Subtractive Theory of Color, Continued
Adjacency
Adjacency, or color reflecting from pigments or surfaces near the object also
affects local color. Colors placed side-by-side will modify each other.
Complimentary colors placed side-by-side will seem more intense than if they
stood by themselves. Also, intense color will seem brighter and more intense
against a greyed color (a color that contains neutral grey or complimentary
color) than it will against a color of similar high density.
For this reason, do
not compare color on your palette. Compare colors as you paint and make
adjustments as you work. In the following illustration, notice how reflecting
color from the computer monitor affects the faces of the Sailors.
Figure 2-23 illustrates how the reflected color of the computer screen affects
the faces of the Sailors.
Figure 2-23.—Adjacency or reflected color warms the faces of these Sailors.
Continued on next page
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