Color Theory
Color
• Color is a property of light. When we say an object is
red, for example, we mean that its surface absorbs
certain wavelengths of light and reflects others. If
our eyes see only the long wavelengths we call red,
we identify it as a red object. If all wavelengths of
light are absorbed, we see a black object; if all are
reflected, we see a white object.
Color
There are three aspects about color that you need to
know:
•HUE: is the color we see (such as red)
•VALUE: is the lightness or darkness of a color
(maroon is a dark value of red and pink is a light
value)
•CHROMA: is the brightness or intensity of the
color (some reds are appear bright and clear while
others appear muddy or dull
The Color Wheel
•There are 3 primary colors: Red, Yellow and Blue
•These colors can’t be mixed to be made
•They make all the other colors on the wheel
•If you draw straight lines connecting the primaries, you will
create a triangle
The Color Wheel
•When you mix equal parts of 2 primary colors together, you
get a secondary color
•Secondary colors are Orange, Green, and Violet (Purple)
•If you draw straight lines connecting secondary colors, you
will create a triangle
Making Color
When you mix equal parts of a primary and a secondary
color together, you will get a tertiary color
Tertiary colors are Red-Orange, Red-Violet, Blue-Green,
Blue-Violet, Yellow-Orange and Yellow-Green
•
Colors have a visual
temperature
Some are warm and some are
cool
Warm Colors
Red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange and yellow are warm colors
Warm colors appear to advance (or come forward) in a picture and make
objects appear to be larger
They remind us of fire or sun and bring excitement and boldness to art.
Warm colors make objects seem larger and to come forward (advance) in
a work of art
Cool Colors
Greens, blues, and violets are cool colors.
Cool colors appear to recede (or go back into) the picture and
make objects seem smaller.
These colors are calm and restful. They make us think of cool
water, distant mountains, sky and foliage.
Yellow-Green and Red-Violet can function as either
warm or cool since they have properties of both. In
a painting that is primarily cool, red-violet would
add warmth while in a warm color scheme, it would
appear cooler
Putting both warm and cool colors in a painting gives it
balance and creates interesting contrast
Tints, Tones and Shades
•When white is added to a hue, the resulting color is called a TINT---for example, pink is the
resulting color when white is added to red. Tints seem to come forward in a picture and tend
to make objects look bigger and appear to float or rise up in space.
•When black is added to a hue, it produces a SHADE. Navy blue is a shade of blue and
maroon is a shade of red. Shades make objects appear heavy and sink, to seem smaller and to
recede or go back.
•By adding gray to a hue, it produces a TONE. This dilutes the intensity of the color.
•By altering a hue in this way, we are changing its VALUE
Color Schemes
COLOR SCHEMES ARE LOGICAL, BALANCED
RELATIONSHIPS OF COLORS based on the twelve hue
color wheel. Using color schemes eliminates the need for
selecting colors based on trial and error. They are useful in
establishing visual unity and preventing poor color
combinations.
Learning how to use color is important. If you just add
colors to a picture without thinking about why you’re using
them, the result could be visually confusing.
You must think of the mood you wish to convey with your
work and choose colors appropriately.
Sometimes, less is more.
Color Schemes
Monochromatic: Mono means one and
Chroma means color. Thus
Monochromatic means all shades and
tints of one color.
Depending upon the color chosen, this
can be a calm or exciting color scheme
to use.
Color Schemes
Complimentary: A compliment is a good thing, correct. Well, in a
complimentary color scheme, 2 colors compliment each other because
they are equally strong. Complimentary colors are directly opposite
each other on the color wheel. Examples are Violet and Yellow, Blue
and Orange, and Red and Green
This color scheme can be hard on the eye because both colors are equally
strong and fight for the eyes attention. However, they can create
wonderful optical illusions because they tend to vibrate against one
another.
Color Schemes
A Split Complimentary color scheme is when you
chose a color and the two colors on either side of
the chosen colors compliment. Examples include:
Red and Yellow-Green and Blue-Green or Blue and
Yellow-Orange and Yellow-Green
This scheme can create vibrant contrast in a work of
art.
Color Schemes
• A Triadic color scheme is a set of 3 colors
(tri means 3) that are equally spaced apart
on the color wheel. Examples are Red, Yellow
and Blue or Orange, Green and Violet.
Color Schemes
• An Analogous color scheme is the use of 3-4 colors that are
next door neighbors because they live side by side on the color
wheel. Examples could include: Red, Red-Orange, Orange, and
Yellow-Orange or Blue-Green, Blue and Blue-Violet
Color Schemes
• Black, White, Gray and Brown are
neutral colors and are not on the color
wheel.
An Achromatic color scheme is the use
of black, white and shades of gray.
Can you identify the color
schemes used in the following
works of art?