6 Reasons I Like Monochromes

The Power of the Monochromatic palette is amazing.  What impact can be had with one colour!   Photographs, Oils, Acrylics, Inks, Watercolours – monochromes are relevant, contemporary and beautiful. The freedom exploring the full range of tonal nuances is too often ignored with our  preoccupation with colour.

 

Monochrome: mono  (one)    chrome  (colour)

A monochromatic image is created by choosing one colour, whether it is purple or brown, or  blue   and then creating as many tonal variations (shades)  as needed for the particular subject and mood.

Sensational monochromes can create nuances of light and shadow conveying a mood and telling a story.  All without the fuss and bother of being overloaded with way too many colours.

 

Cattails Faded In Winter  photograph, I just took yesterday.  Yes, with my new prime lens,  I’m practicing, diligently!

At any rate,  I love this photo.  the soft blurred edges of the background coming into sharper focus into the foreground really give it depth.  The fact that its all monochromatic dull sienna browns adds to the winter is here effect.   And by being monochromatic,  we don’t lose sight of the sharp threads of fluff that are just on the verge of spinning free on the wind.   My colour photos of  cattails, from a few weeks ago….. do not even come close to have this same feeling and impact.

 

 

Palm Bark Threads … come to life in this monochromatic palette,  good contrasts and detail show up nicely against the deeper darks.

 

Monochromes are simply a fantastic technique for Beginners to gain more depth, mystery, intrigue  with much less stress and can be  more evocative than the full spectrum of colour.

 

Monochrome on Rice Paper,  has a loose and sensitive style.  I was aiming to convey the feel of the place as opposed to the place itself.  And in this context, perhaps  in a slight way, I think reminiscent of Claude Lorrain.

The French artist, Claude Lorrain had a fluid, loose and expressive way of working that was really delightful. Lorain had a real way with conveying the feeling of the place!   He used the monochromatic technique brilliantly, especially in The Tiber from Monte Mario which is a featured painting in my book,   Tate Watercolour Manual  Lessons from the Great Masters,  see the recent related post Delacroix to Klee: Great Art Books.    Many of the workshop landscape themes at Atwell Gallery are based on the loose and free style of these great masters.

Prussian Blue Monotype  is a very good example of  a wide range of tonal values and nuances, having at least 9 tones.  From nearly white,  progressing all the down to a  velvety blue black!

6  Reasons I like Monochromes

• I can create my sufficiency of tonal values without being DISTRACTED by  ‘colours’
• I can focus on mood, feeling, applying the tonal nuances with …Sensitivity
• I can say More,  with Less    i.e.     its  easier    and  Easy is good!
• I can choose which colour to use for my Monochrome, it does not have to be black and white all the time
• I can explore and try new techniques with a bit more confidence, knowing I only have Tones to deal with, not Colour too
• I can focus on creating betting depth in my backgrounds, middle grounds,  and foregrounds through my placement of tones