Color Theory
ROY G BIV
Color Wheel
Color Values
Color Schemes
Element of Art
Color—is the element of art that is produced
when light, striking an object, is reflected
back to the eye.
Color Wheel—a tool used to organize color.
It is a 12 step wheel that shows 3 primary
colors, 3 secondary colors, and 6
intermediate colors.
Primary Colors
Red
Yellow
Blue
Primary Colors—are colors that you can
NOT make, but are used to make every
other color with the addition of white,
black, or the complement color.
Secondary Colors
+
Red
Orange
=
Green
=
Violet
Yellow
+
Yellow
Blue
+
Blue
=
Red
Secondary Colors—are colors that are
made by mixing two primary colors.
Intermediate Colors
+
Red
Orange
+
Yellow
Red-Orange
Red
=
Orange
+
Blue
+
=
Violet
+
Yellow-Orange
=
+
Blue-Green
Yellow
Red-Violet
Violet
Blue
=
Green
=
Blue-Violet
=
Green
Yellow-Green
Intermediate Colors— also called TERTIARY
COLORS are colors that are made by mixing one
primary color and one secondary color.
Three Properties of Color
1. Hue—a color without black or white (red,
yellow, blue, etc.)
2. Intensity—which refers to the brightness or
dullness of a hue. For example, we may
describe the color blue as "royal" (bright, rich,
vibrant) or "dull" (grayed).
3. Value—meaning its lightness or darkness.
The terms shade and tint are in reference to
value changes in colors.
Color Intensity
The intensity of a HUE changes when its
complement (opposite) is added. Mixing in a
complementary color will dull or lower the
intensity and eventually the hue will lose its
own color qualities and appear a neutral gray
or brownish color.
In Edward Hopper’s, Gas, he uses color intensity to create intense
saturation of color. (notice the dark brown black areas)
Parts of the painting are made from one single color (red) or (green) and
its intensity levels have been changed by adding its complement more or
less or its complementary color.
Color Value
Pure Hue
Shades
Add Black or Complement
Add White
Tints
The Old Guitarist by
Pablo Picasso
During his blue period,
Picasso painted with
primarily cold blues
tinged with green, often
depicting beggars as
seen in this painting.
Cold = Cool Colors
(blue, green, purple)
Tint = add white
Shade = add black
Intensity = add complement
Color Schemes
•
Color Schemes—are plans for organizing
colors according to the relationship on the
color wheel. By following a color scheme
you can avoid putting together colors in a
confusing or unpleasant way.
•
Frequently Used Color Schemes—
Monochromatic, Analogous, Complementary,
Triad, Split Complement, Double Complement,
Warm Colors, Cool Colors, Tweaked Triad,
Tetrads, Flickering Effects, Adventurous
Analogous, Value and Saturation
In Titian’s
Bacchus and
Ariadne, he
balances the
painting by
placing the two
complementary
colors, blue and
orange,
throughout the
composition. This
creates not just
harmony but
vibrancy also.
Harmony =
balance, unity
Vibrancy =
• Apply color value around the boarders
of the sections in your Zentangles
• When you shade you are to focus on
depth in order to create a sense of 3-D
(you may use colored pens or colored pencils
to add color value)
• When shading focus on tints, shades,
and intensity of your colors
• You may keep the same color scheme
for your second Zentangle or switch it
up
COLOR VALUE WITHIN
ZENTANGLES