Color Theory
For Painting
Video: Color Perception
•
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/beau_lotto_optical_illusions_show_how_we_see.html
•
Experiment
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8U0YPHxiFQ
Intro to color theory
•
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=059-0wrJpAU&feature=relmfu
Color Theory Principles
• The Color Wheel
• Color context • Color Schemes
• Color Applications and Effects
The Color Wheel The Color Wheel
• A circular
diagram displaying the
spectrum of
visible colors.
The Color Wheel: Primary
Colors
• Primary Colors: Red,
yellow and blueꢀ
• In traditional color theory,
primary colors can not be
mixed or formed by any combination of other colors.
• All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.
The Color Wheel: Secondary
Colors
• Secondary Colors:
Green, orange and purpleꢀ
• These are the colors
formed by mixing the
primary colors.
The Color Wheel: Tertiary
Colors
• Tertiary Colors: Yellow-
orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green &
yellow-green
• ꢀ
• These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a
secondary color.
• Often have a two-word name, such as blue-green, red-violet,
and yellow-orange.
Color Context
• How color behaves
in relation to other colors and shapes is a complex area of color theory. Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the
same red square.
Color Context
• Does your
impression od the center square
change based on the
surround?
Color Context
Additive colors
• Additive: Mixing
colored Light
Subtractive Colors
• Subtractive Colors:
Mixing colored pigments
Color Schemes Color Schemes
• Formulas for creating visual unity [often
called color harmony] using colors on the color wheel
Basic Schemes
• Analogous
• Complementary • Triadic
• Split complement
Analogous
Color formula used to
create color harmony through the selection of three related colors which are next to one another on the color wheel.
Complementary
Color formula used to create color harmony through the selection of
two unrelated colors which
are directly across from one another on the color wheel.
Triadic
A triadic color scheme uses colors
that are evenly spaced around the color wheel.
Triadic color schemes tend to be quite vibrant.
To use a triadic harmony successfully, the colors should be
carefully balanced - let one color
dominate and use the two others for accent.