Artist Anika's World - Blog of Crafty Art World

I am taking a new class at my college focusing entirely on color schemes in art. We learn about how different shades and hues enhance the entire picture, bring out emotions as well as depth and shape.

So here is my problem: the final project of the semester is to paint a symbolic self portrait using a color scheme of 4 tints. Four! I have to create my “self color scheme” by creating 4 hues that are purely my own (shades of red, green, brown, etc.) and give the new hues names that express my personality traits (like “determination red”). So, how to create a decent painting with a 4 color scheme?

Project Thoughts:

My original thought for the symbolic self portrait was to draw the figure of a woman rising from flame. The woman would be nude, but with no body details, instead being like a carving of a figure made of wood. Her arms and hair would be raised to the sky and stem out into the branches of a tree.

Unfortunately, I can not think of a four color scheme that will do the image justice. I thought of using variations of

brown,
black,
red,
and yellow.

The fire would have a color scheme of red and yellow, the trunk (or body of the woman) would be brown and black, and the leaves of the tree would be yellow and brown (creating the feel of gold). But I don’t know how this color scheme would look in the finished illustration.

Doubts

The color scheme sounds too basic for the feel that the image. I feel as if more hues are necessary. Maybe that is the point, to limit us to the simple so that we really have to focus on what we are really forced to focus on these four tints.

Whatever the point, I am still not sure about using a four color scheme. It makes me feel claustrophobic, as if someone has tied my hands and feet and I am unable to move. An artist shouldn’t be limited!

But an artist should be able to accomplish anything. Isn’t that the real definition of an artist? A creator? An artist should be able to take any images, color schemes, media…anything and make it into something new and intense.

This is my goal. Create the image in my mind, using the restrictions set upon me, and paint something emotional, beautiful, unique. I will beat the limitations set by this four color scheme!

------Updated------

Here is the image, decide for yourselves if it is any good. Sorry about the crappy state of the picture, my digital camera didn't like the lighting. After talking to my teacher, I discovered that I somehow missed that we could use 4-6 colors. I ended up using:

Red
Yellow
Tan
Brown
Black
and Grey

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