| Experience has taught us that certain | | | | rules to be followed with regard to area |
| combinations of colors, whether in | | | | and color harmony. |
| nature or art, affect the eye and mind | | | | Nor are there definite laws governing |
| agreeably, while others give offense. We | | | | the use of such phenomena when |
| call the former "harmonies," the latter | | | | alternating bands of complementary |
| "discords." | | | | colors were viewed from a certain |
| Just as numerous attempts have been made | | | | distance. Yet effects such as this are |
| to discover the laws of light and of | | | | capable of making some schemes |
| color vision, and to invent practical | | | | disagreeable and others pleasing or |
| systems of color measurement and | | | | telling. |
| notation, great effort has been expended | | | | Texture, although not a quality of |
| in trying to ferret out the reasons why | | | | color, is another influence that can |
| some combinations of color are pleasing | | | | seldom be ignored. In architecture and |
| and others are not, and to devise laws | | | | decoration, for example, materials |
| to insure harmonious color employment. | | | | harmonious in color often show textural |
| We have finally learned, however, that | | | | inconsistency or discord. A mere coating |
| even if it were possible to grasp all | | | | of varnish, changing dull woodwork to |
| such reasons, workable laws guaranteeing | | | | shiny, can be enough to upset a scheme |
| immunity against chromatic discord still | | | | completely. Even in painting pictures, |
| could not be devised. | | | | textural harmony is almost as important |
| In view of the contrary claims of some | | | | as color harmony the two are closely |
| writers, we offer the following | | | | wedded yet there are no clear cut |
| arguments to substantiate our statement. | | | | laws. |
| First, as we have demonstrated, colors | | | | Color fitness or suitability must also |
| change in effect according to their | | | | be considered, as must that ever present |
| environment, each hue being modified by | | | | matter of personal taste. After all, who |
| those adjacent to it. Color harmony is | | | | is to say which colors harmonize and |
| not merely a matter of selection, | | | | which do not? We have all seen that |
| therefore, but also of arrangement a | | | | changing fashions can have a |
| fact not nearly as commonly recognized | | | | considerable effect on the average |
| as it should be. A color scheme | | | | person`s ideas of what colors are or are |
| extremely pleasing to the average person | | | | not attractive and suitable for |
| can become, in rearrangement, positively | | | | particular purposes, especially in |
| disturbing. Arrangement obviously cannot | | | | relation to women`s clothing and |
| be controlled wholly by rule at least | | | | interior decoration. There are also, as |
| in representational paintings. | | | | we are all aware, attitudes toward |
| Area, like arrangement, influences color | | | | particular colors and color combinations |
| appearances, as we have seen. Harmonious | | | | that stem from temperament, national |
| schemes can often be made discordant, or | | | | traditions, climate, environment and |
| at least uninteresting, simply by | | | | other unpredictable factors. |
| increasing or decreasing certain color | | | | This should be enough to warn the |
| areas. Of course, the reverse is also | | | | student against the exaggerated |
| true. It is easy to see that a small | | | | statements of writers who claim or imply |
| spot of vivid red, which delightfully | | | | that their methods or systems of |
| reinforces, through contrast, a large | | | | obtaining color harmony are infallible |
| area of bright green, might, if | | | | or universally applicable. Printed laws |
| sufficiently expanded, rival the green, | | | | and clever devices designed to reveal |
| causing a disturbing division of | | | | color schemes can certainly be of help, |
| interest. But there are no arbitrary | | | | but only in a very limited way. |