1. Home
  2. Hobbies & Games
  3. Painting

November Painting Project: Using Color Expressively

Challenge yourself with this painting project to use color expressively.

From Marion Boddy-Evans, About.com

1 of 40

November Painting Project: Using Color Expressively

"Contemplation" by Marion Boddy-Evans. Pastel on A1 paper

Image: ©2002 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc
"Instinct is the foundation of art. I try to paint with my heart and my loins."
-- Maurice de Vlaminck

The challenge of this painting project is to paint any subject using colors that represent your emotional response to or feelings you get from what you're painting, rather than using the actual colors of the subject. Take your lead from the paintings by Fauvist, a and Expressionist artists such as Matisse.

For example, if you're an environmentalist painting a scene of pollution, you might uses lots of strong reds and dark blues/blacks to express your anger. Or if you're painting a portrait of a friend, you might use their favorite color as the dominant color, rather than their skin tone. If you've a favorite landscape you may paint it in bright reds, yellows, and oranges to express the happiness it generates, rather than its actual greens and browns.

See Also:
How to Paint Like an Expressionist
Exhibition Photos: Vincent van Gogh and Expressionism

Note: New submissions for this project gallery are currently not being accepted. Check the list of monthly painting projects to see what this month's project is.
  1. Home
  2. Hobbies & Games
  3. Painting
  4. Painting for Beginners
  5. Painting Projects/Galleries
  6. November Painting Project Using Color Expressively -- Project Instructions>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.