--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Color is a plastic means of creating…" description: "\"Color is a plastic means of creating intervals... color harmonics produced by special relationships, or tensions. We differentiate now between formal t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/hans-hofmann-11062_color_color-is-a-plastic-means-of-creating-int_2603301.jpg" --- # Color is a plastic means of creating intervals... color… ![“Color is a plastic means of creating intervals... color harmonics produced by special relationships, or tensions. We differentiate now between formal tensions and color tensions, just as we differentiate in music between counterpoint and harmony.” quote by Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/hans-hofmann-11062_color_color-is-a-plastic-means-of-creating-int_2603301.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/hans-hofmann-11062_color_color-is-a-plastic-means-of-creating-int_2603301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7fe/hans-hofmann-11062_color_color-is-a-plastic-means-of-creating-int_2603301.jpg) > “Color is a plastic means of creating intervals... color harmonics produced by special relationships, or tensions. We differentiate now between formal tensions and color tensions, just as we differentiate in music between counterpoint and harmony.” [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Color can be used like music, creating tension and resolution through relationships between hues, similar to harmonic and counterpoint structures in music. **In simple terms:** Color works like music, creating tension and harmony. Key Takeaway Use color relationships to guide visual composition. Themes art design music theory creativity Mood inspired analytical Type theoretical educational When to use this quote - painting - graphic design - interior decor - fashion styling Key Concepts color harmony visual tension musical analogy Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply musical tension concepts to visual design? - What emotions do specific color relationships evoke? A Different Perspective Color perception varies across cultures, limiting universal application. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) [Color Harmonics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color-harmonics-1963230/) [Color Tensions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color-tensions-1715260/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Differentiate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differentiate/) [Formal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/formal/) [Harmonics Produced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmonics-produced-1963232/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Intervals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervals/) [Intervals Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intervals-color-1963231/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Plastic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plastic/) [Special](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special/) [Special relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/special-relationship/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Tensions Color](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tensions-color-1715261/) ## Related quotes > [Just as counterpoint and harmony follow their own laws, and differ in rhythm and movement, both formal tensions and color tensions have a development…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/just-as-counterpoint-and-harmony-follow-their-own-laws-and-differ-in/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Looking more deeply at the emergence of ISIS or the chaos that exists in Syria, Yemen and Libya would clearly raise crucial doubts about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/looking-more-deeply-at-the-emergence-of-isis-or-the-chaos-that-exists/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [California has a special relationship with the Internet. Many of the core technologies that power the Internet were invented here. Many of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/california-has-a-special-relationship-with-the-internet-many-of-the/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [“But Charlie and I have a very special relationship and I wanted to let her know I was home. Don't worry, I'm not one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/but-charlie-and-i-have-a-very-special-relationship-and-i-wanted-to/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [A lot of married people certainly have wonderful relationships with their dogs, but when you're single and your dog is the only other living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/a-lot-of-married-people-certainly-have-wonderful-relationships-with/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [The fans have always supported me; bought my books, attended my camps and wore my sneakers. I will always have a special relationship with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-frazier/the-fans-have-always-supported-me-bought-my-books-attended-my-camps/) [Walt Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-frazier/) > [What I'm clear about is that we have an opportunity through this early meeting with Donald Trump to start that process of building on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/what-i-m-clear-about-is-that-we-have-an-opportunity-through-this/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [The special relationship between America and the UK has been one of the great forces in history for justice and for peace, and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-special-relationship-between-america-and-the-uk-has-been-one-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [At the 'Guardian,' we have a special relationship with our readers. This relationship is not just about the news; it's about a shared sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/at-the-guardian-we-have-a-special-relationship-with-our-readers-this/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [ What's going to be important is having the opportunity to actually sit down with President \[Donald\] Trump and talk to him face to face,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/what-s-going-to-be-important-is-having-the-opportunity-to-actually/) [Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/) > [People in this country, Britons, have a special relationship with dogs. And like the millions of dog owners across our great nation, my wife…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alok-sharma/people-in-this-country-britons-have-a-special-relationship-with-dogs/) [Alok Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alok-sharma/) > [I think that Bill and Hillary Clinton have a very special relationship and I think in very many ways to them it's a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennifer-flowers/i-think-that-bill-and-hillary-clinton-have-a-very-special/) [Gennifer Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennifer-flowers/) > [The only guy I would not fight is Wanderlei Silva because I really have a special relationship with him that goes back a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-rua/the-only-guy-i-would-not-fight-is-wanderlei-silva-because-i-really/) [Mauricio Rua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-rua/) > [Anyhow, we obviously understand that, being a United States' ally and having a special relationship with it, the UK in its relations with Russian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/anyhow-we-obviously-understand-that-being-a-united-states-ally-and/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I think I will always feel a special relationship with The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, because for me it was something very, very special. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-deneuve/i-think-i-will-always-feel-a-special-relationship-with-the-umbrellas/) [Catherine Deneuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-deneuve/) ## More by Hans Hofmann > [The impulse of nature, fused through the personality of the artist by laws arising from the particular nature of the medium, produces the rhythm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-impulse-of-nature-fused-through-the-personality-of-the-artist-by/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The width of a line may present the idea of infinity. An epigram may contain a world. In the same way, a small picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-width-of-a-line-may-present-the-idea-of-infinity-an-epigram-may/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The art of pictorial creation is so complicated - it is so astronomical in its possibilities of relation and combination that it would take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-art-of-pictorial-creation-is-so-complicated-it-is-so-astronomical/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The general misunderstanding of a work of art is often due to the fact that the key to its spiritual content and technical means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-general-misunderstanding-of-a-work-of-art-is-often-due-to-the/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [It takes intelligence and training, self-discipline and fine-sensibility, to gain renewed life through leisure occupation. America now suffers spiritual poverty, and art must become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/it-takes-intelligence-and-training-self-discipline-and-fine/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [When the impulses which stir us to profound emotion are integrated with the medium of expression, every interview of the soul may become art.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/when-the-impulses-which-stir-us-to-profound-emotion-are-integrated/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [A thing in itself never expresses anything. It is the relation between things that gives meaning to them and that formulates a thought. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/a-thing-in-itself-never-expresses-anything-it-is-the-relation-between/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Genius is gifted with a vitality which is expended in the enrichment of life through the discovery of new worlds of feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/genius-is-gifted-with-a-vitality-which-is-expended-in-the-enrichment/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-whole-world-as-we-experience-it-visually-comes-to-us-through-the/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [I can't understand how anyone is able to paint without optimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/i-can-t-understand-how-anyone-is-able-to-paint-without-optimism/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [To worship the product and ignore its development leads to dilettantism and reaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/to-worship-the-product-and-ignore-its-development-leads-to/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [The creative process lies not in imitating, but in paralleling nature - translating the impulse received from nature into the medium of expression, thus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/the-creative-process-lies-not-in-imitating-but-in-paralleling-nature/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [To me, art is the glorification of the human spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/to-me-art-is-the-glorification-of-the-human-spirit/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [Nature's purpose in relation to the visual arts is to provide stimulus not imitation. From its ceaseless urge to create springs all Life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/nature-s-purpose-in-relation-to-the-visual-arts-is-to-provide/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) > [A thought functions only as a fragmentary part in the formulation of an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-hofmann/a-thought-functions-only-as-a-fragmentary-part-in-the-formulation-of/) [Hans Hofmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) [Explore all 62 Hans Hofmann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-hofmann/) ## More Color quotes > [We never really perceive what color is physically!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josef-albers/we-never-really-perceive-what-color-is-physically/) [Josef Albers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josef-albers/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [The color of somebody's skin or the way he wears his hair or clothes has nothing to do with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-color-of-somebody-s-skin-or-the-way-he-wears-his-hair-or-clothes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Lovecraft Country' is reclaiming all these pulp genres for people of color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-green/lovecraft-country-is-reclaiming-all-these-pulp-genres-for-people-of/) [Misha Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-green/) > [When I haven't any blue I use red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/when-i-haven-t-any-blue-i-use-red/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [A well-fashioned day - with a beginning and an end, a purpose and a content, a color and a character, a feel and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/a-well-fashioned-day-with-a-beginning-and-an-end-a-purpose-and-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [It is sometimes said that scientists are unromantic, that their passion to figure out robs the world of beauty and mystery. But is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/it-is-sometimes-said-that-scientists-are-unromantic-that-their/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. People are people. Black, blue, pink, green…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/if-you-re-white-and-you-re-wrong-then-you-re-wrong-if-you-re-black/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [Today, at Harvard, any student with the currently fashionable color of skin is given rights denied to students of the currently unfashionable color.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capp/today-at-harvard-any-student-with-the-currently-fashionable-color-of/) [Al Capp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capp/) > [Orange is my favorite color overall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt-jr/orange-is-my-favorite-color-overall/) [Dale Earnhardt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt-jr/) > [To evoke in oneself a feeling one has once experienced, and having evoked it in oneself, then by means of movements, lines, colors, sounds,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/to-evoke-in-oneself-a-feeling-one-has-once-experienced-and-having/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [We have to keep in practice like musicians. Besides, there are still potentialities to be realized in color film. To us, it's just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-land/we-have-to-keep-in-practice-like-musicians-besides-there-are-still/) [Edwin Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-land/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) [Browse all 5,594 Color quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/color/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Color is a plastic means of creating intervals... color harmonics produced by special relationships, or tensions. 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