttle and Jennifer Kardux
Production editor: Layne Vanover
Designer: Wendy Dunning
Production artist: Joni DeLuca
Production coordinator: Mark Griffin

HIGHWAY ONE OIL ON LINEN 20" x 30" (51CM x 76CM)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Margaret Kessler began painting as a hobby in 1972 when the youngest of her two sons entered the first grade. Since then shes judged art shows, conducted international week-long oil-painting workshops, authored Painting Better Landscapes (Watson-Guptill, 1987), and written articles for or appeared in Southwest Art and The Artists Magazine. She is also included in Whos Who in American Art and Whos Who in America.

Margarets paintings have won major awards, including five Best of Show awards for Artists and Craftsmen Associated (Dallas), where she is a signature member and served as president (1985-1986). Other artistic honors include an appearance in the Arts for the Parks Top 100 (1989); an honorable mention in the Grand National Exhibition of the American Artists Professional League at the Salmagundi Club (1984); gold, silver and bronze medals from Grumbacher; and a Best Traditional Painting award from Hoosier Salon in Indianapolis (1983).

Margaret lives with her husband, Jere, in Hilltop Lakes, Texas, where they are National Registry Emergency Medical Technician volunteers for the local ambulance service.

METRIC CONVERSION CHART

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Roses go to my editors, Stefanie Laufersweiler, Maria Tuttle, Jennifer Kardux and Layne Vanover, and to the crew at F+W Publications. Roses also go to all the artists who have shared their color experiences and knowledge with the rest of us through books, visual aids and classes. I wish to bestow special accolades on Cyril Pearce, Hal Reed, Faber Birren, Nita Leland and others for making Albert Munsells color wheel understandable. Last, but certainly not least, a special rose goes to Jere, my husband of forty years. Heres to another forty!

DEDICATION

In memory of my father, Kenneth A. Jennings (1908-1961)

Table of Contents

THE BASICS OF COLOR

Lets begin with the properties of color, the color wheel, and how to mix and match the colors on your palette. Discover the full potential of each color and the effect one color has on another.

CHOOSING A COLOR SCHEME

Take a closer look at the traditional color wheel and the many color schemes it offers. Find out how to select color schemes that are harmonious and expressive of the underlying spirit of your subject.

DISCOVERING THE MUNSELL COLOR WHEEL

Learn how this more-detailed color wheel can open your eyes and your paintings to more accurate and beautiful color.

MASTERING THE CONTRASTS OF COLOR

Contrasting the different elements of color is key to color harmony. Varying contrast of value, temperature and intensity allows you to draw attention to your focal point and play down distractions.

HOW LIGHT AND ATMOSPHERE AFFECT COLOR

Colors look different depending on whether they are near or far, what time of day it is, and even the weather. Discover how to paint the changing colors of light as they affect your subject, and how to portray the illusion of depth using color. Practice these skills in a demonstration.

DESIGNING WITH COLOR

Just as you would visualize and build your dream home, so too can you visualize and build your dream painting. This chapter will walk you through a painting process that works, from conception to color planning to final details. A full demonstration ties it all together.

INTRODUCTION

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