A Natural Color Theory
“All colors are the friends of their neighbors and lovers of their opposites” - Marc Chagall
There is no doubt that color plays an integral part in visual storytelling. Color is life. Can you imagine what the world would be without color? A very dismal place indeed, one where I would certainly not want to live. Sometimes, I feel like a butterfly or honey bee instantly drawn to any brightly colored dahlia or basket of strawberries. Color can be so intoxicating, soothing, and invigorating. I remember in my color theory class in fashion design school; I was astonished by how serious the professor was about color. No laughs here. She was strict, observant, and wildly metaphysical in her theories. Abstract thinking about color was encouraged. We explored the subconscious connections between emotions and delved further into folklore and cultural beliefs, too. Once we understood the basic principles of primary, tertiary, and complimentary colors, we were free to play and experiment with our paint pots. After being lost for hours in painting, there wasn’t a clean smock in the class.
Although looking back on those philosophical lessons, they were rewarding, but in my work now, I’ve tossed all those ideas out the window, or kitchen window rather. I do stick to the basic color theory principles romantically put by Marc Chagall. Still, I think nature holds all the secrets and colorful keys to a harmonious capture. “What grows together, goes together” is a simple concept wine and cheese makers use in pairing with your food. Although broadly speaking, I think “if it’s found together in nature, it belongs together.” Think about it. When do you ever scoff at a whimsical wildflower field and think how all these colors don’t below together?! The riot of color can be like the rainbow, yet it is visually appealing! Or a periwinkle blue hydrangea with a woody, olive green stem. A pinky-sliced fig with an almost aubergine black exterior streaked with green. Nature is the best color palette reference of what belongs together. If the colors are found together in nature, they go together. However, pure white and black are different. White technically comprises all hues on the visible light spectrum and would lie at the center of a traditional color wheel. Black is not a color; it’s the absence of color and lies beyond the circumference of the color wheel. Any pairing outside nature’s palate is subjective to our tastes.
Planning out my color palette is one of the first steps of my process when mapping out a visual story. Emotions aside, color can really make or break an image. It’s a delicate balance between evoking the emotions we hope to instill, highlighting a subject, and creating a cohesive, visually pleasing story. Sometimes, the color is the main subject. It all depends on what you want to share. When I’m shooting a dish or a scene, I think about the main colors of the subject itself by choosing 3-5 main colors. These are the top notes of the image, and the secondary or tertiary colors are the supporting players. The secondary or tertiary colors can act like the highlights or the accents…think of a red tulip and the pinky violet streaked interior at the base of the bloom. Those would be the natural color accents to start with. You can then incorporate the stem, the complimentary color green, for a punchy, eye-catching effect. This is a fun practice to do on a walk in nature; pick out something, be it the autumn leaves, a wild rose, or a berry bush, and identify the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, if any, of your find. We only have to look around in the natural world to be inspired by the dazzling color palettes around us.
Another fun exercise to familiarize yourself with color and perhaps help you clarify your signature colors or for a visual story is to simply paint! Get some watercolor paper and gouache, (less expensive than watercolors but have at if you have them!) and just start to play. Make little squares like paint chips on the paper for you to cut out. I love doing this on a rainy, dull day. Its funny how the colors you choose reflects your mood or thoughts. Paint the color wheel for yourself and see where it leads you. Maybe you are naturally drawn to more sunset, golden colors or perhaps you prefer deep ocean blues with pine greens. As childlike as this sounds, it can reveal you natural color preferences and provide clarity for an upcoming project. It’s a delight and equally meditative.
