Color Theory Exercises

Use Acrylic Paint or Construction/Found Paper cut-out to complete the exercises.
Look at POP Art for reference.

1. Complimentary Colors - Create 3 (8”x10”) compositions that represent a “space”.
Exploit the contrast of colors to create depth & push/pull the forms through space. 

 2. Warm & Cool Colors - Create 3 (5”x7”) compositions that communicate a mood or feeling and have balance. Keep in mind that small hard edged forms evoke excitement, large organic forms evoke stillness, cool colors are calming and warm colors have energy.

1 composition on white background
1 composition on black background
1 composition on primary color background
1 representational composition
1 abstract composition
1 design composition 

3. Analogous Colors - Create 1 (11”x14”) composition with a focal point using a dominate shape & color. Choose your shape and place 3-4 of them on your page, varying their sizes. Next, draw rings around the original shape, varying their size. Paint the center or original shape one color. In the first ring, paint the complimentary color then follow the color wheel around, painting the sequential rings with the analogous colors. 

4. Monochromatic Colors - Create 1 (11”x14”) composition of a face. Find a photograph in a magazine or use your own (extra credit to those who do a self-portrait). The face must be at least as large as your hand. Map out the values on the photograph and label them (1-white or lightest, 8-black or darkest). Choose 1 color, mix the lighter values by adding white, mix the darker values using black, DO NOT mix the black & white together. Paint by #. Think about what you are trying to communicate when you choose the background color.