This essay will analyze the painting Approaching Thunder Storm by Martin Johnson Heade. The painting portrays a man sitting near a seashore. There is also a dog nearby, as well as two dhows sailing in the sea. The painting depicts the sea and the clouds as black, which shows that this painting was done when there was some darkness. Color is one of the pivotal elements in any given image. The painter used various colors to bring out a clear distinction between various regions or areas represented in the painting. The colors also help the viewer to discern the exact time of the day the image represents.
Black is one of the transparent colors in the painting. The painter used black paint to bring out various components comprised in the image. One of the black colors used is to bring out the real-time when the painting was done. The fact that the clouds and the sea are displayed as black shows that the image was done when there was darkness. If the painting was done at day time, the clouds and the seawater could possess a bluish color. Secondly, the black color helped the painter display the two shows sailing in the sea. The black paint was also used by the painter to reveal the presence of hills at the edge of the sea.
The painter also made use of golden paints in his painting. The golden color creates a clear distinction between the sea and the dry ground. The golden color also reveals that there was some light originating from an un-revealed source despite the evidence of darkness brought about by black paint on the seawater and the clouds. However, most probably, the golden color was originating from the sun when either rising or setting. The fact hence shows that the painting was either done early in the morning or in the evening. The grayish color at the end of the image seen between the black colors of the seawater and the sky shows clearly that there is a source of light enclosed by the clouds. This also proves that the paintings in real-time were either in the morning or evening. The painter also used green color to reveal the plantation evident on the seashores.
The painter used the above-named colors expertly to bring out an excellent painting, which attracts the eyes of the viewer. It also helps the viewer to highlight and distinguish various components represented in the image and mixed up colors of a dark and golden bright show that the painting was carried out when there was a transition either from the darkness to daylight or from daylight to dusk. The colors also help the viewer to understand the painter’s mind as well as the exact time when the painting was developed. The above discussion shows how colors are essential in an image. They should be used selectively and expertly since they help the viewers a lot when it comes to analyzing paintings. It is, therefore, clear that colors mean a lot in any given image.