Color Mixing and Color Theory

PRIMARY COLORS Primary are the three colors that cannot be mixed, but when mixed together can create any color. These colors are RED, BLUE, and YELLOW.

SECONDARY COLORS Secondary colors are made by mixing two primaries in the correct amounts. These colors are VIOLET, ORANGE, AND GREEN.

INTERMEDIATE COLORS These are mixed by combining a primary and a secondary. Some examples are Red-Orange, Blue-Green, Yellow-Green. You always say first the name Primary color which has most in common with the Intermediate color. You don’t say Orange-Red, but instead it is Red-Orange.

Y V R B OG R-OB-V B_GR-O Y-OY-G

Some colors appear darker than others

COLOR THEORY How we use our mixed colors

Definitions Medium- Pl. Media. The material used to create art, i.e.. paint, graphite, clay, crayons, metal, pen and ink, and a number of alternative materials. Contrast- Refers to a difference in value, color, texture, shape, form, space, or line (these are the 7 Elements of Art). Composition- The arrangement of the elements of art in an artwork.

Pigment- Powdered substance that makes up the “color” part of paint, dyes, inks, and other media. Pigments can be natural or man-made. Adhesive- The “glue” part of a medium. It is what makes the pigment stick to paper, or canvas. Some adhesives are: Water, oil, wax, and egg yolk. More Definitions

Color- Different wavelengths of light. Hue- The name of a color, i.e. red, red-orange. Intensity- The purity of a color. Is the hue dull or bright, or light. Intensity is dull or bright Value is dark or light Yes, Even More Definitions

Intensity The purity of a color. If you add black, gray, white or a complement to a color it becomes less intense. Color + Black = SHADE Color + Complement = SHADE. Color + White = TINT. Color + Gray = TONE.

Tint and Tone Using white to get TINTS Using gray to get TONES

Shades Using black for SHADE Using the complement for SHADE

Bezold Effect Changing one color profoundly effects the perception of other colors

ABAB SIMULTANEOUS CONTRAST There is not as much contrast in Figure A as there is in Figure B. This is because “A” deals with ANALAGOUS colors whereas “B” deals with COMPLEMENTARY colors. The colors in “B” seem to be more INTENSE.

Color Harmonies Complementary Triadic Split-Complementary Temperature (warm, Cool, Neutral) Analogous Monochromatic Connor attempts selling tacos to Monica.

Complementary Colors Complementary colors are opposites on the color wheel. They have extremely high contrast, being that they are complete opposites, like black and white.

Revenge of the Goldfish, Sandy Skoglund

Triadic This harmony is comprised of colors that form an equilateral triangle on the color wheel. The two most prominent ones are made up of the Primaries, and one made up of the Secondaries. However, there can be Triadic color schemes using Intermediates.

New York City, Piet Mondrian

The Tiger, Franz Marc

Split-Complementary To find a Split-Complementary color harmony you must first choose a hue. Then, find its complement. The two hues adjacent to the complement of the initial hue as well as the initial hue make up a Split-Complementary color harmony. i.e. Red, Blue-Green, and Yellow-Green

Analogous Colors These are colors that are adjacent on the color wheel and have a single color in common. i.e.. Yellow-Green, Yellow, and Yellow- Orange are analogous colors.

House in Provence, Paul Cezanne

Monochromatic Harmony Monochromatic means “one color” A single hue is used in varying intensities to complete an artwork. i.e.. Light Blue, Blue, and Dark Blue

The Tradgedy, Pablo Picasso

Warm, Cool, and Neutral Warm harmonies use the colors ranging from Yellow to Red-Violet. Cool harmonies use the colors ranging from Violet to Yellow-Green. Neutral harmonies use Black, Grays, Browns, and White.

Number 22, Mark Rothko