Volar Painting

“Volar”, study in blue, 24” x 24” oil on canvas Imagine lying on your back looking at the blue sky, puffy white clouds calmly floating above. Blue is often used to symbolize tranquility, quietude, peace, and trust. It is a resting place in the world of color. The blueness of sky and the blueness of ocean shape our planet. I chose blue to explore the many blue pigments available to artists, from cool “sky blue” blues like Cerulean to warm blues like Ultramarine, one of the most frequently used colors. “Warm” colors are associated with the sun or fire, like yellow and red. “Cool” colors are the opposite, and remind us of cool, lush forests, like green, or refreshing water, blue. Our eye sees warm colors advancing toward us, and cooler colors receding. If one places a cool blue like Cerulean next to a warm Ultramarine, it appears to recede in space. Color saturation also plays a role. Color tints are created by adding white. To make light blue, add white. If you use a warm blue like Ultramarine to make the tint, it takes on a purplish cast. Tints are less saturated and tend to recede. Neutralized colors are also less saturated than pure hues. For instance, by adding blue’s opposite, orange, we create a grayer blue, one that will recede optically when placed next to a pure blue. All of these variations are regarded as “blue” by the artist. In my painting, Volar, to create the illusion of space and air I used many different blues, from the cool Cerulean and Manganese hues to the warmer Ultramarine. The warmer blues, like those mixed with Ultramarine, tend to pop out. The cool, neutralized blues and tints give the illusion of space by receding. Another effect is contrast. Notice that two blues similar in value (lightness) or hue, placed side by side will tend to recede. Placing a darker saturated color next to a lighter tint creates a sharp contrast so the color bars appear to advance toward us.

Painting:Oil on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:24 W x 24 H x 1.3 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.