Color Theory 101

Color Basics

One of the things that used to scare me to death was using color in art. I was way better at drawing with a pencil or pen and leaving it all to black and white to convey the picture or idea that I wanted to show. After taking a color theory class, my eyes were opened to a whole new world. Color.

The basics of color theory start with the color wheel. Another word for color is Hue. The color directly across from another color is called it's complementary color. For example, the red color block is directly across from the green color block. Complementary colors are opposite to each other and have a vibrating effect when placed side beside. The colors vibrate with intensity when side beside each other but when mixed (as in paint) they cancel one another out and usually form a greyish tone. When making a shadow for an object, instead of using black, try using the complementary color of the object mixed with the main color. It is a much more believable color and effect.

Color Divisions

Colors are divided into groups, Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary (or Intermediate). Primary colors are Red, Yellow And Blue. All other colors can be attained by mixing these colors, and/or adding black or white. Primary colors can not be made by mixing other colors. For example red and yellow make orange but you cannot mix blue or yellow to make red.

Secondary colors are colors made by mixing two primary colors. Orange is a secondary color. Yellow (a primary color) and Red (another primary) make a secondary color. Orange.

Tertiary or Intermediate colors are produced from mixing a primary and a secondary. It's all simple math. primary (1)+ secondary (2) = tertiary (3).

EXERCISE : Try making your own color wheel. Get Yellow, Red, and Blue and recreate the color wheel using only those three colors. Red and Yellow make Orange. Yellow and blue make Green. Red and Blue make Purple. Make blue-green, yellow green, yellow orange , red orange, etc, until you replicate the wheel.

Primary, Secondary and Tertiary colors

Source: www.the-creative-home.com

Color Schemes & Terms

Color schemes help us break colors into groups or sections based on their relationships with one another.

Monochromatic: Several values (or shades) of one color. Ex: light blue, medium blue and dark blue.

Analogous: Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Ex: yellow, yellow green, green and blue green

Complementary: Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Ex: red and green, violet and yellow.

Warm colors: Red, orange and yellow. Usually associated with warm things like sunshine or fire.

Cool colors: Blue, green and violet. Usually associated with cool things like snow, ice, water, or grass.

Practicing Color Theory

There are several other terms, split complement, double split complement and color triads but for our purposes I think the above defined will be enough to get you started. You can use colored pencils, acrylic paint, gauche, watercolors , or oil paints. If you start with pencils go easy on the amount of pressure you use so that the pigment will be able to mix.

Practice making the color wheel until you get very close or exact to an existing wheel. Print one out or you can purchase one from your art supply store. They are handy to keep around even if you have the basics down pat. I will post some more exercises soon. Have fun with this one, and let me know how you do.