The Making of a Surf Painting

Colour Comps.

What does Colour Comp' mean? It is a term used to describe a comprehensive study of colour possibilities. In this particular exercise, our range of possibilities is limited to the location, and time of day; however, there is a choice of three colour groups, based on the three primaries, Red, Yellow, and Blue.

My method is derived from the so-called 'Golden age of Illustration.' How I accomplish this is by deciding which one of the three best primaries suits my purpose. In this case I chose Yellow.

I want to use the colour which is associated with the main subject, which is the woman surfing. This is how it works. Which ever of the three primaries you choose, mix that colour with the other two primaries, so that, in this case, the Red, and Blue, have some Yellow mixed in with them, and they become tinted by the chosen primary, thereby lessening their intensity, or chroma. Only the yellow is pure, and the eye focuses on that colour, and anything painted with the other two are lessened in intensity, and do not compete with each other.

In most cases, using two or three primaries together in the same picture destroys the subtlety of colour harmony. I chose the yellow because I wanted to have the surfer, especially her face, glow with a golden 'from here to eternity' look.

My process was to take the chosen pencil sketch and trace an outline from it (top-left image below). Then make multiple Xerox’s from it. I chose to use Tria coloured markers, but any medium will do. The Xerox process is wonderful, because different variations are easily obtainable from the basic image. Sunset, fog, rain, front lit, back lit etc.

The Art Director chose to combine comps #3 and #4. (bottom two images below). I used the background of that combination, and we decided to make a comp from the figure in #2 (top-right image below). I will continue this colour process when we go to 'final colour in paint.'

In our next talk we will go into style, surface and medium...


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Ron Croci {click here to view Ron's COTW profile/showcase}

Original paintings and prints can be purchased from Ron. Visit Ron's website at www.roncroci.com. Ron is also represented by Mckibben Gallery, Corona Del Mar, California and Surfing Artist International, Ocean City, New Jersey.