Color Study

This project was to do a color study where we try to match the colors in a picture by blending colors together. For my Color Study, I decided to do the Duck Stamp competition which requires a more realistic composition instead of a pixelated looking piece. To compose my piece I used reference photos, oil pastel, a tortillon, a pencil, and a 9 X 12 sheet of paper.

When putting together my reference photo I wanted to add a whole family of Harlequin Ducks so I decided to use formal balance. I composed my piece by first outlining the basic shapes in pencil and then added oil pastel. To get the color I wanted I had to layer two or three colors together and blend with a tortillon. I would add layers of oil pastel until you could not see the paper underneath making the colors look rich. What I changed in my piece was the color of the Harlequin Drake. Instead of a greyish color as seen in the reference photo, I changed it to blue as that is the color most prominently seen on a Harlequin Drake.

I chose the Harlequin Duck because of its bold, beautiful, and rich colored feathers. The theme of this piece was to be able to capture and preserve the beautiful colors of nature. It is especially important to try to save species that are in danger or else we would lose more and more parts of the world. If I were to do this again I would try to add more texture to the feathers of the ducks and the sea.