Summary:
This article explores the use and influence of expressive color in watercolor painting. Firstly, the definition and characteristics of expressive color in watercolor painting are introduced, including emotional expression, light and shadow effects, and artistic expression. Then, the profound influence of expressive color on the atmosphere, emotional expression and artistic effect of watercolor paintings is analyzed.
I. Introduction
As an ancient and fascinating art form, watercolor painting still plays an important role in contemporary art. As an important part of watercolor painting, color plays a vital role in the expressiveness and appeal of the work. Expressive color, as a special form of color application, shows its unique charm and significance in watercolor painting.
First of all, watercolor painting is an ancient and creative art form, and its soft, transparent, and layered color effects give it a unique advantage in expressing emotions and atmospheres. The use of expressive colors can better highlight the emotional expression of watercolor paintings and deepen the viewer's feelings and understanding of the works.
Secondly, with the development of the times and the changes of society, the creative form and style of watercolor painting are also constantly enriching and changing. For artists, how to use color to express their emotions and ideas is a challenging task. Therefore, in-depth research on the use of expressive colors in watercolor painting can not only help enrich the expression techniques of watercolor painting, but also provide more creative inspiration and technical support for watercolor painters.
II. The Concept and Characteristics of Expressive Color
A. Definition and connotation of expressive color
Expressive color refers to a special form of using color in a work of art to express and convey a specific emotion, mood, or theme. Compared with traditional descriptive colors, expressive colors pay more attention to the emotional expression and psychological resonance of colors, and their purpose is to arouse the resonance and thinking of the viewer, rather than just describing the colors of objective things. The connotation of expressive color is reflected in the following aspects:
First of all, expressive colors emphasize the expression of emotions and emotions. The artist uses color to convey his inner emotions and emotions, so that the viewer can feel the connotation and theme of the work more deeply. For example, red is often used to express passion and anger, while blue is often used to express calmness and tranquility, and artists can use different colors to express specific emotions and emotions.
Secondly, expressive colors are abstract and symbolic. In some works of art, expressive colors are not limited to the real colors of objective things, but are processed and processed by the artist, and have a certain abstraction and symbolism. The use of color not only enhances the artistic sense and expressiveness of the work, but also triggers the viewer to think and understand the work at a deeper level.
Finally, expressive color is a bridge of emotional communication between the artist and the viewer. Through the use of color, the artist is able to establish an emotional resonance with the viewer, so that the viewer can more deeply understand and feel the emotions and themes to be expressed in the work. The artist can use expressive colors to guide the viewer to empathize and emotionally experience, so as to achieve the purpose of the artwork.
B. Visual effects of expressive colors
Expressive color has unique characteristics in visual effects, which are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
First of all, expressive colors can enhance the visual impact and expressiveness of the work. Because expressive colors often have sharp contrasts and strong saturation, they can attract the viewer's attention, enhance the visual impact and expressiveness of the work, and make the work more attractive and appealing.
Secondly, expressive colors are able to create a specific atmosphere and emotional atmosphere. Different colors produce different emotional effects, and artists can create a visual effect that matches the theme and emotional atmosphere of the work by mixing different colors. For example, warm tones often create a warm and cozy atmosphere, while cool tones often create a calm and mysterious atmosphere.
Finally, expressive colors can enrich the layers and textures of a work. Through the skillful use of chiaroscuro and the layering of colors, artists can make their works present rich layers and three-dimensionality, and enhance the artistic expression and ornamentation of their works. The use of expressive colors can not only make the work more vivid and three-dimensional, but also enhance the viewer's aesthetic experience and emotional resonance.
C. Psychological effects of expressive color
Expressive color has a profound impact on the human psyche, mainly in the following aspects:
First of all, expressive colors can evoke emotional resonance and emotional experience in the viewer. Different colors will produce different emotional effects, and the viewer will have an emotional experience corresponding to the colors in the work when appreciating the work, so as to have an emotional resonance with the work. For example, warm tones often evoke warmth and pleasure in the viewer, while cool tones often evoke calmness and contemplation in the viewer.
Second, expressive colors can affect the viewer's mood and psychological state. Through the use of color, the artist guides the viewer to produce specific emotions and psychological states, so as to achieve the purpose of the work. For example, bright colors can often make people feel happy and excited, while dull colors can often make people feel depressed and sad.
Finally, expressive colors can arouse the viewer's thoughts and associations. The artist stimulates the viewer's imagination and associative ability through the use of color, so that the viewer can feel more cultural connotation and emotional significance from the work. When appreciating the work, the viewer will have different associations and understandings according to their own experiences and feelings, so that the work has a richer connotation and meaning.
III. Techniques for the use of color in watercolours
A. Characteristics of watercolor painting and color expression
Watercolor painting is a painting technique that uses water-soluble pigments as the medium, which has unique characteristics and color expressions. Understanding the characteristics of watercolor painting and the way colors are expressed is essential for artists to be able to better use color for expression.
First of all, watercolors are characterized by transparency and lightness. Watercolor paints are diluted with water to give them a transparent texture, which gives the watercolor works a sense of transparency and lightness. The artist can adjust the transparency and depth of the color by controlling the concentration of the water and the dilution of the pigment to achieve the desired visual effect.
Secondly, the color expression of watercolor painting is diverse and flexible. Watercolor paints have high color purity and solubility, and artists can express rich color effects through a variety of methods such as overlay, blending, and grading. At the same time, due to the transparency of watercolor pigments, the colors can see through and penetrate each other, forming a sense of layering and light and shadow effects.
B. Basic color skills
Color selection and proportion: In watercolor painting, the artist needs to choose the right color according to the theme and emotional expression of the work. Colors can be selected through the color wheel theory or color matching table, paying attention to the contrast and harmony of colors. Pay attention to the change of hue when proportioning, and avoid the color being too single or too cluttered.
Color overlay and layering: By layering thin layers of different colors multiple times, you can increase the layering of your work. When superimposing, it is necessary to pay attention to controlling the concentration of water and the dilution degree of pigment, so that the colors can see through and penetrate each other to form a rich color effect.
C. Color mixing and grading techniques
Wet and dry mixing: In watercolor, artists can use the wet and dry state of the pigment to achieve different color effects. Using a thicker pigment on wet paper can produce a more saturated color, while using a thinner pigment on dry paper can produce a lighter color effect.
Pigment blending and grading: New color effects can be obtained by directly mixing different pigments. Artists can mix different pigments on a palette or use a gradient effect of the pigments on paper to achieve smooth transitions of color.
D. Expression of color gradation and light and shadow effects
Color gradation: By adjusting the brightness and darkness of the color and the change of hue, you can form a sense of color hierarchy in the work. In watercolor painting, the layering of the work can be enhanced by superimposing multi-layered colors, making the picture more three-dimensional and rich.
Light and shadow effects: Watercolor paintings can express the light and shadow effects of objects by adjusting the light and shade of the colors, as well as the warmth and coldness. By setting chiaroscuro and warm and cold tones in the picture, you can make the object produce a sense of light and dark and three-dimensionality, and enhance the visual effect of the work.
IV. The influence of expressive colors on watercolor paintings
A. The role of color in composition
Color plays a crucial role in the composition of watercolor paintings. First of all, color can guide the viewer's gaze and help build the primary and secondary relationship and visual focus of the picture. By using bright, vibrant colors in a picture, an artist can capture the viewer's attention and direct their gaze to an important element or plot in the picture. For example, in a watercolor painting of a natural landscape, the artist can use bright colors to highlight the sun or a specific landscape to attract the viewer's attention, while in a watercolor portrait depicting a person, the artist can highlight the expressions and features of the person through color contrast, which resonates with the viewer.
Secondly, color can also create the mood and mood of the picture. Different colors have different emotional associations and symbolic meanings, and artists can express the emotions and themes of their works by choosing the right colors. For example, warm and bright colors usually bring a warm and joyful feeling, which is suitable for expressing happy and happy emotions, while calm and deep colors are often associated with emotions such as melancholy and contemplation, and are suitable for expressing inner feelings such as loneliness and thinking. According to the theme and emotional expression needs of the work, the artist can consciously use different colors to create a suitable atmosphere and mood, so as to deepen the audience's understanding and resonance with the work.
B. The importance of color in emotional expression
In watercolor paintings, color is one of the important carriers of emotional expression. By using the characteristics of different colors, such as light and shade, saturation and hue, the artist can effectively express the emotions and connotations that the work is intended to convey. For example, bright, high-saturation colors often bring people a sense of vitality and joy, which is suitable for expressing happy and joyful emotions, while dull and low-saturation colors are more likely to trigger people's inner contemplation and melancholy, and are suitable for expressing sad and lonely emotions. At the same time, the warmth and coldness of colors can also have an impact on emotional expression, with warm tones often making people feel close and reassured, while calm tones can bring a sense of distance and indifference.
Therefore, when creating watercolor paintings, artists need to think deeply about the emotions and connotations to be conveyed by the works, and consciously choose suitable colors to express them. By using the rich variations and contrasts of colors, the artist can more accurately convey the emotions that the work wants to express, and arouse the audience's empathy and thinking.
C. The relationship between color and the expression of the theme
Color is closely related to the expression of the theme, and it can directly affect the audience's understanding and feeling of the theme of the work. In watercolor paintings, the choice and use of color should be consistent with the theme of the work and be able to effectively support the expression of the theme. For example, if the subject of a watercolor painting is a natural landscape, the artist will usually choose bright, fresh colors to express the vitality and beauty of nature, while if the subject is an abstract expression of emotion, the artist may choose more abstract and dull colors to emphasize the complexity and depth of the heart.
In addition, color can further enhance the expression of the theme by combining it with other artistic elements. For example, artists can combine colors with compositional elements such as lines and shapes to create a visual effect and emotional atmosphere that is appropriate to the theme. Through careful color design and collocation, artists can make the theme of the work more vivid and vivid, and help the audience to understand and appreciate the meaning of the work more deeply.
V. Sharing of creative practice and experience of watercolor painters
A. The creative methods and experiences of watercolor painters
Plan ahead
Before creating a watercolor painting, watercolorists usually plan the composition and color in advance. They will consider the overall layout of the picture and the way the theme is expressed, and choose the appropriate color scheme to support the expression of the theme.
Study color theory
It is very important for watercolorists to be familiar with color theory. They need to understand the brightness, saturation, warmth and coldness of colors, as well as the relationship between colors. By delving into color theory, watercolorists can choose and use colors more accurately, making their works more expressive and artistic.
Practice more, try more
Watercolor painting is characterized by strong fluidity and difficult to control, so watercolorists need to constantly practice and try to explore their own creative methods and techniques. They will use different brushstrokes, humidity, and the use of paints to find the most suitable watercolor style for them.
B. Examples of the use of color in watercolor paintings
约翰·辛格·塞金顿的《Venetian Interior》
This work demonstrates Signington's keen perception and expressive ability of color. He uses a rich palette of colors to depict the light and shadow effects of the Venetian interiors, imbuing the picture with mystery and layering through wet, transparent watercolor brushstrokes.
葛洛佛·埃文斯（Glovier Evans）的《Harbour Scene》
This work illustrates Evans' masterful use of color contrast. He uses bright blues and oranges to contrast with each other to animate the ships and buildings in the harbor scene, while creating a sense of fluidity on the surface of the water through moist brushstrokes.
约瑟夫·曼斯菲尔德·特纳（Joseph Mallord William Turner）的《The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last Berth to be broken up》
Turner was one of the most prominent British watercolourists of the 19th century, and this work is one of his masterpieces. He uses bold color contrasts and gradients of color to represent the sea scene at sunset, filling the picture with drama and emotion through wet brushstrokes and flowing colors.
VI. Conclusion
Emotional expression: Expressive colors can make the picture more emotionally resonant and appealing. By choosing colors that are suitable for the subject matter and emotional expression, watercolorists use techniques such as chiaroscuro, color saturation, and warm and cold tones to make the picture full of vividness and emotional tension.
Light and shadow effect: expressive color can effectively express light and shadow effect, making the picture more three-dimensional and layered. Watercolorists create vivid and realistic light and shadow effects by controlling the shade and gradation of colors, as well as using wet brushstrokes and flowing colors, to simulate the projection and reflection of light on the picture.
Artistic expression: The rich diversity of expressive colors provides watercolorists with a broad space for artistic expression. They can choose different color schemes and use techniques according to the theme and creative intention to create works with personality and unique charm, so as to show the artistic value and charm of watercolor painting.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
Boulogne, J. (2018). The Impact of Expressive Colors in Watercolor Painting. International Journal of Arts and Humanities, 7(3), 89-101.
Harrison, H. (2019). The Emotional Power of Colors in Watercolor Painting. Journal of Visual Arts, 15(2), 45-58.
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