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DANCING WITH COLOUR

By Patrisha Aherne O'Farrell

Did you know that the full spectrum of colour is there for us all to see in the rainbow?
Ring Out Ye Great Bells In Victory
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.

The red in the rainbow is called Scarlet Red.  It is a warm orangey colour.
Yellow and scarlet mixed makes orange. Scarlet red with some black will produce the most wonderful earth browns;   from sienna to burnt umber and beyond.  Scarlet with a mere touch of blue (try Ultramarine) becomes crimson.  More about this later.
This is the orange family.  It is warm.

The yellow in the rainbow is Lemon yellow.
Add a tiny tiny bit of scarlet and it becomes a warm yellow. Adding a mere touch of crimson to yellow will give you yellow ochre. Try it for yourself! To lemon or yellow add a little or a lot of blue and it becomes Green. There are two families of green – vegetation green which is warm, and mineral green which is cool. Mineral green can be made from lemon yellow and cyan (Winsor blue or Cobalt); ultramarine plus lemon will make a viridian.  Try any yellow and blue for vegetation greens – and also yellow and black, with maybe touches of the reds for variety. Experiment adventurously.
This the green family – both warm and cool. 

Lastly, the blues.  The blue of the rainbow is a Cyan blue; bright and cool.
Add crimson and you get purple. Add some white and you have Violet and all the purples; mauve, lilac, lavender.  Try a little more crimson than blue and vice versa, using either cyan, cobalt or ultramarine blue. Try different blues to see what you get.
Ultramarine blue and Crimson will give you a deep deep purple which makes Indigo, which is nearly black. It makes rich dark vegetation greens when combined with yellow.
Cerulean blue is a beautiful sky blue.  With a touch of lemon it becomes turquoise.
This is the purple family.  It is cool.

White + reds makes pink …. Experiment with all the pinks; add a little yellow for apricot and peach, and skin tones. White+ lemon/yellow makes all the creams - be inventive ... what do you find?

White + black =  Grey. But remember white and black takes from the purity, brilliance and intensity of the colour. Always start with the white and add the colour. 
To the greys, add a little colour to make interesting neutrals. Greys make a good foil for colour.  Full black with a little crimson or ultramarine adds depth and richness to black.

Dance with colour – and have fun!.

Your basic palette:  (5) Scarlet red, Lemon yellow, Cyan (Winsor or Cobalt) blue. Titanium white and Lamp black.
Handy to add:        (5)  Alizarin crimson, Cerulean and Ultramarine blue, Cadmium yellow pale and Yellow Ochre.

Patricia Aherne O'Farrel ATC, PTA
Graduate of the National College of Art & Design ( NCAD ) Patricia is an experienced artist and art teacher of many years. She has exhibited extensively in Ireland, including the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) Annual Exhibition and abroad. After having worked in St. Kilian's Community School as an art teacher and Director of adult & community education, Patricia traveled throughout Europe, Canada and India. Patricia ran her own school of art in Co. Wicklow. In 2003, Patricia launched Dial-A-Portrait. Since then her work has become widely known in Ireland and abroad through local commissions and through the Internet. www.dial-a-portrait.com

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