Color — What Is It?

A color course for designers and artists

Color Theory

Articles

Practical Exercises

Examination

Authors

Site Map

A brief color theory course for all regardless of the age, sex, background, and religion, but especially for designers.

The author of the course is Mironova Lenina Nikolaevna, professor chair of graphical design Belorussian State Academy of Arts.

Dear readers! If you are eager to learn the scientific basis the state-of-the-art color theory, let me recommend to you a list of resources available below. Here the author attempted to overcome the disunity of different sciences that make up the basis of color theory, namely physics, optics, spectrophotometry, colorimetry, physiological optics, human psychology and physiology, and other sciences. The theory expounded on this web site has its roots in philosophy, mythology, literature (especially poetry), the history and theory of art, and citations about color by artists of all genres as well as those of priests and prophets. If you do not believe in myths and do not like poetry – go ahead, surf further in the Internet. However, if you are willing to get acquainted with our theoretical approach, you will find plenty of practical tasks for students on our web site.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Mironova L. N., Ivanov D. G.

Question, comments and proposition: lightcolor@tut.by

Donation

Color Theory

Color theory is an extensive and complicated body of knowledge. It includes elements of various sciences: optics, esthetics, theory of architecture, design and many other applied sciences. On this web site you will find information that is most needed for the professional activities of artists and designers. The sample tasks for art academy students that are presented here illustrate a study course of color theory conducted at the Belorussian State Academy of Arts.

Subsections:

Color Systems

Humans and Color

Color Vision

Color in Art

Harmony Theory

Light and Color

Glossary

Color Systems

This section outlines various types of color combinations that are called systems. These systems occur widely in both nature and art, each representing a sort of a phrase in the color language where colors are the words of the phrase. The language of color systems was developed in antiquity and has been further developed and refined up to the present time.

Subsections:

Black - white

White - red - black

Monochromy

Polar pairs

Trichromatism

Polychromy

Color rows

Color circles

Humans and Color

This section comprises several parts that discuss the influence of color on the physiological systems of men, their psychic activities, esthetic reactions and associations. Also, it outlines color semantics and symbolism, color images in literature, fine arts, and other aspects of culture.

Subsections:

Influence of Color

Esthetic Reactions

Color Associations

Color Preferences

Symbolism

Color in Art

Here we present those basics of science and genres of art that are taught in the industrial design faculty of the Belorussian State Academy of Arts, particularly by the Department of Graphical Design. Thus, the "Color in Art" section discusses applied genres, that is designing color in interiors, exposition structures and advertising. Basic principles of design and some examples are also outlined.

Subsections:

Interior

Exhibitions

Advertising

Practical Exercises

Introduction tasks for the course.

Basics of color theory. Types of color composition and coloring/color scheme/coloration.

Monochromy.

Polar composition.

Three-color composition.

Four-color and polychromatic compositions.

Half-chromatic composition.

Achromatic composition.

Polychromy in mosaic technique.

40x40 cm advertisement.

Three-dimensional advertising (mockups).

Illuminated advertising (op-art).

Color associations (taste, emotional).

Spatial associations.

Op-art (conceptual objectives).

Form and color (formal objectives).

Space, form and color.

Structures.

Space, form and color (comprehensive objectives).

Cafes interiors.

Entrance halls (installations).

Exhibitions (business).

Ornamental compositions for various interiors.

Industrial interiors.

Scenography. Dramatized fashion show. Scenery to historical plays.

A brief list of recommended reading

Physics, Colorimetry, Physiological Optics

Dzhadd D., Vyshecki G. Cvet v nauke i tekhnike. - M.: Mir, 1978

Zernov V. A. Cvetovedenie. - M.: Kniga, 1972

Ivens R. Vvedenie v teoriju cveta. - M.: Mir, 1964

Kravkov S. V. Glaz i ego rabota. - M.-L.: AN SSSR, 1950

Filonovich S. R. Luchi, volny, kvanty. - M.: Nauka, 1978

Scientific Works About Color In Art

Al'berti L.-B. Tri knigi o zhivopisi. / V kn.: Desjat' knig o zodchestve, v dvukh tomakh. Tom 2 - M.: Akademija arkhitektury, 1937

Becol'd V. Uchenie o cvetakh po otnosheniju k iskusstvu i tekhnike. - SpB, 1878

Gete I.-V. K ucheniju o cvete. / V kn.: Izbrannye sochinenija po estestvoznaniju. - M.: AN SSSR, 1957

Leonardo da Vinchi. Izbrannye proizvedenija. - Minsk - Moskva, 2000

Mironova L. N. Uchenie o cvete. - Minsk, 1993

Ostval'd V. Cvetovedenie. - M.-L.: Promizdat, 1926

Gericke L., Schone K. Das Fenomen Farbe. - Berlin,: 1970

Luscher M. Farben-visualisierte Gefuhle. - Frankfurt/M. 1978

Maerz A. and Paul M. R. Dictionari of color. - New York, 1930

Rzepinska M. Historia koloru w dziejach malarzstwa europejskiego. - Krakow, 1983

Color In Painting

Van Gog. Pis'ma. - M.: 1966

Volkov N. N. Cvet v zhivopisi. 1965

Deni Didro. Salony./V dvukh t. - M. 1989

Kandinskijj V. O dukhovnom v iskusstve. -L. 1990

Malevich K. S. CHernyjj kvadrat. - S.-Pb.: Azbuka, 2001

Mastera iskusstva ob iskusstve / V semi tomakh. - M.: Iskusstvo, 1965 - 1970.

Matiss. Sbornik statejj o tvorchestve. - M.: Izd.inostr. lit., 1958

Petrov-Vodkin K. S. KHlynovsk. Prostranstvo EHvklida. Samarkandija. - L.: Iskusstvo, 1970

Pikasso. Sbornik statejj o tvorchestve. - M., 1957

Sin'jak P. Ot EHzhena Delakrua k neoimpressionizmu. - M. 1913

Artysci o sztuce. - Warszawa, 1977

Color in Architecture, Design, Therapy

Gonikman EH. I. Vash talisman. Lechebnaja raduga kamnja. - M.: Izd.dom MSP, 1997

Deribere M. Cvet v dejatel'nosti cheloveka. - M.: Strojjizdat,1964

Dragunskijj V. V. Cvetovojj lichnostnyjj test. Prakticheskoe posobie. - M.- Mn. 2001

Efimov A. V. Koloristika goroda. - M.: Strojjizdat, 1990

Fersman A. E. Rasskazy o samocvetakh. - M.: Nauka, 1974

Friling G., Auehr K. CHelovek-cvet-prostranstvo. - M.: Strojjizdat, 1973

Dutmann M., Schmuck F., Uhl J. Farbe im Stadtbild. - Berlin, 1980

Frieling H. Farbe im Raum. Angewandte Farbenpsychologie. - Munchen, 1979

Mironowa L. N. Wechselbeziehung zwischen Form und Farbe. <Farbe und Raum> ¹3, 1988

Symbolism Of Color

Amir KHosrov Dekhlevi. Vosem' rajjskikh sadov. - M.: KHudozhestvennaja literatura, 1975

Ariehl' Golan. Mif i simvol. - Ierus.- Moskva, 1994

Terner V. U. Simvol i ritual. - M., 1983

Foli Dzhon. EHnciklopedija znakov i simvolov. - M.: Veche, 1997

History, Philosophy, Aesthetics

SHestakov V. P. Garmonija kak ehsteticheskaja kategorija. - M.: Nauka, 1973

JAkimovich A. Pozicija issledovatelja i khudozhestvennoe myshlenie KHKH veka. DI ¹ 4, 1983

Birren F. History of color in painting. - New York, Reinhold, 1965

Birren F. Color, form and space. - New York, Reinhold, 1961

Textbooks

Itten I. Iskusstvo cveta. - M: D.Aronov, 2001

Itten J. Kunst der Farbe. - Ravensburg, 1967 (3. Auflage)

Mironova L. N. Cvetovedenie. - Minsk: Vyshehjjshaja shkola,1984

Mironova L. N. Cvet v izobrazitel'nom iskusstve. - Minsk, Belarus, 2002

 

The authors of works displayed on the site

1. Introduction tasks for the course.
Mironova L., Klevec V.

2. Basics of color theory. Types of color composition and coloring/color scheme.
p.1 Monochromy. Rozbash V., Tishkov S., Podkorytov I.
p.2. Polar composition. Egorova N., Ponomarenko E., Mironova L.
p.3. Three-color composition. CHistyjj N., Podkorytov I., Znosak I., Motrich N., SHalimo A.
p.4. Four-color and polychromatic compositions. Gopak JA., Dubanevich T., Egorova N.
p.5. Half-chromatic composition. Egorova N., ZHigamon N.
p.6. Achromatic composition. Ignatovich A., Podgornyjj A., Zvonareva S., Gurinovich M., Skomoroshhenko V.
p.7. Polychromy in mosaic technique.
Gorbachevskaja A., Gorshkovoz V., Pribolovec S., Okunevich A., Gerasenkova E., Fomenok JU., Novikova JU., Korovec S. Kuratnik T., Shalimo A.

3. 40x40 cm advertisement.
Novoselova O., Pyrkh V., CHernjak O., ZHoltikova N., Matrosova E., Sventokhovskijj V., Rjabova I., Gorbachevskaja A., Okunevich A., Podkorytov I., Kozlova I., CHistyjj N., Starinskaja G., Mezhueva G., Mackevich N., Koneva E.

4. Three-dimensional advertising.
Koneva E., Kuchko E., Zemcova E., SHvajjba V., Kuratnik T., Basajj O., Telezhnikova P., Koneva E.

5. Illuminated advertising.
Rusachek E., Mezhueva G., CHeked O., JAroslavceva E., Semen'ko O., Karaban' E., KHomchik D., Kovel' S., Medvedev O.

6. Color associations.
Starinskaja G., Dembovskijj V., JAroslavceva E., Ugljanica A., Kulazhenko A., Darbinjan L., Gorlenko L., Makhnach N., Arajjs V., Kulazhenko A.

7. Spatial associations.
Guleckijj S., Trigubovich V., Ljusikov A., Kozlova M., Lensu A.

8. Op-art.
Vasil'ev S., Alenik D., Kiseleva A., Danchenko O., Pechen'ko O., Motrich N., Sitajjlo E., Nechunaeva S., Tarasevich V., Podgornyjj A., Drozdova E.

9. Form and color.
Evlampiev S., Sak I., Vodop'janova O., Savik A., Mjazina E., Rashid JU., Karaban' E., CHeked O., CHetkova N., Mezhueva G.

10. Space, form and color.
Novikova T., KHrapunova V., Grebenok P., Mackevich N., Telezhnikova P., SHmonenko E., Kalmakova A., Starinskaja G., Germackaja A., Klevec V., Anokhina G., Dembovskijj V.

11. Structures.
Capcina O., SHevcova L., KHomchik D., Poleshhuk N., Zanevskijj G. Selivanova O., Zaguzova T., Stel'mashonok V., CHajjka V. and other.

12. Space, form and color.
Kuchko E., Skomoroshhenko V., Petrochenkova E., Basajj O., Anokhina G., Klevec V., Dembovskijj V., Klevec V., Telezhnikova P., Latushkin O., Zaskevich S., Kabysh V., Zanevskijj G., Kruglik V., Prenc O., Derkach M., Krupoderova V.

13. Cafes interiors.
Mamotenko V., Satjuk T., Stefanovich N., Vinogradov V., Leshkevich Z., Toreev JU., Zvonareva S., Simanovich T., Kapralov, Toreev JU., San'ko V., Danchenko O., Novikova T., Zemcova E., Klevec V.

14. Entrance halls.
Konovalova N., CHernjak O., Ovsjanikov V., Sechko O., Mukhacheva S., Zvonareva S., Prodan V., Podkorytov I., Kovel' S., SHalimo A., CHernjavskaja D., Kachan EH., Nechunaeva S., Seleckijj S., Ivanov A., Tishkov S., ZHoltikova N., Semen'ko O., KHajjrullin , Zemcova E., Germackaja A., Ivanova G.

15. Exhibitions.
Kolibabchuk A., SHalimo A., Terebun N., Motrich N., Zlenko P., Vinogradov V., Kokosh O.

16. Ornamental compositions for various interiors.
SHmanenko E., Germackaja A., Anokhina G., Solov'eva N., Minkevich N.

17. Industrial interiors.
CHernikhov JA. (kopija perspektivy zavoda). Kuleshov I. Avtorstvo ostal'nykh rabot ne udalos' vosstanovit', t.k. raboty ne podpisany.

18. Scenography. Dramatized fashion show. Scenery to historical plays.
Nechunaeva S., Demidova S., Semen'ko O., Rusachek E., Ryzhankova L., K. Hajjrullin
Satjuk T., Savik A., Baranov A., Vojjnovich A., Kulazhenko A.

The given list can have some inaccuracies due to technical reasons. The auther apologizes and will try to avoid this in future.

The authors would like to thank Alexander Kulazhenko and Vsevolod Sventohovsky for essential help in reproducing student projects, also Anton Brodsky, Irina Yerdyakova, Marina Kuten, Andrew Mazen for their invaluable contribution to site creation.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Mironova L. N., Ivanov D. G.

Question, comments and proposition: lightcolor@tut.by