1. Color Theory
Renee Thompson 2012

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

3. 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.

4. Hue refers to the name of a color.

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

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

7. 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).

8. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

9. We will look at three color classifications today:
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary

10. Primary colors cannot be made by mixing other colors
Primary colors cannot be made by mixing other colors. These 3 colors are the basis for all colors.
Red
Yellow
Blue

11. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

12. You get a secondary color by mixing 2 primary colors together.=
Red
Yellow
Orange
Blue
Green
Violet = =

13. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

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

15. + = + Red Yellow Red-Orange Blue Yellow-Green Blue-Violet
Yellow-Orange + = +

16. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

17. Complementary colors are found opposite each other on the color wheel.

18. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

19. 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

20. Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel are called analogous colors.

21. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

22. Warm colors are often associated with fire and sun.

23. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

24. Cool colors contain blue and green
Cool colors contain blue and green. They are on the same side of the color wheel.

25. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues

26. Cool colors appear to go back in space (recede) while warm colors seem to come forward.

28. 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)

29. 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?

30. Is WHITE a color??? Is BLACK a color???

31. According to physics… black is not a color and white is a color!
Ask a scientist:

32. According to pigments… white is not a color and black is a color!
Ask an Artist:

33. What is pigment!?
“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.”

34. BONUS!!!
Who is often given credit for designing the first circular color diagram?
Sir Isaac Newton

35. Basic Color Wheel
Download and print this Free Color Wheel on any standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper. Use it as a handy reference guide when planning Color Schemes for art, craft or home decorating projects.
Basic Color Wheel of Reference Hues