COLOUR - what is it and how do we see colour?
Every object we see has colour, and it is an essential part of how we interpret the world. But color isn’t an inherent quality of the objects in front of us. Consider a classic red apple. If you look at it under a blue-tinted light, it will appear somewhat blue, and if you look at it under no light, you won’t see anything. So, what colour is the apple?
As it turns out, colour is simply a perception of energy and specific wavelengths of light that reach our eyes. It can also vary based on the biology of a person and how their brain receives signals, so two people may not see an object as the exact same colour. Let’s take a closer look at what colour actually is.
SOURCE: https://www.hunterlab.com/blog/what-is-color-and-how-do-we-see-color/www.hunterlab.com/blog/what-is-color-and-how-do-we-see-color/
Light travels into the eye to the retina located on the back of the eye. The retina is covered with millions of light sensitive cells called rods and cones. When these cells detect light, they send signals to the brain. Cone cells help detect colors.
Every object we see has colour, and it is an essential part of how we interpret the world. But color isn’t an inherent quality of the objects in front of us. Consider a classic red apple. If you look at it under a blue-tinted light, it will appear somewhat blue, and if you look at it under no light, you won’t see anything. So, what colour is the apple?
As it turns out, colour is simply a perception of energy and specific wavelengths of light that reach our eyes. It can also vary based on the biology of a person and how their brain receives signals, so two people may not see an object as the exact same colour. Let’s take a closer look at what colour actually is.
SOURCE: https://www.hunterlab.com/blog/what-is-color-and-how-do-we-see-color/www.hunterlab.com/blog/what-is-color-and-how-do-we-see-color/
Light travels into the eye to the retina located on the back of the eye. The retina is covered with millions of light sensitive cells called rods and cones. When these cells detect light, they send signals to the brain. Cone cells help detect colors.
THE RELATIVITY OF COLOR
A colour has many faces, and one colour can be made to appear as two different colors. Here it is almost unbelievable that the left small and the right small squares are part of the same paper strip and therefore are the same colour. And no normal human eye is able to see both squares — alike.
Source: https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/08/16/interaction-of-color-josef-albers-50th-anniversary/
A colour has many faces, and one colour can be made to appear as two different colors. Here it is almost unbelievable that the left small and the right small squares are part of the same paper strip and therefore are the same colour. And no normal human eye is able to see both squares — alike.
Source: https://www.themarginalian.org/2013/08/16/interaction-of-color-josef-albers-50th-anniversary/
After-image illusion
An afterimage is a non-specific term that refers to an image continuing to appear in one's vision after the exposure to the original image has ceased.
Source: http://mesosyn.com/mental8-15.html
An afterimage is a non-specific term that refers to an image continuing to appear in one's vision after the exposure to the original image has ceased.
Source: http://mesosyn.com/mental8-15.html
OP ART
Optical illusions date back to ancient Greece and were used to explore the complexities of human vision and the human mind. Hidden images were a popular form of optical illusion, especially in the 19th century when scientists were particularly interested in the mechanics of visual illusions. Optical illusions later became popular in society as a form of entertainment and were used casually among friends, in books and magazines, and even in stage productions. Eventually, optical illusions made their way into the art world.
SOURCE: https://www.artlex.com/art-movements/op-art/
SOURCE: https://www.artlex.com/art-movements/op-art/
Victor Vasarely, Homage to Picasso, 1973, Museum of Modern Art, New York.
AFTER-IMAGE EFFECT
The ‘after-image effect’ demonstrates the interaction of colour caused by interdependence of colour: On the left are yellow circles of equal diameter which touch each other and fill out a white square. There is a black dot in its center. On the right is an empty white square, also with a centered black dot. Each is on a black background. After staring for half a minute at the left square, shift the focus suddenly to the right square. Instead of the usual colour-based afterimage that would complement the yellow circles with blue, their opposite, a shape-based afterimage is manifest as diamond shapes — the ‘leftover’ of the circles — are seen in yellow. This illusion double, reversed afterimage is sometimes called contrast reversal.
The ‘after-image effect’ demonstrates the interaction of colour caused by interdependence of colour: On the left are yellow circles of equal diameter which touch each other and fill out a white square. There is a black dot in its center. On the right is an empty white square, also with a centered black dot. Each is on a black background. After staring for half a minute at the left square, shift the focus suddenly to the right square. Instead of the usual colour-based afterimage that would complement the yellow circles with blue, their opposite, a shape-based afterimage is manifest as diamond shapes — the ‘leftover’ of the circles — are seen in yellow. This illusion double, reversed afterimage is sometimes called contrast reversal.
“Beginning adult art students rarely see what is in front of their eyes—that is, they do not perceive in the special way required for drawing.
They take note of what's there, and quickly translate the perception into words and symbols mainly based on the symbol system developed throughout childhood and on what they know about the perceived object.”
...Betty Edwards
They take note of what's there, and quickly translate the perception into words and symbols mainly based on the symbol system developed throughout childhood and on what they know about the perceived object.”
...Betty Edwards