The blue hour is the period of twilight at dawn or dusk when the sun is below the horizon. 20-30 minutes right after sunset and right before sunrise, the indirect light takes on a blue shade that is different from the blue of the sky during a clear day.
Curious about how we perceive blue while the other colors dim, I did a bit of research into the phenomenon. One site talked about Rayleigh scattering, in which blue light bounces around our atmosphere. The next site said Raleigh scattering is incorrect, and attributed the effect to the ozone. The Atlantic had an interesting theory about how rods and cones in our eyes trade off when light is dim, but the blue cones continue.
According to Max Joesch, now of Harvard, and Markus Meister of CalTech, within the retina there are rods and cones. Rods are more sensitive to light, while cones are most sensitive to color: specifically green, red or blue. Signals from the cones are sent to the brain which then translates these messages into the perception of color. As the light dims, the cones don’t work as well and the rods become more active. The rods dampen the output of the red and green cones, much as when we stare at a green field, the receptors for green are dampened and we see red after staring at green. In low light, the rods take over as the other cones become less active, except the blue cone keeps going all on its lonesome. That gives you the impression that you’re seeing blue. (The Atlantic)
Calling all doctors and scientists to please chime in!
Until then, please enjoy the paintings featuring Blue.
These paintings aren’t about the blue hour, they’re from Picasso’s Blue Period, in which Picasso painted lots of … blue. But notice how he uses the white, yellow, and red. The red and yellow colors are muted into browns, but within the blue environment they still read as red and yellow.
Other Blue-ish Nocturny Paintings
This collection may feature images that are past the Blue Hour precisely, but notice how the blue is full, and the other colors are muted, giving us the sensation that the light for red and yellow is not just dark, but dim, muted, while the blue is full strength.
Susanna Coffey, Sevres Green Foliage From Plot Road
Susanna Coffey, High Moon Toward Mt Mansfield
Susanna Coffey, Water Years
Charles Burchfield, Winter Twilight
Can you think of a Blue Hour artwork not represented here? Please send it in, or post the artist and title on the website with this post.
Aurore de la Morinerie began as a fashion designer in Paris. She then spent two years studying chinese calligraphy, and traveled in Japan, India, China, and Egypt. She says that through calligraphy she learned concentration, strength and rapidity of execution. She now illustrates for clients like Hermes and Le Monde, with a parallel career as a fine …
I’ll be sharing my drawings on Facebook. I’d love to see yours too. Maybe your posts will inspire more people to join the challenge. Post your pics to Facebook: SeattleArtLeague, or Instagram: SeattleArtLeague. #drawingaday #seattleartleague – or email them to me. I’d love to see what you create!
Teaching an online class with the League this fall: Jonathan Harkham. Jonathan is another professional artist/instructor we found at the New York Studio School where he is an alumni and instructor. Currently under quarantine in his LA studio, Jonathan has shifted his attention from painting friends and live models to painting a series of 80’s …
This post is from Barry Berridge, a returning student who is currently in my beginning drawing class. Advice from a beginning drawing student I wanted to share an observational drawing habit I started this month that might also help other beginners: There’s a coffee shop super close to my apartment with lots of cool plants …
Blue Hour
The blue hour is the period of twilight at dawn or dusk when the sun is below the horizon. 20-30 minutes right after sunset and right before sunrise, the indirect light takes on a blue shade that is different from the blue of the sky during a clear day.
Curious about how we perceive blue while the other colors dim, I did a bit of research into the phenomenon. One site talked about Rayleigh scattering, in which blue light bounces around our atmosphere. The next site said Raleigh scattering is incorrect, and attributed the effect to the ozone. The Atlantic had an interesting theory about how rods and cones in our eyes trade off when light is dim, but the blue cones continue.
According to Max Joesch, now of Harvard, and Markus Meister of CalTech, within the retina there are rods and cones. Rods are more sensitive to light, while cones are most sensitive to color: specifically green, red or blue. Signals from the cones are sent to the brain which then translates these messages into the perception of color. As the light dims, the cones don’t work as well and the rods become more active. The rods dampen the output of the red and green cones, much as when we stare at a green field, the receptors for green are dampened and we see red after staring at green. In low light, the rods take over as the other cones become less active, except the blue cone keeps going all on its lonesome. That gives you the impression that you’re seeing blue. (The Atlantic)
Calling all doctors and scientists to please chime in!
Until then, please enjoy the paintings featuring Blue.
Picasso’s Blue Period
These paintings aren’t about the blue hour, they’re from Picasso’s Blue Period, in which Picasso painted lots of … blue. But notice how he uses the white, yellow, and red. The red and yellow colors are muted into browns, but within the blue environment they still read as red and yellow.
Other Blue-ish Nocturny Paintings
This collection may feature images that are past the Blue Hour precisely, but notice how the blue is full, and the other colors are muted, giving us the sensation that the light for red and yellow is not just dark, but dim, muted, while the blue is full strength.
Can you think of a Blue Hour artwork not represented here? Please send it in, or post the artist and title on the website with this post.
Related Posts
Aurore de la Morinerie
Aurore de la Morinerie began as a fashion designer in Paris. She then spent two years studying chinese calligraphy, and traveled in Japan, India, China, and Egypt. She says that through calligraphy she learned concentration, strength and rapidity of execution. She now illustrates for clients like Hermes and Le Monde, with a parallel career as a fine …
Drawing A Day, Day 13
I’ll be sharing my drawings on Facebook. I’d love to see yours too. Maybe your posts will inspire more people to join the challenge. Post your pics to Facebook: SeattleArtLeague, or Instagram: SeattleArtLeague. #drawingaday #seattleartleague – or email them to me. I’d love to see what you create!
Coming to the League: Jonathan Harkham
Teaching an online class with the League this fall: Jonathan Harkham. Jonathan is another professional artist/instructor we found at the New York Studio School where he is an alumni and instructor. Currently under quarantine in his LA studio, Jonathan has shifted his attention from painting friends and live models to painting a series of 80’s …
Advice from a beginning drawing student
This post is from Barry Berridge, a returning student who is currently in my beginning drawing class. Advice from a beginning drawing student I wanted to share an observational drawing habit I started this month that might also help other beginners: There’s a coffee shop super close to my apartment with lots of cool plants …