Warm and Cool Inspiration

What is warm and cool inspiration and how does it impact this week’s painting? I can’t wait to share with you. But, first a warm welcome to you. And, whether you are a returning or new reader, thank you for being here. Check out this post for a description of the colorful, artistic focus and purpose of this blog.

Define Warm and Cool

In this post, I am thinking of warm and cool colors in a painting. I will share more shortly. And, in this week’s painting, I decided to add some other parameters. Here’s the set up in my studio. These objects represent a new process. But first, here’s the photo.

So the actual objects are an unfinished wood panel, a material to prepare the wood to accept gesso (blue tube on its side) and oil paint and gesso (jar). I am excited to try this panel prep process this spring. In the past I have used linen panels and ACM (aluminum composite material used for street signs among other things) panels that I prepped myself. It will be fun to compare the wood panel with ACM.

Beguiled and Bedazzled

But the other thing that drew me in to this painting is the idea that I had cool light coming into the studio. So I need to paint and create cool light wherever I see it. The set up in the photo is below my easel. This challenge meant I had to look down at the objects to paint them. Usually I set things up at or near eye level. So looking down is a new beguiling point of view for me.

And, then I intentionally chose light objects so that I could keep the painting relatively ‘high key.’ That just means there’s not a whole lot of dark objects in this painting. In fact, there are none. And, I have always wanted to paint this but have never really done so before. Here’s this week’s painting. It’s 6×12 inches, painted in oils on a linen covered panel.

I loved keeping my focus on warm and cool plus high key. And, I also love the shapes within this painting. It has the suggestion of abstraction and realism which is something I find so intriguing. If you want this painting for your own, you can purchase it for $197 + Shipping + Taxes by clicking on the Paypal button.

Color Is Relative

If there’s one thing I learned by studying color, is that color is relative. That just means that with color as in life, context is everything. So, even though I/you may think of the yellow-ish color of the wood panel as warm, it is cooler when bathed in cool outdoor light.

And, even though I see blue-ish purple-ish colors in the shadow of the tube on its side (on the right of the painting), I need to create a warm blue shadow. Why? Because, in this case, the light is cool and the shadows are warm. Forgive me for that simple response. If you want a more technical explanation, let me know and I”ll ask the resident physicist to explain further.

Gurus of Warm and Cool

Throughout art history, there are so many fabulous gurus of warm and cool. Here are a few:

This is Tiepolo’s painting entitled Armida Encounters the Sleeping Rinaldo. Is this a festival of color both warm and cool, yes?

Here’s an amazing high key painting by contemporary artist, Susan Lichtman. Holy Smokes I love her work!

I could go on and on about artists who are masterful and inspiring with warm and cool colors. Think Monet or Ann Gale.

Your Inspiration

But now it’s time for me to ask you what inspires you? Have you decided to pursue something differently because of an inspiration? Or have you seen or read something that has shifted your point of view? Please share more details in the comments below. And, thank you for doing so!