Most people, except psychologists, don’t think a lot about color, except that they come to believe they “look best” in certain colors, some colors go together well and others clash. Today’s clashing colors are tomorrows hot new ones. Emotions and tastes (as in the mouth) are color driven. Ask any advertiser or product developer.
I think about color all the time. Over the course of my life in and with art, much of my decision making about color has become intuitive so it’s a little disingenuous to say I think about color all the time. But color is often the driving force in my work. It happens. It makes other things happen.
I recently completed a group of prints, each of which is divided into three parts like this one.
#1245 Strip Show 1, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
The top section is a monotype. It is a rectangle of color, almost pure color with just a hint of bleached out marks. The bottom is a small etching, busy and energetic. A thin strip of a monotype or collagraph print separates the two. Here is another one.
#1246 Strip Show 2, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
The strip is needed to separate the top and bottom, yet hold onto the connection.
#1247 Strip Show 3, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
The small etchings are re-purposed prints from my stash, ready to be used in new and different ways. Their colors determined the color of the larger rectangle. Of all the color choices available, why did I choose these? Intuition? Would you believe me if I said a certain color “felt right?” That I “saw” it before I mixed the printing ink?
#1248 Strip Show 4 monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
Why did I add the bleached out streaks and spots in the upper rectangle? The color would be too flat looking without them. Boring. It had to contrast with the etching but also have a connection to it.
#1249 Strip Show 5, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
Color is an important tool in my toolbox, although not the only one. Here are a few more pieces in the series for you to consider.
#1250 Strip Show 6, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
#1251 Strip Show 7, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
#1252 Strip Show 8, monotype:etching 11 3:4 x 6 3:4" 2011
How do you respond to color? Think about it.
I love reading about your color decisions. It’s also fascinating to see how an artist goes about “repurposing” existing work.
We all have stashes of varying kinds (bought, saved instead of discarding) that come in handy from time to time.