The Uses of Color The Uses of Color Sandro Chia, Rabbit for Dinner,1981. Expressive effects can be created by using strong color contrasts of hue, value, or intensity. When the basic unity of a color pattern has been established, strong contrasts of color can be used in small accents.
Compositions benefit from such accents by adding interest to an otherwise monotonous composition.
Another way to control contrast is to separate a part of the tones by a neutral line or area, especially when absolute black or white is used. Stained glass windows are a good example of this method. Using a large area of neutral gray or a neutralized color as a background for contrasts of color is another method to unify color patterns. Some artists use color combinations which defy these guidelines, but they produce art which is still satisfying and meaningful to the viewer.