Arbitrary color in art refers to a choice of color in an artwork that has no basis in the realistic appearance of the object depicted. This means an artist uses colors freely, often for expressive purposes, rather than attempting to replicate how things look in the natural world.
As the reference states, arbitrary color involves using hues that deviate completely from reality, leading to visuals like purple cows, yellow skies, or pink suns. Instead of depicting an object as it appears under natural light, the artist selects colors based on personal feeling, symbolic meaning, or aesthetic impact.
Why Artists Use Arbitrary Color
Artists employ arbitrary color for various compelling reasons, moving beyond mere visual representation to explore deeper artistic goals:
- Emotional Expression: Colors can convey feelings and moods more directly than realistic depiction. An artist might use vibrant reds and yellows to express intense passion or somber blues and greens for sadness.
- Symbolism: Certain colors hold cultural or personal symbolic meanings. Arbitrary color allows artists to use these symbols regardless of the object's actual hue.
- Emphasis and Form: Non-naturalistic color choices can be used to emphasize specific elements in a composition, define forms, or create a sense of depth and volume in unique ways.
- Breaking from Tradition: Using arbitrary color can be a deliberate move to challenge conventional realism and explore new artistic possibilities.
Examples of Arbitrary Color
While the reference gives classic examples like purple cows, yellow skies, and pink suns, arbitrary color is seen throughout art history, particularly in movements like Fauvism, Expressionism, and even in earlier periods where artists weren't strictly adhering to photographic realism.
Consider these instances:
- Painting a person's face bright green to depict jealousy or sickness.
- Using deep blues and purples for tree trunks in a forest scene to evoke a mysterious or cold atmosphere.
- Rendering water in a river bright orange or red to symbolize energy or danger.
- Depicting shadows in contrasting, non-gray colors like vibrant blues or violets, as seen in some Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works exploring light.
Arbitrary vs. Realistic Color
Understanding arbitrary color is often easier when contrasted with its opposite: realistic, or naturalistic, color.
| Feature | Arbitrary Color | Realistic Color |
|---|---|---|
| Color Choice | Based on expression, symbolism, form | Based on observed reality |
| Appearance | Does not match real-world colors | Aims to match real-world colors |
| Primary Goal | Convey feeling, emphasize ideas | Accurately depict visual world |
| Examples | Purple cow, blue tree, green face | Brown cow, green tree, skin-toned face |
In essence, arbitrary color frees the artist from the constraints of observable reality, opening up a vast spectrum of creative possibilities focused on conveying meaning and emotion through the pure power of color.
