logo Mon, 23 Dec 2024 05:35:32 GMT

Light & Color


Synopsis


Take your watercolor painting beyond the studio-learn how to effectively use color and light to capture mood, create atmosphere, and convey emotion on location.

Geared for beginning artists, En Plein Air: Light & Color introduces a variety of techniques for on-location watercolor painting. Following a brief introduction to the basics of painting en plein air and an overview of the necessary tools and materials, you will learn how to choose a subject and paint a compelling outdoor composition using the subtleties of watercolor to create beautifully expressive subjects and themes.

Other important topics include perspective, rendering the background and foreground, capturing both urban and pastoral landscapes, mastering color to convey weather and time of day, and much more. From choosing just the right subject to awaiting the perfect time of day, let En Plein Air: Light & Color guide you in your artistic travels as you explore this daring and expressive medium.

Painting outdoors is a rewarding, peaceful experience full of joy, adventure, and persistence. Let the En Plein Air Series guide you in your artistic travels as you explore this daring and expressive method of painting, wherever you may be.

Iain Stewart

Summary

Chapter 1: The Nature of Light

* Summary: Describes the fundamental properties of light, including its electromagnetic nature, wavelength, and frequency.
* Example: The visible light spectrum ranges from violet (short wavelength, high frequency) to red (long wavelength, low frequency).

Chapter 2: Light and Matter

* Summary: Explores how light interacts with matter, including reflection, refraction, absorption, and scattering.
* Example: A mirror reflects light by bouncing it off its surface, while a prism refracts light by bending its path.

Chapter 3: Color Perception

* Summary: Examines the physiological and psychological processes involved in color perception.
* Example: When white light strikes a red object, it absorbs all colors except red, which is reflected back to our eyes.

Chapter 4: Color Theory

* Summary: Introduces color theory concepts such as the color wheel, primary colors, and complementary colors.
* Example: Red, yellow, and blue are the primary colors that can be combined to create all other colors.

Chapter 5: Color in Nature

* Summary: Explores the role of color in the natural world, including the pigments in plants and animals.
* Example: Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight in plants, which gives them their green color.

Chapter 6: Color in Art and Design

* Summary: Examines the use of color in artistic and design contexts, including color symbolism, aesthetics, and emotional impact.
* Example: In a painting by Vincent van Gogh, the vibrant use of yellow and orange conveys a sense of energy and excitement.

Chapter 7: Color in Science and Technology

* Summary: Discusses practical applications of color in fields such as medicine, spectroscopy, and imaging.
* Example: In medical imaging, different colors can represent different tissues or organs in the body.

Chapter 8: The Future of Light & Color

* Summary: Explores emerging technologies and advancements in the field of light and color.
* Example: Nano-scale materials can be used to manipulate light's properties, leading to new applications in optics and displays.