Leo Martínez
Polychrome is a painting style that uses multiple colours, and it can be applied to a variety of mediums, including sculpture, pottery, architecture, and painting. The style has been used throughout history, from medieval Europe to Victorian times, and up to the present day. The technique involves using three or more colours to create a vibrant and decorative effect. When painting in a polychrome style, it is important to consider the placement and harmony of colours to avoid a choppy appearance and to use breaks between colours to highlight architectural features.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of colour | Bright colours, including purple, yellow, red, green, and white |
| Application | Painted directly on the surface or used on a raised, carved surface |
| Techniques | Polychrome glazing, dyeing, gilding, shellac, and wax polish |
| Style | Victorian, Neoclassical, Byzantine, Pompeian, Baroque, Rococo |
| Purpose | To highlight architectural features, create a sense of harmony, and enhance the visual impact |
| Considerations | Avoid excessive highlighting, stark contrasts, and too-bright colours |
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What You'll Learn
Use breaks between colours to highlight architectural components
Painting in a polychrome style involves employing a range of colours to decorate and highlight structures. The use of breaks between colours is an important technique to master when painting in this style. This technique is not merely about making architectural components stand out but rather using colour to clarify the role and relationship among architectural elements.
When using breaks between colours, it is important to remember that intensity appears greater when seen on a large surface. Similarly, the apparent contrast between two colours is greater when viewed on a large scale. For example, when comparing the building to paint chips. To avoid a choppy polka-dot effect, it is important not to excessively highlight small architectural elements.
You can use a transition colour to buffer high contrast. For example, if you are using burgundy mouldings with pale putty walls, you could use warm grey and dusty rose as transition colours between the putty and burgundy. You don't have to break the colour right at the edge of a moulding or change in plane. Sometimes bringing an adjacent colour up over the first plane in a moulding will knit the parts together, avoiding a static appearance.
In general, paint projecting elements in lighter colours and recessed elements in darker colours. That way, you are working with the effect of natural light and shadow, not against it. Use darker colours at the bottom and lighter colours at the top of an architectural element.
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Avoid violent colour contrasts
When painting in a polychrome style, it is important to avoid violent colour contrasts. This is because stark contrasts can make one portion of the painting glaringly prominent, detracting from the overall architectural unity. To avoid this, you can use a transition colour to buffer the contrast. For example, if you are using burgundy mouldings with pale putty walls, the two colours will present too high a contrast. To remedy this, you can use transition bands or accents of warm grey and dusty rose between the putty and burgundy.
Another way to avoid violent colour contrasts is to use breaks between colours to enhance and highlight architectural components. This means using colour to clarify the role and relationship among architectural elements, rather than simply making them stand out. Additionally, you can use a bright or strongly contrasting accent colour effectively in small amounts, such as a stripe or an accent colour on a chamfered edge.
It is also important to consider the scale of the colours used. The apparent contrast between two colours is greater when viewed on a large scale, such as on a building, compared to on paint chips. Therefore, it is recommended to paint large-scale samples of chosen colours before committing to the final painting. This will allow you to assess the contrast and make any necessary adjustments.
Furthermore, you can avoid violent colour contrasts by using darker colours at the bottom and lighter colours at the top of an architectural element. This creates a grounding effect and avoids a top-heavy appearance. By following these guidelines, you can create a harmonious and cohesive polychrome painting while avoiding violent colour contrasts.
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Use transition colours to buffer high contrast
Polychrome painting involves decorating architectural elements, sculptures, and other objects in a variety of colours. While polychrome schemes can be striking and beautiful, they can also be challenging to execute successfully. One of the most important guidelines to follow when creating a polychrome colour scheme is to avoid violent contrasts between adjacent colours. This is because stark contrasts can detract from the overall harmony of the design, making one portion glaringly prominent and resulting in a choppy, polka-dot effect.
To create a harmonious polychrome design, it is essential to use transition colours to buffer high contrast between adjacent colours. For example, if you are combining burgundy mouldings with pale putty walls, the contrast between the two colours may be too high. To resolve this issue, you can introduce transition bands or accents of colours that will soften the transition between the putty and burgundy. In this case, warm grey and dusty rose shades can serve as effective transition colours.
Another way to ensure a smooth transition between colours in a polychrome scheme is to paint projecting elements in lighter colours and recessed elements in darker colours. This technique works with the effects of natural light and shadow, creating a sense of depth and unity in the design. Additionally, it is generally recommended to use darker colours at the bottom and lighter colours at the top of architectural elements.
When creating a polychrome colour scheme, it is crucial to consider the impact of scale. Remember that the intensity of a colour and the contrast between two colours will appear greater when viewed on a large surface compared to a small colour chip or card. Therefore, it is advisable to paint large-scale samples of your chosen colours before committing to the final design. This will allow you to assess the colours in context and make any necessary adjustments.
By following these guidelines and using transition colours effectively, you can create a harmonious and visually appealing polychrome design that enhances the architectural elements and avoids the pitfalls of high-contrast colour combinations.
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Paint projecting elements in lighter colours and recessed elements in darker colours
Painting in a polychrome style involves the use of multiple colours, and was particularly popular in Victorian architecture and design.
When painting projecting elements, it is recommended to use lighter colours. This is because lighter colours tend to reflect light, and by using lighter colours on projecting elements, you can emphasise the sense of projection and work with the effect of natural light, rather than against it.
On the other hand, recessed elements are best painted in darker colours. This is because darker colours absorb light, and so by using darker colours on recessed elements, you can enhance the sense of recession and shadow.
It is also worth noting that darker paints tend to be more opaque and provide better coverage, whereas lighter paints often require multiple coats to achieve the same level of opacity. As such, it is generally advisable to paint lighter colours on top of darker colours, as dark paints can cover light paints more easily and in fewer coats.
Additionally, when working with polychrome, it is important to consider the size of the elements being painted. Larger surfaces will make colours appear more intense and increase the perceived contrast between colours. It is recommended to avoid excessive highlighting of small elements, as this can create a choppy polka-dot effect. Instead, use breaks between colours to highlight and enhance architectural components, and consider using transition colours to buffer high contrast between light and dark shades.
Finally, when painting in a polychrome style, it is important to plan and sample colours before beginning. Paint large-scale samples of chosen colours in a given area to ensure that the colours work well together and that the contrast is not too great.
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Use matte paint and build up a shellac and wax polish
To achieve a polychrome finish using matte paint and a build-up of shellac and wax polish, follow these steps:
Start by applying a coat of matte paint to your surface. This could be a piece of furniture or a carved wooden object, such as a Byzantine analogion. Allow the paint to dry completely. Next, you will need to rub the paint vigorously with a rag. This step is important as it will polish and highlight the raised edges, creating a unique texture and adding a sense of depth to your work. It will also bring out the shine and create a more lustrous surface.
The next step is to apply a coat of clear shellac. Shellac is a versatile varnish that can be painted over various surfaces, including bare wood, painted wood, and even waxed wood. It dries very quickly and provides a beautiful glassy finish. When applying shellac, you can use a brush or a cotton rubber, depending on the desired effect and the size of your project. For a high-gloss finish, a cotton rubber is ideal, while a brush is more suitable for smaller areas or when you want to create a barrier coat. If using a brush, be sure to choose a good-quality one to achieve a flawless finish, as shellac dries within seconds, leaving no time to smooth out brush marks.
Finally, complete the process by applying wax. Rub your project down with ultra-fine steel wool and then apply a coat of paste wax. This final step will enhance the richness and attractiveness of the finish. The wax will also protect the shellac, preventing it from absorbing moisture and developing a bloom.
By following these steps, you will create a polychrome finish with a unique patina that invites touch and emphasizes the relief of the carving, making your piece visually striking even from a distance.
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Frequently asked questions
Polychrome is a style of painting that uses multiple colours. It has been used in a variety of ways, including in pottery, sculpture, architecture, and painting.
There are a few different polychrome techniques. In sculpture, a combination of coloured carved and incised lower surfaces is created using a "framing" technique. This can be rectilinear or curvilinear. In architecture, polychrome is often used to highlight certain trim features. In pottery, three or more mineral colour slips are used to decorate the ceramic.
Some tips for painting in a polychrome style include:
- Keep it simple, especially if you are a novice.
- Avoid violent contrasts.
- Use breaks between colours to enhance and highlight architectural components.
- Use a transition colour to buffer high contrast.
- Paint projecting elements in lighter colours and recessed elements in darker colours.
Polychrome has been used in a variety of historical contexts. During the Byzantine era, polychrome was used in churches to create a stark contrast between the drab clothing and household goods of the common people and the beauty and richness of colour in the heavenly realm. In the 19th century, the discovery of frescos in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum led to the decoration of Neoclassical houses with colourful Pompeian-style frescos.
Yes, there are online courses available that teach polychrome techniques, such as the "Sculpture and Colour: Polychrome Techniques" course by Tomas Barcelo on Domestika.
