Gray Significance

The grey, as defined by its nature, it is intervenient back and white without the hue of color. It is not belong to any color as its property characteristics, which is blur and Confucian of Middle. The grey does not lean to any color; however, in the painting, the grey shows its tendency that is an intermediate hue of color with low purity and lightness. It exists relatively to the high purity and lightness therefore it becomes an essential component for the color appearance of the painting. In this article, the analysis and research are based on the grey that used in the oil painting from the perspective of technique practice of the oil painting. The grey is analyzed by the three stages of the hue application development.The first stage, it is about the grey usage for the"chiaroscuro"relationships in the classical oil painting. In summary, the grey color functions as the"portray the body"purpose in this stage. For the second stage, it focuses on the practice of the grey lightening that for the"warm and cool"and"color compensation"relationships in the impressionist and post impressionist paintings. The grey in this stage evolutes to harmonic and tendency gradually. At the third stage, it looks into the nature meaning of the grey. Based on the"Metaphysical"practice of the grey hue, it proves that grey is not only a color tool but also a painting language. Overall, the value and its irreplaceable of grey will be proved in this article by analyzing its practices in the oil painting creation.