Color Theory

Renee Thompson 2012

The Elements of Art are a visual vocabulary used by the artist.

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/56300/56363/56363_manpaint.htm

Color is an Element of Art.

List the Elements of Art:•Line: path of a moving point•Shape: 2-dimensions (height/width)•Form: 3-dimensions (height/width/depth)•Texture: real & implied•Value: light to dark in neutrals/all colors•Space: positive/negative space or distance•Color… let’s learn the basics about color.

Hue refers to the name of a color.

A color’s value is shown in its lightness or darkness.

If a hue has a high-intensity, it is bright. Dull colors have low-

intensity.

High Low

Sir Isaac Newton is often given credit for the idea of the color circle. He was working on

this in the late 1600s & early 1700s.

Newton's color wheel (from Newton 1704; Book I, Part II, Plate III). http://people.virginia.edu/~smb3u/ColorVision2/node4.html

http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/1800/1876/newton_1.htm

Basic Color Wheel

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We will look at three color classifications today:

PrimarySecondary

Tertiary

Primary colors cannot be made by mixing other colors. These 3

colors are the basis for all colors.

Red Yellow Blue

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You get a secondary color by mixing 2 primary colors together.

Red Yellow Orange

Yellow Blue Green

Blue Red Violet

+ =+ =+ =

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When you mix two primary colors and use far more of one color than another, you get an intermediate (or tertiary) color.

Red Yellow Red-Orange

Yellow Blue Yellow-Green

BlueRed Blue-Violet

Red Yellow Yellow-Orange

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Complementary colors are found opposite each other on

the color wheel.

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When you add even a small amount of a color’s

complementary it will lower the intensity of the color.

Blending complementary colors is also an excellent way to create different browns.

Red + Green = Brown

Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel are called

analogous colors.

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Warm colors are often associated with fire and sun.

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Cool colors contain blue and green. They are on the same

side of the color wheel.

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Cool colors appear to go back in space (recede) while warm

colors seem to come forward.

Extra Vocabulary Tint: a color plus white Shade: a color plus black Monochromatic: one color with many different values Neutral: created by mixing equal amounts of two complementary colors (usually a grey-brown)

What do you think???Why are school busses yellow?Is pink a girl color and blue a boy color in all countries?Has it always been this way in the U.S.?

Would Ninjas look as notorious if they wore lime green?Would a judge look as powerful in a orange robe?Is black a color?Is white a color?

Is WHITE a color???

Is BLACK a color???

http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/are-black-and-white-colors

Ask a scientist:

http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/are-black-and-white-colors

According to physics…

black is not a color and white is a

color!

Ask an Artist:

http://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/are-black-and-white-colors

According to pigments…

white is not a color and black is a

color!

What is pigment!?

http://artlex.com

“Finely powdered color material which

produces the color of any medium. Made either from natural

substances or synthetically, pigment becomes paint, ink,

or dye when mixed with oil, water or another fluid (also

called vehicle). When pressed into wax it becomes

a crayon, pencil or chalk.”

Who is often given credit for designing the first

circular color diagram?

Sir Isaac Newton

BONUS!!!

Basic Color Wheel

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