1. Color Theory

2. 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.

3. Color Wheel
Warm Colors
Cool Colors

4. 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

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

6. 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

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

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

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

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

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

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

15. 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”

16. ***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”

17. Sandy Skoglund, “Cocktail Party” 1992

18. 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

19. Groups of three colors are ANALOGUS

20. 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”

21. Jorge Santos, “Pet Project”

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Understanding Color Theory Basics