Painting In Color Or Black And White?

Question

Here is a copy of my latest painting, all in glorious black and white. What do you guys think?

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/0002g0a2/g16

Not enough color for you? How about this older one?

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/00028cgz/g16

You ever just go off in a completely different direction for whatever reasons? You ever try to tackle a subject matter just for the experience of trying something different?

Mindy, I've painted in black and white before. But it's been quite a while. Here is an older (ten years ago) painting in black and white. It's surrealism and nothing like the newer one.

http://pics.livejournal.com/unmired/pic/0002dfer/g11

And thank you all for some wonderful answers.

Answer 1

I like to paint in black and white also. I feel that by painting in values of black and white you can strip the idea down to it's basic feeling. I hope you can take a little criticism about your painting. I would like to see variants of the black and white so that some gray values can be seen. By doing that you would get the feeling plus add dimension to your painting so it wouldn't look flat.

I am the moderator of an art group at Yahoo and would like you to check it out. You could post a message there about your painting and get lots of input about your artwork

Answer 2

A bold/navy blue would look nice to add some color since you have only black and white textiles and furniture. The navy blue with the white give a fresh summer feel to the room. The toile style of the comforter reminds me of the blue french toile. If you don't want to do the entire room blue I'd just do two walls the blue and the other two plain white. I'd recommend Dusk from Restoration Hardware with The Right White as your white paint. I have to say though, that Restoration Hardware's paints are pigmented so depending on how much light you get in the room and what type of light it is, (such as sun light, fluorescent etc.) the paint will vary. If you don't get a lot of light in the room I would go with Shore which is the next darkest paint in the Shore collection. If your gonna go with Shore do all four walls in Shore and the ceiling in The Right White. If you have any crown molding paint it Right White. The white will make the blue really pop and look fresh.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, I seem to go off in different directions with each breath I take for no known reason, but I mean as in, I'm "hyperish" (my new word, lol).

I'm not sure what you mean by the second part of your question, unless you mean by trying to tackle a subject matter on this Q & A. If that's the case, yes. Sometimes I look for a difficult question and try to find the answer just so I can learn it.

I think you are most likely referring to painting though, so if that's the case, then I don't have an answer because I can't even draw an apple.

I do love to look at paintings and photographs and I think that yours are pretty good. I like the one in color better, but it doesn't "say" 'Frenzy' to me. It has a busy atmosphere maybe, but it seems to glide around in more of a relaxed, liquidy way.

Answer 4

I think both of them are really great. However I usually prefer black and white. There is somthing so basic about it.So naked. So pure. So simple. Sometimes I can pick out more details without the color to interfere in what my brain is processing. Besides have you ever watched a black and white TV ot movie. After a few minutes you don't even relize it. Your brain starts to process what you are seeing in color. Imagination I guess. But sometimes watching a movie in black and white I can swear that the main actress has on a red sweater and has green eyes. But how would I know that or why do I precieve it that way. Beats me I am not a scientist but I just think it is cool.

Answer 5

Very decorative, Doc, but as you know neither black nor white is a colour. Vincent Van Gogh worked in black and white (graphite,charcoal,etc.) for 10 years before he began his oil painting. One can always learn from "going off in a completely different direction" and you appear to have benefited from it. Cudos, Doc.

Answer 6

The B&L leaves more to imagine while still pulling you in without being to harsh. The color pic is very vivid and screams to me "Culture", it makes me think "dance". Because the B&L stands on it's own without the invasion of a multitude of defining hues, I have to go for that one.

Answer 7

I like the black and white one. U should deffinately go with that one. Good luck.

Answer 8

both are beautiful but i have to agree with ^ ^ ^ and say that i like the black and white one just a little more ;)

Answer 9

http://art-artista.blogspot.com/