Color Theory

Color Theory
Color is the perceptual characteristic of light
described by a color name. Specifically, color is
light, and light is composed of many colors—
those we see are the colors of the visual
spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and
violet. Objects absorb certain wavelengths and
reflect others back to the viewer. We perceive
these wavelengths as color.

Color
An element of Art made up of three qualities
•Hue-
•Intensity-
•Value-
The color’s Name
The color’s brightness/dullness
The color’s lightness/darkness

Primary Colors
The three colors from
which all other colors are
made
Red, Yellow and Blue
The Color Wheel - Hue
The colors of the light spectrum bent into a circle
P
P
P

Secondary Colors
Colors made by mixing
equal amounts of two
primary colors.
Orange= Red & Yellow
Green=Yellow & Blue
Violet=Blue & Red
The Color Wheel - Hue
The colors of the light spectrum bent into a circle
S
S
S

The Color Wheel - Hue
Tertiary/Intermediate
Colors
A color made by mixing a
primary and a secondary
color.
P+S=T
The colors of the light spectrum bent into a circle
T
T
T
T T
T

1. Value-
2. Neutrals-
3. Shades-
4. Tints-
Color Value
The degree of darkness or light
present in any hue.
Black, white and any value of gray.
Any variation of color that is darker than the
original hue usually as a result of the addition
of black
Any variation of color that is lighter than the
original hue usually as a result of the addition
of white

1. Harmony
2. Analogous
3. Complementary
4. Monochromatic
5. Triad
Color Harmonies
-The orderly combination of colors.
-Two to four adjacent hues on the color wheel
which share a common base color.
-Two opposite hues on the color wheel.
-One color in various values and
intensities used in a color scheme.
-Every fourth color on the color wheel.

Analogous Colors
Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They share
a common color.
Example: Red, Red-Orange, Orange
Rousseau

Complimentary Colors
Complimentary colors enhance each other when next to each
other and neutralize each other when mixed.
Cezanne

Monochromatic Color
One color in various values and intensities used in a color
scheme.
Picasso

Triad Color
Every fourth color on the color wheel.
Mondrian