Color Theory

The Spectrum: White light is made up of different wavelengths. Certain objects reflect certain wavelengths. If a cup were to reflect the longest wavelength (which is red) the cup would appear to be red.

Color Wheel Warm Colors Cool Colors

Primary Colors: Secondary Colors: The three main colors on the color wheel. These colors can not be made by mixing other colors together. Red/Magenta Yellow Blue/ Cyan Secondary Colors: The three colors produced when two primary colors are mixed. Orange Green Purple/violet

Tertiary Colors: The colors produced when a primary is mixed with its secondary. Red/Orange Red Orange Red/Violet Red violet

Primary Colors Primary Colors - red, yellow, blue The word “primary” is an adjective used to describe anything that occurs first, or is most important. It makes sense that we call these colors primary, since all other colors come from them! Primary Colors - red, yellow, blue PRIMARY COLOR MUSIC VIDEO

What is the DOMINATE COLOR RELATIONSHIP? What is the color scheme of these images? How did the artist use COLOR?

Secondary Colors Secondary Colors - orange, green, purple primary + primary = secondary red + yellow = orange yellow + blue = green blue + red = purple

What is the DOMINATE COLOR RELATIONSHIP? What is the color scheme of these images? How did the artist use COLOR?

Complementary colors: Colors that are opposite on the color wheel Red- Yellow- Blue- Green Purple Orange

What is the DOMINATE COLOR RELATIONSHIP? What is the color scheme of these paintings?

Neutral colors: White Black Gray When all of the colors are bounced off an object the resulting color is white Black When all of the colors are absorbed by an object the result is black Gray occurs when only a part of all the colors are reflected back in proportion. The more the colored light is reflected, the lighter the gray.

Properties of a color: Hue Value Intensity Hue is another word for color. A hue is dictated by the wavelength of reflected light. Value Value is the lightness or darkness of a color. This can be a light version of a color compared to a darker one. Or one color compared to another Intensity Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a color. The intensity of a color can be dulled by adding its complement.

+ = = + Tint: Shade: When white is added to a color to make it lighter Black is added to a color to make it darker = +

How Artists apply color theory to their work Color Schemes How Artists apply color theory to their work Achromatic: A composition that is absent of any color. The result is a black and white image. M.C. Escher, “Three Worlds” Man Ray, “Tears”

***Monochromatic: *** Color Schemes How Artists apply color theory to their work ***Monochromatic: *** A composition that uses only one color. Tints and shades of that color make up the different values. Bernard Nolan, “Monochromatic Study”

Sandy Skoglund, “Cocktail Party” 1992

How Artists apply color theory to their work Color Schemes How Artists apply color theory to their work Analogous An analogous color scheme uses hues that are adjacent to one another on the color wheel

Groups of three colors are ANALOGUS

Color Schemes ***Complementary*** How Artists apply color theory to their work ***Complementary*** Complementary color schemes are used to create contrast in the piece Andy Warhol, “Purple Cow”

Jorge Santos, “Pet Project”

Jorge Santos, “Carrot Ladies Daughter” What terms would you use to describe this painting?: Warm Colors Cool Colors Primary Secondary Intermediate Neutral Colors Value Intensity Tint Shade Jorge Santos, “Carrot Ladies Daughter” What Color Scheme is this painting?: Complementary Opposite colors on the color wheel Analogous Colors touching on the color wheel Monochromatic Only one color with different values Achromatic No color

Georgia O'Keefe, “Red Hills and Bones” What terms would you use to describe this painting?: Warm Colors Cool Colors Primary Secondary Intermediate Neutral Colors Value Intensity Tint Shade Georgia O'Keefe, “Red Hills and Bones” What Color Scheme is this painting?: Complementary Opposite colors on the color wheel Analogous Colors touching on the color wheel Monochromatic Only one color with different values Achromatic No color

Andy Goldsworthy Warm Colors Cool Colors Primary Secondary What terms would you use to describe this painting?: Warm Colors Cool Colors Primary Secondary Intermediate Neutral Colors Value Intensity Tint Shade Andy Goldsworthy What Color Scheme is this painting?: Complementary Opposite colors on the color wheel Analogous Colors touching on the color wheel Monochromatic Only one color with different values Achromatic No color

Chuck Close, “Self Portrait” What terms would you use to describe this painting?: Warm Colors Cool Colors Primary Secondary Intermediate Neutral Colors Value Intensity Tint Shade Chuck Close, “Self Portrait” What Color Scheme is this painting?: Complementary Opposite colors on the color wheel Analogous Colors touching on the color wheel Monochromatic Only one color with different values Achromatic No color

Rene Magritte, “Presence of Mind” What terms would you use to describe this painting?: Warm Colors Cool Colors Primary Secondary Intermediate Neutral Colors Value Intensity Tint Shade Rene Magritte, “Presence of Mind” What Color Scheme is this painting?: Complementary Opposite colors on the color wheel Analogous Colors touching on the color wheel Monochromatic Only one color with different values Achromatic No color

Understanding Color Theory Basics