LET'S REVIEW THE EFFECTS OF WARM AND COOL COLORS
1. Let's make a study of this collage:
a. Notice the blue and grey cool colors which assists the background
to recede.
b.
Notice the light, medium and dark values that create depth and fullness to the hair.
c. See how the cool blue line recedes the flesh in the forehead
to give the appearance of age.
d. Take notice of the contour on the left from above the eyebrow to the bottom of the nose. To create this feature
use a cool color to recede.
e. To produce the space beneath the eyebrow use a cool color so your eye brow will come forward and the
eyelid will recede.
f.
Special care must be taken with the eyes. The eyelid above the eye outline is a dark cool color. There has
to be a highlight in each eye. Study eye movements. For instance, watch the direction the eyes
go in as a person moves their head. Underneath the eye is a cool flesh tone to create the effect
of the eyes coming forward and underneath the eye receding. We will go into more detail when we examine the paintings.
g. The nose must have warm colors so it will come
forward. Because the nose protrudes, the tip of the nose should be the lightest and warmest (rosiest)
part of the face. There has to be a shadow of darkness in the nostrils to recede and create shape. Beneath the nose
use a cool value to assist the nose coming forward.
h. To bring out the cheeks, use the rosy color to
bring forward and the rosiest value at the fullest part of the cheek.
I. The top lip is usually a darker
value than the lower lip with a small dark line at the ends-of the lip lines. To create the effect of the bottom lip
coming forward, create a highlight of a warm lighter value. Directly below the lower lip should be a cool value to enhance
the raised lip.
j.
As the chin comes forward, use a warm rosy skin tone to make it come forward.
k. To create the neckline,
use a cool color to create shadow so the chin will come forward and the neck will recede.
l. The ears are of medium value
flesh tone, with lukewarm color mixed with cool color for areas of the ear to recede. However, you will require some warm
colors for areas of the ear to come forward.
Next,
we will take a review of one of Van Gough portraits.