Class 17 | Chromatic Gray Color Studies

Materials Needed

  • all gouache paints from Supply List or Color Set
  • brushes
  • ruler
  • t-square
  • pencils
  • 9×12″ bristol

Critique

  • Color Triad FreeStudy

Lecture

REVIEW

  • Color Concepts and Vocabulary from last class
  • Chromatic Gray: Grays that exhibit a subtle, but discernible hue, created by adding larger amounts white, chromatic darks, or a complement of a hue.
  • Chromatic Darks : These are premixed jars of base grays using Ultramarine Blue and Raw Umber.

Lab

Chromatic Gray Studies

  • Prep:
    • Mix together two containers or wells of chromatic darks using Ultramarine Blue and Raw Umber. One will be Warm and Brownish (more umber than blue) and one will be Cool and Blueish (more blue than umber). These will serve as your stock mixtures in order easily create a variety of Chromatic Grays by mixing with pure hues.
    • Prepare 2 pieces of 9×12″ bristol by defining a 6×6″ square on each using your pencil and ruler. This will be used for presentation only. You are making collages, so paint on scraps of bristol first, arrange, and then assemble/glue down.
  • Exercise #1:
    • GOAL: Make a 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be chromatic gray with a BROAD value range (light and dark) from a BROAD range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.
    • Use scrap pieces of bristol to create your painted paper shapes. Cut these out with scissors or exacto knife and assemble into a composition.
    • Starting with a very small amount of a Prismatic Color (paint straight from the tube) add either the complementary color or white to achieve your range of chromatic grays. Adding white will create lighter value grays, adding complementary colors will create darker value grays.
    • The grays should have a discernible hue, but should lie closer to the center of the saturation spectrum (achromatic gray) than the outside (prismatic color).

    Exercise #2:

    • GOAL: Make second 6×6″ gouache, painted-paper collage using at least six shapes. All colors should be chromatic gray with a NARROW value range (high, middle, or low key) from a broad range of hues (colors). The white paper is not considered a color – the entire surface should be covered with paint.

    Mounting/Presentation

    • Arrange your shapes until you achieve unified compositions and then carefully glue down both compositions #1 & #2 on a clean, fresh piece of 11×14″ bristol. Pay close attention to margins, craft, and cleanliness.

    HINTS:

  • High-key Example: To create a chromatic gray in high-key with a subtle hue of yellow, take white and add a tiny amount of Lemon Yellow
  • Low-Key Example: To create a chromatic gray in low-key with a subtle hue of red-violet, mix a red-violet together with yellow-green.
  • Painting Tips: To prevent streaking, thoroughly mix paint before use, only adding enough water to get the consistency of cream/yogurt. Paint should be flat and opaque. No paper should show through.
  • At the end of  your painting session, paint out any extra paint onto scrap bristol for future use.

HOMEWORK

  • Finish Chromatic Gray Studies #1 & #2
  • Finished Studies should be cleanly and professionally presented- mounted on bristol.