Samohi Home I Art Department I Painting

Painting 1 - Reverse Color

Students start with an original image from a magazine or book. They may alter this image, but must retain most of the elements of the original - matching about 80% of the original. After drawing the picture on their boards, they then REVERSE the colors of the original by using colors on the opposite side of the color wheel. Color values must be similar to those of the original image; i.e., darks remain dark, but with a different color focus (bluish blacks become orangeish blacks), green mountains become red, and a yellow-orange portrait becomes purple-blue. Students focus on creating surprising color combinations rather than worrying about finding colors that are exactly opposite the original. Experimentation with different brush strokes or painting techniques is encouraged.
The images below were created by the class of 2004-2005.



Nhi Vo


Ryane Acalin





Ashley Boyd

Cara Safon



Jordan Rosencheck



Christine Lim



Jenna Robbins



Lindsay Avolio


MacKenzie Brown