Lettering From a to Z by Phawnda Moore

Author:Phawnda Moore [Moore, Phawnda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642503838
Publisher: Mango Media
Published: 2020-08-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

Understanding Color

“In nature, light creates the color. In the picture,

color creates the light.”

—Hans Hofmann

Love red? Does purple speak to you? Do you think white is cold? Color can draw us closer or create distance. We all see it differently and our spirits feel it differently. The symbolic meanings of color in culture, religion, gender, morality, and history are fascinating and diverse. Color choices are very personal, and, for that reason, your own palette should be one you absolutely love to use to express your life and emotions.

Choosing your palette for projects is essential and works best when planned ahead. You can purchase a small wheel, (aim for simple) that shows how to identify and create colors, and keep it near your desk. Understanding color is an ongoing, interesting journey. To begin, here’s basic information that is often referenced on the wheels.

Primary colors are pure: yellow, blue, red, known as the “power colors.”

Secondary colors are an equal combination of two primary hues: green (yellow + blue), violet (blue + red), orange (red + yellow).

Intermediate (also known as tertiary) colors are created by mixing a primary with a secondary hue in equal amounts: yellow green (yellow + green), blue green (blue + green), blue violet (blue + violet), red violet (red + violet), red orange (red + orange), yellow orange (yellow + orange).

Lettering design professionals often recommend the Double Primary palette: six total colors, a cool and a warm of each of the three primary colors. In watercolor, it would look like this: yellow (lemon, cadmium), blue (cerulean, ultramarine), red (cadmium, alizarin crimson). In a general sense, you can visually select a cool and a warm of other media, like colored pencils and even markers, referencing watercolor.

I find that I use these three combinations the most:

Analogous colors are two or more “neighbors” on the color wheel. They’re friendly and welcoming, and they harmonize easily. The “Birthday Blessings” card is an example in yellow to blue/green shades. Other neighbors are red/orange, violet/red, and blue/violet.

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