Quote:
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Originally Posted by Sharon Knettell
This is where I part company somewhat.
Black and white is intellectual, color is emotional.
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Hm. I don't think we're really of divergent opinions , Sharon, and I'd far prefer to
remain in your company !
I agree entirely color is emotional (and personal). I disagree (somewhat) that black and white is intellectual; value contrasts are the essence of lighting, which also provide a good measure of emotion. Think of the "mystery" inherent in a face or figure lit from below, as from a bonfire or footlights . . . or the peacefulness of even, gentle light from above, as in a bucolic landscape . . . or the melancholia of waning light low and from one side, as in an autumn sunset.
To continue the piano metaphor, above, I'm speaking more to the problem of figuring out which part of the piano makes the sounds come out. In the initial phases of learning to paint, we're first concerned with forming a credible illusion. When values are wrong, the illusion fails, independent of any color. If values are correct, a believable illusion results. Only then can color and its nuances be addressed.