Goethe's theory of colours being metaphorical. Associating Red with the beautiful, orange with the noble, yellow to the good, green to the useful, blue to the mean, and violet to the unnecessary
The Art of Color: The Subjective Experience and Objective Rationale of Color
Itten defined and identified strategies for successful colour combinations. He devised seven methodologies for coordinating colours utilising the hue's contrasting properties.
1. Contrast of Hue
2. Light-Dark Contrast
3. Cold-Warm Contrast
4. Complementary Contrast
5. Simultaneous Contrast
6. Contrast of Saturation
7. Contrast of Extension
A list of colours and how they are often used symbolically:
Yellow - light giving, gold symbolising the beyond, sun and light, understanding, knowledge. Pale yellow shows envy, betrayal, falseness, doubt, distrust and unreasoning.
Red- red-orange is dense and opaque showing fiery strength, an expression of belligerent passion, red orange on black is a unconquerable demonic passion. Red-purple connotes spiritual love. Red on lemon yellow is a dark subdued force. Red on dark pink is a quiet extinguishing heat. Red on brown flares with a dry heat.
Blue- blue is always passive from the point of view of material space but is active in terms of spiritual immateriality. In many cultures, blue symbolises immortality. Dimmed or darkened blue falls into superstition, few and grief.
Green - green gives the impression of fruitfulness, contentment, and hope. Greyed green has a sense of sad decay. Yellow greens have a feel of a young vigorous force of nature.
Orange - Maximum radiant activity, proud external ostentation.
Violet - colour of the unconscious, mysterious, impressive and sometimes oppressive. Purple also represents royalty. Light violet gives a feeling of the terrors of the end of the world and piety.
In general, all tints (light colours) represents the brighter and better aspects of life, while all shades (dark colours) represent all the darker, sad, and negative forces.
Afternoon session of second week and we finally got to meet Thomas (I think everyone agreed he's a right character - nice to have tutors who can get the class laughing). We talked about the importance of colour in terms of narrative and how it plays a vital role in communication. I borrowed the books above to get a better understanding and to help with this weeks task.
