Color Theory
lesson 11
COLOR
This lesson will focus on the practical application of Color Bias Theory and basic color mixing using Wendy’s favorite 22 colored
pencils. How do you choose which pencils to mix when trying to match a color in nature? To assit you in this decision, it is
helpful to understand Color Bias Theory. Careful combinations of these pencils will enhance three-dimensional form and realistic
color in your botanical drawings. The objective of this lesson is to explore and experiment with color. Color theory is a broad and
complicated subject, but we will try to keep it as simple and practical as possible. This lesson relies heavily on the accompanying
videos. Watch the videos to fully engage with this lesson.
For a detailed explanation of color theory please read Chapter 7 – “Understanding Color” in Wendy’s Book: Botanical
Drawing in Color – A Basic Guide to Mastering Realistic Form and Naturalistic Color. Also refer to page 3 of this program,
Year of Botanical Drawing, for a list of the 22 colored pencils.
COLOR BIAS THEORY
1
Color is created by mixing pigments. This course recommends 22
2
Bias Orange
pencil pigments. Some of these pencils mix to create bright colors,
while others will appear dull when mixed. All colors stem from three
primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. Variations of red, yellow, and
blue will be bias toward a secondary color: green, orange, or violet.
Bias Green
3
When mixing colors that are bias toward the same secondary color,
the results are often bright; when mixing colors that are bias to
opposite secondaries, the result will be a dull color.
4
6
5
Bias Violet
Color wheel showing color bias
Six primary colors and the corresponding pencils.
COLOR MIXING EXPERIMENTS–VIDEO PART 1
In video ‘Part I’ Wendy demonstrates Color Bias Theory using only
primary colors. While watching the video, experiment with Wendy
by making your own color blends using only the six pencils listed
above. Each of these pencils has a warm or a cool bias. Using the
template shown here, create three charts:
•
•
•
Red and yellow, to make orange
Yellow and blue, to make green
Blue and red, to make violet
When blending primary colors that have opposing biases, notice
the color’s dullness.
© wendy hollender 2016
Color Theory
lesson 11
CREATING NEUTRALS WITH COMPLEMENTARY COLORS
Complementary colors are opposite on the color wheel. Any two complementary colors “complete” each other, meaning that
together they contain all three primary colors. When you mix two complementary colors together, the result is often a neutral,
or “brownish” color. When you understand how complements mix to create neutrals, you can adjust your drawing to match
colors that you find in nature. For example, if you are drawing a green leaf that is beginning to turn brown in autumn, you
could add red to the green to neutralize that color.
When complementary colors are combined,
all three primary colors are included and
therefore appear brown or neutral.
Green leaf turning red and all
the shades in between.
COLOR MATCHING – VIDEO PART 2
Watch Part 2 of the video for this lesson to see Wendy color-matching botanical
subjects. When you choose a botanical subject to draw, think about how you will
create the colors in your subject. To establish those parameters, think about the
chart on the left, showing Hue, Value, and Intensity. Each color has a hue (the
true pigment color), value (how dark or light it is–or how much dark sepia it
may contain), and intensity (how bright or dull it is). Once you understand the
ingredients in a color, choosing pigment combinations can be less intimidating.
•
•
To match hue, use Color Bias Theory to adjust your colors.
To build tone, use dark sepia or other dark colors relative to the hue for
darks and burnish with white or ivory for lighter values.
•
To adjust intensity, add complements or neutrals to dull bright colors.
CREATIVE COLOR WHEEL DESIGN CHALLENGE
Your assignment for this lesson is a color experiment and an exercise in creating a
reference tool for future drawings. To add a little fun, this is also a design challenge for
all the students in the program. We will have a People’s Choice Award for stand-out
drawings. Students will vote on their favorite creative color graphic.
Challenge: Use 6, 12, or 22 pencils to design a unique color wheel or
informational graphic that illustrates a concept from this lesson that you find
compelling (the color bias theory, color mixing, color matching, etc.). The Creative
Color Wheel assignment is designed to help you develop an understanding of color
mixing and color blending without worrying about a realistic botanical subject,
though you can use a realistic botanical subject if you choose to do so. Get creative!
© wendy hollender 2016
Wendy’s Creative Color Wheel