8 WEEKS OF COLOR | ernavandyk-artist

I love color. Color is everywhere around me. It makes me so happy. Give me ALL the rainbows! And crayons!

The energy of this experience is all up to you. You can drop in or stop at any time. There is basically no rules just the request to have fun, share your color project and tag me. Also use the hashtag #colorchallenge.

I am combining personal creativity, art making, and sharing your heart in a whole new way. Pick your medium, (change your medium) and stay creative. Focus on some personal time to create and observe color around you.

Starting Tuesday May 29.

With spring in full bloom May's Full Moon is commonly known as the Full Flower or Big Leaf Moon. Full moons are times for completions, creative outpourings, and harvesting. So let's get started with the energy of Full Flower Moon to guide us along.

The Flower Moon inspired my flower color wheel.

Color theories create a logical structure for color. For some of us it is easier to understand how color work and why.

So as a quick overview before all the fun starts let's look at the color wheel, color harmony, and the context of how colors are used.

The Color Wheel

Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666. He called them the Primary Colors: Red, Yellow and Blue.
These colors cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.

Secondary Colors: Green, Orange and Purple. This is where the fun mixing starts. I love to mix and see the different values and hues I can create.
Red and Yellow makes Orange

Yellow and Blue makes Green

Blue and Red makes Purple

Warm colors are generally associated with energy, brightness, and action, (the sun) whereas cool colors are often identified with calm, peace, and serenity (the ocean).

Color Harmony
In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. Using the same color in different tones or using opposite contrasting colors is a way to engaged the viewer. It creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it's either boring or chaotic.

Opposite colors: red and green

Color Context

How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes is a complex area of color theory. Observing the effects colors have on each other is the starting point for understanding the relativity of color. The relationship of values, saturation and the warmth or coolness of respective hues can cause noticeable differences in our perception of color. My favorite shade of red is more of a deep cool red than a warm orange red. I still like true red, but I really like the way a darker red matches up with a teal (another favorite color).

Let's GO!

Decide how you want to do your 8 Weeks of COLOR.

Draw, design, create, collage, imagine, take a photo.

Mix it up or stick to one medium. The possibilities are endless and unlimited.

Below is a quick and easy way to get creative if you choose to go the visual arts way. I also love to take photos so I will share my photo collages with every color.

An accordion fold with watercolor paper works great.

You can fold and glue extra paper to get the desired length.

I have a 18x24 in watercolor pad. I have decided to fold 6 equal spaces of 6 x 4 in.

I will then use 6 colors on the front and 2 at the back, with extra spaces for extra colors.