A recent lobby show exhibit at one of my galleries was that of the differences in colors.
The warm colors faced off against the cool colors in a variety of artworks and mediums. Each side being segregated to their own respective sides of the wall.
My piece titled “Alpha Mill” is on the bottom left. The entire lobby show. More “cool” color artwork.
For disclosure, but this particular theme was my idea I pitched to the other 19 members, and it led me down a rabbit-hole inspired train of thought.
One musing I had was that color or the lack thereof means everything to art and photography.
A striking black-and-white landscape of a mountain range or the vibrant hues of a blooming spring flower. Color’s inclusion or exclusion tends to enliven all that it reaches.
Virginia Bluebells Forget-Me-Nots Purple Coneflower
The beauty of this visual aspect is that the final outcome is purely subjective.
What color do you want to invoke in your imagery?
Simply put, but it’s all relative.
As the creator of your work, the choices can be up to you!
Take into consideration the vibrancy of the colors chosen, as those can invoke certain moods as well.
A richly-saturated image can catch eyes rather quickly, while a more muted and moody color palette can allow space for the viewer to think about the image more.
Digital photographers may adjust the tint or temperature to a RAW file on their computer or the darkroom whiz will apply certain chemicals to alter their paper print in the developing tray.
One other incredible aspect is to meld the two warm & cool tones together in a single frame.
Alpha Mill Community Park Foliage Quarry Sunset
This split-personality of a photographic idea can take a while to find. Be vigilant! Whether it be the right lighting or seasonal opportunities, these colorful scenes will make themselves known if you search for them.
Better yet is this duality or dichotomy can excite prospective viewers and enrich a living wall space where color is one thing you can’t decide!
With all this being said, I would love to hear from you and what you think!
Does color play a big role in your photography and artwork? Do you tend to fall back on a certain set of colors or prefer to mix things up?
Let me know down in the comments below, I look forward to reading and sharing them!
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