SACE NO.

314619T
SCHOOL NO. 044

VISUAL
STUDY
STAGE 2 VISUAL ARTS 2024

In what ways do practitioners utilize colour

to influence visual perception and evoke
emotions in their work?
 Introduction
“In what ways do practitioners utilize colour to influence visual perception and
evoke emotions in their work?”

This topic was chosen as colour theory is a personal topic of interest, and the effects
colour has on our everyday lives is extraordinary. A basic understanding of colour
theory and how colour combinations, colour harmony, and colour context can affect
human perception is extremely useful for creating pieces, future assignments and
jobs, and understanding how and why colour can raise different reactions in different
people. The goal is to explore how different practitioners use different techniques
and media to create unique effects, how the use of colour has changed throughout
history, and how colour can affect its surroundings and the people around it.

Sub Questions:
-How do practitioners use colour symbolism to evoke emotion?
-What techniques do practitioners use to create different effects with colour?
-How have perceptions of colour changed throughout history?

Dorothy Draper- Mark Rothko- emily kame kngwarreye-

1889 to 1969 1903 to 1970 1910 to 1996

Key:
Artists work and
inspiration-

Own work-

Mike Perry- Aries Moross-

1981 to present 1986 to present

Word count: 158

 Topic research-
background knowledge
Colour theory is fundamental to art and design, and having an understanding of it is essential when creating
work, analysing works, and for understanding why different emotions and views are provoked when certain
colours are used.

Colour theory is the understanding of how colours work together and how they affect emotions and perceptions.
Some of the most important parts of colour theory include the colour wheel, colour harmony, and the context of
how colours are used.

The colour wheel…

Sir Isaac Newton first developed the circular diagram of colours in 1666.
The three main groupings of colour include:
Primary colours, which include the three colours red, yellow, and blue, and are the
colours that cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colours.
Secondary colours, which include orange, green, and purple, and are the colours
formed by mixing the primary colours with one another.
Tertiary colours, red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-purple,
red-purple, which are the colours created by mixing a primary and a secondary
colour together, creating the hue and giving it a two word name.

Colour Harmony…
Colour harmony is based on the colour wheel and colour schemes, and is when colours work well
with one another. Practitioners use colour harmony to create specific emotions and atmosphere.
Colour harmonies can be found by using the colour wheel and the rules of colour combinations.
A colour scheme based on analogous colours, which are any three colours that are side by side
on the colour wheel.
A colour scheme based on complementary colours are any two colours directly opposite of
one another, creating maximum contrast and stability.

Colour context…
Colour context is how colours behave in relation to another colour or shape, and is the conxept that
colours have different meanings in different contexts and provokes different emotions and thoughts
depending on the context.

Visual Perception…
Visual perception is how people make sense of visual information in works of art/design. Practitioners
alter visual perception with the use of visual elements such as shape, line, texture, value, and colour,
gaining the attention of the viewers and expressing messages, meanings, and emotions through these
visual means.

Word count: 355

 Topic research- Cont
A design movement is a style or approach to design that may be characterized by shared
aesthetics, ideas, and principles. They usually arise due to cultural, economic, social, or
technological factors at the time, and often overlap and influence one another.
Some popular design movements include:
-Art Nouveau
-Baubaus
-Modernism
-Post modernism
-Minimalism
-Sustainable design
-Digital design

Art Nouveau
-Around 1890s-1910s through Europe and US
-Plants, flowers, animals – inspiration
-Pastel colour palette
-Smooth, curvy lines
-Aim was to modernise design and escape historical styles

Art Deco
-Around 1910s-1930s, first seen in Paris, then becoming popular in US and Europe
-Rich colours
-Cubist form
-Exotic influences
-Polished, smooth lines
-Glamour and elegance
-New style that was visually pleasing yet not intellectually threatening.

De Stijl
-Beginning 1917-1930s, Netherlands (Dutch movement)
-Mainly Artists and architects, also industrial design, typography, music, literature
-Use of primary colours and black and white
-Abstract and geometric forms
-Due to horror of WW1, the wish to remake society

Word count: 158

Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, Born in Dvinsk, Russia, later in life moving to
New York. In 1924 Rothko joined an acting company which
inspired and informed his work throughout his life. This led
him to referring to his paintings as drama, and directed his
beliefs that art was really an expression of emotions and
social circumstances. Rothko went on to be one of the
establishers of the abstract expressionism and colour field.
He created large scale, open structured, simplistic, colour
block pieces, made to move people and making colour
become the subject in itself.

Warm colours of yellows and oranges

Orche-coloured background creates
border around two rectangles
Top rectangle- painted with upwards
brush strokes going from more
intense at bottom to wispy at top
Bottom rectangle- different
brushstrokes creating soft indistinct
shapes within
Harmonious colours
Provoke happy, at peace emotions
due to simplicity of piece
Warm colours to draw viewer in and
evoke happy emotions and sunshine.
 MK. Emulations
Colour pallette inspiration:

Acrylic paints and pens

gradient background
warm colour pallette
Inspiration from Rothko’s focus
of colour
Simple sketch of a male as to
not draw to much attention
from background colours
evokes emotions of warmth,
happiness, and love

Colour pallette inspiration:

Focus on colour and texture

Cool colour palette
Acrylic paints
Use of painting knives to create
affect of dragging of paint
creates emotions of sadness,
and thoughtfulness.

Colour pallette inspiration:

Focus on colour and shape

simplistic
acrylic paints
unique colour
combination
used a wide paint brush to
achieve a circular shape
evokes emotions of
elegance, creativity, and
calmness
Aries Moross
Aries Moross is a London graphic designer,
creative director, and illustrator who began
their career in 2007. They have close ties to
the music industry, and use colour in unique
ways to express emotions, words, and
moods. Their brand Studio Moross has been
at the forefront of pop culture design and is
depicted by colour, experimentation, and
bold typography.

Bold, playful colours

Unique, bold, eye-catching text
Brand advertisement (Converse)
Digital drawing- photoshop
draws eyes down piece
relevant to the brand and surroundings (colourful, skate,
street art)
Creates creative atmosphere

unique colour combinations and shades

Layering pictures with shapes, colours
Digital collage/drawing- photoshop
creates a darker atmosphere
Aid the audience in gaining an
understanding of the artist
evokes emotions of curiosity (due to
layering of colours and interesting colour
combination)
 A.M Emulations
Bold letters and colours
Simplistic
Digital (Ibis Paint)
shading and layering of colours to create depth
evokes emotions of love and passion

inspiration:

Digital (Ibis Paint)

contrasting, Bold colour background
Unique shape
evokes emotion and impression of
royalty and creativity

Digital (Ibis Paint)

original in pencil
contrasting, Bold colour background
Unique shapes
evokes emotions of creativity and
happiness due to bright hues
experimentation with different
coloured backgrounds to explore how
one different colour can effect the
whole piece
 Emily Kame
Kngwarreye
Emily Kame Kngwarreye is a contemporary
Indigenous Australian artist who began her
career in her 70s. Her works mainly consist of
acrylic paintings, and each one encompasses the
substance, beauty, meaning, and history of her
land. Her designs focus on the patterns and
designs left in the landscapes, and involve fiery,
yet structured, rhythms of the native world.

Earthy tones to capture the

essence of the land.
Acrylic paints
Dotted shapes that create
unique patterns
Calm emotions due to earthy
colour palette

Earthy tones - land

unique brush strokes and dots
abstract
focuses on the colours and meaning
of the painting
Creates a sense of curiosity due to
unique shapes, patterns, and colour
shades
 E.K.K Emulations
Acrylic paints
inspiration from environment and
land around me
movement through colour shades
cool colour palette
evokes emotions of mystery and
moodiness

inspiration:

Inspired by environment
Movement
Acrylic paints and mirror
pieces
shows emotion through
colours and the main
focal point.
evokes emotions of
sadness and mystery

Inspired by environment
Acrylic paints and oil pastels
warm colour palette
pattern
evokes emotions of passion, nature, energy,
and mystery
shows emotion through movement of
colours
 Dorothy Draper
Dorothy Draper was an interior design in the US,
being the first to “professionalise” the interior
design industry by beginning her own interior
design company (Dorothy Draper & Company) in
1923. She also created own fabric designs. She was
extremely anti-minimalist, and used large prints,
unique patterns, and bright, never before seen,
colour combinations. She believed strongly that
public spaces were a place for people to come
together and feel and absorb the quality and
meaning of life and emotions. Her style and want to
break away from the historical period room styles
lead her to creating Modern Baroque.

Unique pattern and colour layering

Eyecatching, never-before-seen colour combinations
positive, creative atmosphere
anti-minimalistic
Used colour theory to create an inviting space that promotes
inclusivity and community
 D.D Emulations
Focus on colours of red and
pink shades
Pattern
creates emotions of love and
passion through colours and
shapes
Acrylic paints and artist's pen
Layering of colours and shapes

Colour pallette inspiration:

 Mike Perry
Mike Perry is an Emmy winning graphic designer,
creating pieces ranging from paintings, to patterns,
animation, to sculpture. His work focuses on bright
neon colours that encourage exploration into
abstract, joyful atmospheres. His works can be
found to be inspired by nature, many pieces taking
forms of flowers and other plants. His work is meant
to create meaning and push the viewers to dive
deeper into his pieces to find emotion and value
through each word, subject, and colour. The use of
colour in his pieces influence the viewers to work
through each piece thoroughly and take in each
unique colour combination used.

Depth in the background using

contrasting colours.
Bold lettering
unique patterns
Focus on lines, shape, and contrast
creates creative atmosphere by using
creative shapes and colourful colour
palatte.

depth in the background

through shading and shapes
unique shapes and patterns
focus on lines, shapes, and
shading
evokes emotions of nature,
energy, and happinness
 M.P Emulations
Digital (Ibis Paint)
bright neon colours
interesting detailing
through nature patterns
Focus on shapes and
colour
Evokes thoughtful
emotions like creativity,
calm, and optimism

inspiration:

Coloured pens
nature-inspired (butterfly)
Neon, bold colours
Simple background
evokes emotions of creativity
and curiosity

Digital (Ibis Paint)

depth through shading and patterns
in the background
Layering of colours
evokes emotions of passion, nature,
and mystery
Different brushes to create motion
 Practitioner
Comparison
Practitioners What Common Techniques
I’ve learnt elements and principles and media

Makes colour itself the focus, and - Paints (acrylic, oil)

art is an expression of emotion and social Colour, space, shape, and - Thin layers
Mark Rothko
circumstance. Large, open, simplistic balance. - Layered shapes
art. - large scale

Similar Practitioners:
Mark Rothko and Emily Kame
Kngwarreye are from very different
Bright, bold colours to express - Digital (photoshop)
Aries Moross emotions, and moods. Playful and experiments
Colour, shape, contrast, and
- Layering
emphasis.
with different colour combinations. - Collage

backgrounds and times, yet both of

these practitioners work focus on how
Take inspiration from the land, and - Acrylic paints
colour itself can create emotion. While Emily Kame
what she loves. Uses colours to create rhythm Colour, shape, line, and unity. - Large scale
Kngwarreye
Rothko’s pieces are more simplistic, and patterns. - dot painting

Kngwarreye’s involves more pattern and

shape.
Anti-minimalist, uses unique colour - Interior design
Colour, shape, contrast, and
Dorothy Draper combinations - Large spaces
emphasis.
Dorothy Draper and Aries Moross, while to explore and create interesting atmospheres. - layering of colours

in different industries, Moross being a

graphic designer, and Draper being an
interior designer, both these Neon colours, taking inspiration from
-Digital (photoshop)
Colour, shape, line, and - paintings (acrylic)
Mike Perry nature to create positive atmospheres within
practitioners have created work that is each piece.
emphasis. - Layering

extremely unique and eye catching,

explore interesting, bold, colour
combinations.

Sub Questions:
 Synthesis

Photo of drawing process

Digital (Ibis Paint)

Experimentation with colour
and movement using different
tools and brushes
simple sketch
evokes

Digital (Ibis Paint)

experimentation of colour and movement
using different tools and brushes
colourful colour palette
evokes creative, curious emotions
Digital (Ibis Paint)
experimentation of colour and
movement using different digital
tools and brushes
simple sketch and shapes
evokes emotions of nature, calmness,
and creativity
Synthesis
Synthesis
Conclusion
Bibliography