Lessons; esthetics

Color

Introduction of color

This page contains following subjects:

  • Introduction basic principles
  • Color principles, systems and the circle
  • Three groups of colors
  • Dimension of color
  • Color contrast
  • Harmony and proportions
  • Symbolic colors
  • Traditional use of color in the Netherlands

Introduction basic principles of color theory

The sensation color
Color is the most vital visual sensation in our life. Colors play an important part in our life and in our flower design. They are always there and draw our attention immediately. Color adds flavor to our lives. Without color everything looks dull and gray. Color also influences the composition and this is also the case in our flower design.
In addition to composition, color is the most important aspect in flower arranging. In fact, color strikes our attention first, and we are immediately attracted by the beautiful color nuances (tones). On the other hand, bad color combinations generate repulsive reaction. Therefore, it is very important that we pay a lot of attention while choosing our materials. We must spend a great deal of time on combining colors. Fortunately the feeling for colors is natural in many of us, and we have a right feeling for balance. However, in many cases it demands more development and practice. We can get to know the best color combination if we spend time on the subject.

Color can be studied in different ways:

  • the scientific approach
  • the psychological approach
  • the symbolic approach
  • the art approach

The way color works in the combination counts most in the creative use of it. A flower designer works with natural colors of flowers, and in combination with the colors of container and accessories.

Why color theory?
There are some reasons why color theory is important for a flower designer:

  1. To give people who don't have the natural touch for color combinations, the good ingredients for a sensible color choice.
  2. As a study for those who want to get a good foundation in color choice and logical arguments.
  3. To provide the definition necessary to know something about colors, and combining so that we can make our flower design more perfect.

Color principles, systems and the colour wheel

Still different color principles are used in flower decoration nowadays. In the works of Ostwald and Itten, who without doubt have developed valuable color principles we can find useful ideas. It is very important to pay attention to these as well, because the various color diagrams and names of colors vary, and this results in other color combinations (color chords). We also must not forget to study the principles of Munsell. He is in many ways leading in the world of color and his principles are recognized world wide. Many scientists use the color wheel to explain the different combinations between colors.

Color disposition
Ostwald was the first who, for our emotional needs and for the sake of clearness, made order out of the color-chaos. He introduced rhythm in his system by making sure that between the two-three-four and multi timbres regular angles would come through. Color timbres and color chords are order compositions of colors. They consist of two or more color tones. We call a color chord harmonious if we experience great pleasure.

Johannes Itten

The color circle of Itten is based on the paint primary colors and contains 12 colors. The primary colors he called: red, yellow and blue. The secondary colors, exists of mixing two  primary colors, it are: orange, green and violet. The tertiary colors exists from mixing a primary and a secondary color, it are yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green and yellow-green. In science it is known that the colors named by Itten are not correct any more correct as far it concerns the primary colors. Ittens system is still often used in flower art. It contains a good principle of color harmony. Reed the books of Itten for more information. Title: Johannes Itten color.

   circle of Itten

Frans Gerritsen

Color observation
Frans Gerritsen, a famous Dutch scientist, who does research on colors, states in his book ‘Het femomeen licht’ (The phenomenon of light) that white light consists of some wavelengths which can be divided into three groups.

  • the short-wave light is changed through our eyes into blue;
  • middle-length wave light into green;
  • and long wave light gives us the color sensation of red.

By activating our eyes a little, or strongly, towards one of these 3-wave-lengths, we can see a variety of color combinations. It appears that there are three main colors when looking at the colors: blue, green, and red.
Gerritsen called them the eye primary colors. In case two eye primaries are activated at the same time, the eyes secondary colors - yellow, magenta and cyan - will come into existence
red + green = yellow
red + blue = magenta
green + blue = cyan

We call yellow, magenta and cyan the special eye secondary colors. An endless number of variations are possible.

Achromatics
We also find the achromatics, the so-called nuances of white, gray and black. These are called the special eye tertiary.

The eye tertiary will come into existence when more than 2 wavelengths of the eye are activated. Almost all of the colors we experience ever belong to these eye tertiary.

Reed the book of Frans Gerritsen for more information. Title: frans gerritsen the phenomenon of light, publisher in Holland Cantecleer.

  Circle of frans Gerritsen

Three groups of colors

Colors can be divided into three groups:

  • Primary colors.
  • Secondary colors.
  • Tertiary colors.

The result of the colors and combination is much depending the color circle you choose.

Dimension of color

International color dimensions are described according to Munsell:

Hue = color tone.
The color tone shows which color is meant: red, yellow, orange, green, etceteras.

Value = brightness or dullness.
The degree of tone between bright and dark stipulate the amount of light in a color. Yellow has brightness, ultramarine blue is the most somber. The following brightness, in order from bright down to sober are: yellow, cyan, magenta, green, red, ultranavblue.

Chroma = saturation.
When a color is powerful, it means that color is saturated. If we mix a color with white, gray of black, saturation will be weak.

Color contrasts

There are (see Itten) eight different color contrasts:

  1. Color against color contrast.
  2. Light – dark contrast.
  3. Cold – warm contrast.
  4. Complementary contrast.
  5. Quality contrast: saturated colors or not.
  6. Quantity contrast; how much of a color opposite another color.
  7. Simultaneous contrast: on the edge of two colors they both want to find the complement and change in that direction. (in the eye) this happens also if you use a little spot of a color in a big field of another color.
  8. Successive contrast: a color want to find the complement (in the eye).

Harmony and proportions

Like the golden rules about proportions used in the theory of forms and composition, we can also use this well in the color theory. In case you come to the point of determining how large parts of color tones in relation to each other should be, in order to become harmonized. A well known series, based on the golden rules is the relation: yellow-orange-red-green-blue-violet = 3 : 4 : 6 : 8 : 9. 
This guideline counts for colors with equal value, brightness and saturation. If these are different, this relationship needs lots of instinctive changing.
The problem of the everyday flower arranging is how to find a good balance, the best proportion and harmony in our flower arrangement. Of course there are many different views and possibilities. Many can be good although they are totally different. The personal feeling plays a great role in this, as well by the designer as by the one who's looking.

Monochrome harmonies
These are color combinations consisting of one color tone and a few nuances of this tone.
We call this; ton sur ton, still a very popular combination in Holland. Choose color nuances, which are not too close; this can be very ugly.

Polychrome harmonies
Color combinations of more than one color tone like the previous mentioned two-, three-, four-, and multi tones. They have a polychrome character. A refined color feeling is needed here in order to get good results.

Warm and cold colors
We can also talk about warm and cold colors. This has to do with our feeling. Colors can have the idea to advance or to repulsive.
Warm colors are: red/magenta, orange, yellow and green.
Cold colors are: blue, purple, violet, blue green, purple.

Most commonly used color chords (color schemes)

White; only white nuances.
Hue; one or more colors.
Black; only black nuances.
Three dimensions of color in a spaceful diagram. Between white and black are the gray-values.

2-tone
When we have a combination of two color tones, which are facing each other in one circle, we call this a regular complementary two-tone (yellow - ultramarine blue). This combination will look quite strong.

3-tone
When we choose 3 colors out of the circle which are on a regular distance of each other, in example cyan, green and red.

4-tone
In the same way a four-tone is a harmony which is chosen often. The base for this is formed by 4 tones out of the circle, which are on a regular distance of each other; green, orange, magenta and blue.

Multi-tones
If we work with more different color tones we call them multi-tones. An example of such a multi-tone is a mixed mille fleur. The word mille fleur means a thousand colors.

Monochromatic; ton sur ton
We use one color in several nuances.

Adjacent colors
When colors are closely together, but not so close as by monochromatic. The colors have a relationship.

Symbolic colors

From way back, mankind has used symbolic value to flowers and plants, and also to colors. In magic, color plays an important roll, as token of worship and festivities, nature played the central part. Later, as man developed society, colors needs because different and serve multiple functions. Particularly in religion, color still plays an important role. Some examples of symbolism may encourage you to study this in greater detail. It is important to remember that the meaning of symbolism can vary from country to country and their cultures.

Some examples of European / Dutch color symbolism
White: birth of the new moon, birth, purity
Black: mourning, death, earth, seriousness
Red: fight, love, passion
Orange: warmth, wealth
Yellow: warmth, happiness, cowardice, betrayal, hatred
Green: color of spring, young life
Blue: sincerity, loyalty, melancholy, heavenly
Violet: seriousness, dignity
Purple: power, high-ranked priest, dignity
Pink: happiness, tenderness, love
Gold: super-terrestrial, richness, royal power
Silver: strong confidence

Traditional use of color in the Netherlands

In flower art we can find traditional rules in the use of color. From the past some good combinations still today often are used. You have to remember the color green always is a neutral element in the whole of a traditional color combinations. Most used combination still is the monochromatic one. A few examples of color combinations are:

  • monochromatic
  • yellow + blue
  • soft pink + dark blue
  • yellow + violet
  • brown + bronze + yellow
  • white + another color such as: orange, yellow, blue, lilac or red
  • mixed combinations
  • white tints for wedding bouquets and for funerals
  • red for funerals and for wedding bouquets

Traditional Dutch colors for jubilee and weddings

  • 12,5 year, copper

  • 25 years, silver with white

  • 50 years, gold and yellow

  • 60 years, diamond and mixed colors

Books to read

  • Color; different authors
  • The phenomenon of light, Frans Gerritsen
  • Color, Johannes Itten
  • Art and color, Johannes Itten
  • Color, Paul en Mary Pat Fischer

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004