Color Theory

7th Grade CruisePart II

The Color Wheel

This is the color wheel. We will be breaking it down to understand how color works.

The Primary ColorsYellow, red and blue are the primary colors. Most other colors can be mixed from the primary colors.Yellow, red, and blue cannot be mixed.

The Secondary Colors

The secondary colors are mixed from the primaries: Yellow + Red =

OrangeRed + Blue = VioletBlue + Yellow =

Green

The Intermediate Colors

The intermediate, or tertiary colors, are represented by the smallest circles on the wheel. They are

mixed from a primary and a secondary that are beside each other on the wheel.

Intermediate ColorsHere is an example

of how intermediate colors are mixed:Yellow + Orange =Yellow-Orange(Note that the

primary name is listed first.)

+ =

Tints and ShadesTo tint a color, add white.To shade a color,

add black.Example:Red + White = PinkRed + Black =

Maroon

+ =

+ =

TonesTones are created when both black and white, or gray, are added to acolor.Example:Red + Gray = Pink tone

+

=+

=

Complements Complementary

colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.

Examples are: Red and Green Yellow and Violet Blue and Orange

Split Complement

A split complement incorporates the intermediate colors surrounding one of the pairs of a com-plement. Example:Yellow with Red-

Violetand Blue-Violet

Analogous Colors

An analogous color scheme incorporatescolors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel.Example:Blue, Blue-Green, and Blue-Violet, plus tints and shades

Warm and Cool Colors

The color wheel can be divided into two areas:

Warm colors- fireCool colors- water

Cool

Warm

Look at how color schemes affect a

composition.

Too many colors, randomly placed, can be visually confusing!

The primary colors are very intense. They catch your eye!

Monochromatic colors are the tints and shades of one color. There has to be a lot of variety for this scheme to work.

A complementary color scheme uses opposite colors and therefore has wonderful contrast.

An analogous scheme flows well as the colors are closely related.

Warm colors tend to be aggressive in a composition, whereas cool colors recede.

Neutrals are the result of mixing all the colors, the primaries, or even just compliments. They tend to be in the brown to gray range.

Using the neutrals in a composition isa good way to study contrast and value.

Other ways to select colors for a composition

Triads and Tetrads

A triad is a group of three colors that are equidistant from

each other on the wheel.

A tetrad is a group of four colors on the wheel.

triad

tetrad

Select a TriadRed- Orange,

Blue-Violet, and Yellow-Green, plus their tints and shades, will be used in the following compo-sition.

The result is a harmonious composition with good contrast.

Claude Monet

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and

torment.”