Color Choices: Making Color Sense Out of Color Theory

by Stephen Quiller

Internationally renowned artist and best selling author Stephen Quiller shows readers how to discover their own personal "color sense" in Color Choices , a book that offers readers a fresh perspective on perfecting their own color styles.

With the help of his own "Quiller Wheel," a special foldout wheel featuring 68 precisely placed colors, the author shows artists how they can develop their own unique color blends. First, Quiller demonstrates how to use the wheel to interpret color relationships and mix colors more clearly. Then he explains, step by step, how to develop five structured color schemes, apply underlays and overlays, and use color in striking, unusual ways. This book will bring out every artist's unique sense of color whether he or she works in oil, watercolor, acrylics, gouache, or casein.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Design, Drawing, Photography, Art and Photography

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you, like me, have wanted to find a book that shows how an artist can use color theory in actual painting, this is the book for you. Stephen Quiller gives clear, practical lessons on how and why to choose colors when painting, using examples from his own art that makes color theory much easier to understand. Included in the book is a removable color wheel that will help in making color decisions, as well as a list of the paints used in the wheel from watercolor, acrylic and oil. I would recommend this book to beginning artists as well as advanced artists who need to learn more about the artistic use of color.

[Gale Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wonderful book about color! I have to say that I was skeptical that this book would teach me anything new about color theory. I have studied it so many times in the past that I assumed it would not cover any new ground. Boy was I wrong! I thought it was one of the most practical and logical books about color theory that I have ever come across. I borrowed it from the library but I think it is so good that I am buying it to add to my permanent collection of art books.

[VeeDawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot of good things from this book.
A favorite quote is from the artist Wolf Kahn, "... I have learned a lot about color simply by looking at the work of great colorists. One is more alert to the possibilities of color, all sorts of other possibilities then go along with that: the possibilities of greater affection for things, greater tenderness towards the world at large, greater generosity in life generally ...If you are an artist in any kind of way, what you are really driving toward is to become a deeper person."

[Kathee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough discussion of color theory and application. Like a semester's class in a book.

[Jabeeeeeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a self-taught artist & this book really helped me understand color theory. I recommend it!

[Vici · Rating 5 out of 5]

Particularly the first three chapters spoke volumes to the basic understanding of color, no matter what the interest of the reader might be. I match paint colors for people in my work and this opened up and entirely new layer of understanding for me. I highly recommend it!

[Vleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reference.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this ten stars I would. I did many of the exercises and this helped my painting improve immensely.

[Monqeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتابنا هذا وكتاب Color and Light by James Gurney
يعرضان بضعاتهما في مواضيع. كل موضوع عبارة عن مقالة قصيرة ولوحة فنية مرسومة بيد المؤلف نفسه، لكن يجب قراءته من البداية كي تفهم علاقات الألوان بشكل جيد، بعكس الكتاب الآخر الذي مواضيعه مستقلة يمكن قراءته من أي موضوع.

الكتاب يناسب الرسام والمصمم على حد سواء، لكن فائدته للمصمم قليلة، وهي نظرية لا تطبيقية كون المؤلف ينظر من وجهة نظر الرسام، والرسم هنا يعم الرسمين التقليدي والديجيتال، فكل من يرسم بيده على اللوحة أو تابلت الرسم سيستفيد.
والكاتب رسام ماهر وعبقري في اختيار الألوان، دائما ألوانه متناغمة وغير متوقعة في كثير من الأحيان.
غلاف الكتاب ظلم المحتوى كثثيرًا، فهناك لوحات طبيعية جدًا جميلة كان الأولى استخدامها.

في عجلة الألوان، يعرض الكاتب عدة تراكيب للألوان منها:
الألوان الأولية: الأصفر والأزرق والأحمر.
الألوان الثانوية: وتكون عبر خلط لونين من الألوان الأساسية.
الألوان الثالثية: وتكون عبر خلط لون أساسي مع لون ثانوي.

ويعرض عدة طرق لتنغام الألوان:
طريقة اللون الواحد مع مع درجاته.
طريقة اللون وعكسه في العجلة.
طريقة الثلاثة ألوان.
طريقة الألوان المتقاربة.
طريقة الألوان المتقاربة مع لون معاكس.

أحيانا يعلق الكاتب على لوحات الرسامين المشاهير ويشرح مواضيعه بالاستعانة بها، وفي آخر الكتاب يذكر أسماء آخرين مرتبين بحسب حركات الفن وعصور التاريخ.

[Jalal · Rating 5 out of 5]

لا اعتقد تخطىء في اختيار هذا الكتاب كمرجع في فهم نظريات تناسق الألوان.

قرأت لأكثر من شخص في نظرية الألوان لكن وجدت اما إفراط او تفريط في الجانب النظري او العملي (الفني).

الكتاب يشمل لوحات المؤلف (لا أعرف لماذا يصر البعض على ضرورة وجود لوحات لرسامين اخرين!)، ولماذا اختار هذه التشكيله من الألوان.

كما يحتوى على اختبارات وتمارين (studies) تبين تأثير التشكيلات الاخرى.

ولو اضاف عدد اكبر من هذه التمارين لكن احسن للكتاب.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about color theory from an artist perspective (instead of psychology or cognitive science point of view) was refreshing and enlightening. I also enjoyed the different approaches used in paintings (monochrome, complementary, analogous, etc).

Since I don't have an artistic background, I'm sure I missed a few key points but it was an enjoyable book.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Super annoyed right now! I purchased this ebook so I would know which Holbein watercolors to use on my expanded Quiller palette but the ebook doesn’t have the “insert”! If any kind soul could help me out I would appreciate it!

[Huw Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent book explaining colour theory and its application. I’m a photographer and my wife’s the artist. Stole it to read and it’s helping my composition and colour art in my photography.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely informative book on color; great reference for advanced artists to have on hand. He goes into a logical approach of selecting colors.

[Katarina P · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the theory that book covers but working with primaries all provided examples have a very similar look

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good summary about the theory and practice of painting in color though there is nothing original here.

[Makingamark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Currently re-reading

[Sherry (sethurner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really useful book on color theory. Quiller discusses various color schemes, exercises, and examples for each.

[Judie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book for its lovely paintings, and discussion of different color palettes. It looks like a great place to learn about color and technique if you were a painter, which I am not.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book never fails to get me inspired.

[scherzo♫ · Rating 5 out of 5]

p 16a Quiller color wheel positions pure hues & semi-neutrals by name and brand

[D.L. Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful art book. Very details in mentioning specific hues and where to apply them. A painters must-have.