Color
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Definition
Color Wheel
Color Theory
Psychology of Color
Test Yourself
Definition
An element, or basic building block,
of art. Color has three components;
hue, value, and intensity.
Hue is the color name.
Red
Green
Yellow
Violet
Blue
Orange
Value is how light or dark.
Intensity is how bright or dull.
Adding white to a color makes different tints.
Adding black to a color makes different shades.
Bright
Dull
Bright
You can dull a color by adding it’s complement.
Color Wheel
There are three colors that can not be produced
by mixing colors together. These are primary
colors. They are red, yellow, and blue. You can
mix all the other colors from the primaries, black,
and white.
When you mix two primary colors
you get a secondary color. There
are three secondary colors.
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Red and yellow make orange.
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Yellow and blue make green.
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Blue and red make violet.
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Red and orange make red orange
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Orange and yellow make yellow orange
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Yellow and green make yellow green
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Green and blue make blue green
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Blue and violet make blue violet
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Violet and red make red violet
When you mix a
primary color
with a secondary
you get an
intermediate or
tertiary color.
There are six
tertiaries.
Let’s review:
4
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9
1
Starting at number 1 try to
think of what color results
from mixing the two
adjacent colors before
each appears. Click once
on the screen to begin.
3
5
8
2
4
6
2
7
Colors that are opposite each other on the color
wheel are complementary. Click once on the
screen to view.
Colors that are right next to each other on the
color wheel are analogous. Click once on the
screen to view.
There are warm colors and
cool colors.
Warm colors seem to advance, or pop
out, in an artwork. Cool colors seem to
recede, or go back into an artwork.
Click on the paintings that best represent this statement.
Warm
Cool
Nothing really sticks out
or fades back in this one.
Yes! The warm leaves
really pop out against
the cool cliff wall.
No, this artwork is
monochromatic, nothing
advances or recedes.
Yes, the warm colors
really draw our attention,
they really pop out.
Yes, the warmth of the
building really sticks out
against the cool of the
waves and landscape in
the background.
Seven Color Theories of
Good Design
1. Contrast of hue or primary contrast
2. Light dark contrast
3. Cold warm contrast
4. Complementary contrast
5. Simultaneous contrast
6. Contrast of saturation or vivid dull contrast
7. Contrast of extension
Contrast of hue
or primary contrast
Colors used in their purest
form. The three primaries,
red, yellow and blue.
Light dark contrast
Any color and it’s values (That
means you mix it with white
and/or black.) This is also known
as a monochromatic color
scheme. Note that lighter colors
seem to pop forward on your
paper and darker colors recede.
Cold warm contrast
Reds, yellows, and oranges are
warm colors and blues, greens,
and violets are cool colors. Use
combinations of these.
Complementary contrast
Colors that are opposite each
other on the color wheel. Use
red and green, or yellow and
violet, or orange and blue.
Simultaneous Contrast
Studies have demonstrated that
for any given color our eye
subconsciously wants to see the
complement. If that complement
is not shown our minds will sort of
“fill in” any open or uncolored
space with the complement of the
color that is showing. Use red,
orange, yellow, green, blue, or
violet, in addition to leaving some
spaces white or unpainted.
Contrast of saturation
or dull vivid contrast
This is a dull-vivid
contrast. Use one color in
it’s pure form and then the
same color mixed with
white, black, gray, or
different amounts of it’s
complement.
Contrast of extension
Use a small amount of very
intense or pure color and
other mixed colors to
achieve a good balance.
For example: A small bit of
red surrounded by various
values of a less vivid color.
See if you can
identify the color
contrast theory.
Contrast of hue or primary contrast
Light dark contrast
Cold warm contrast
Complementary contrast
Simultaneous contrast
Contrast of saturation or vivid dull contrast
Contrast of extension
Contrast of hue or primary contrast
Light dark contrast
Cold warm contrast
Complementary contrast
Simultaneous contrast
Contrast of saturation or vivid dull contrast
Contrast of extension
Contrast of hue or primary contrast
Light dark contrast
Cold warm contrast
Complementary contrast
Simultaneous contrast
Contrast of saturation or vivid dull contrast
Contrast of extension
Contrast of hue or primary contrast
Light dark contrast
Cold warm contrast
Complementary contrast
Simultaneous contrast
Contrast of saturation or vivid dull contrast
Contrast of extension
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
Take a closer look and
choose a different one.
Take a closer look and
choose a different one.
Take a closer look and
choose a different one.
Take a closer look and
choose a different one.
Take a closer look and
choose a different one.
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
Take a closer look and
choose a different one.
Try again…
Try again…
Try again…
Try again…
Try again…
Try again…
Try again…
Try again…
Great job!
Great job!
Correct!
Correct!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
This one is not quite
right, try again!
Psychology of Color
While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective,
there are some color effects that have universal
meaning. Colors in the red area of the color spectrum
are known as warm colors and include red, orange,
and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions
ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to
feelings of anger and hostility.
Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as
cool colors and include blue, purple, and green.
These colors are often described as calm, but can
also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.
Color meaning is not always universal however.
For example, brides in China do not wear white.
White is a symbol of death and mourning. Instead
they wear red. Brides in the United States generally
wear white as a symbol of innocence and purity.
Here are a few other examples:
In South Africa red is the color of mourning, in the U.S. we usually
associate black with mourning.
In Japan yellow symbolizes courage, in the U.S. we usually associate
yellow with cowardice.
To the Cherokee blue is an indication of trouble, but people from Iran
view blue as a symbol of heaven.
What emotions or moods are associated with the
following colors? What do these colors symbolize?
(Remember that some of these associations are
culture specific.)
Love, passion, excitement, anger,
violence, (this is a good color to
use if you want to get people’s
attention), to the ancient Romans
it was the color of battle. Red is
the most commonly found color
on national flags.
Purity, goodness, cleanliness. White is
a neutral. In public settings it implies
sterility. A white flag signifies a truce.
Ancient Greeks wore white to bed to
ensure pleasant dreams.
Warmth, contentment,
wholesome, strong, generous,
orange is also associated with
appetite. Use orange if you want
your paintings or products to
have broad appeal, or effect
many people.
Solid, reliable, earthy, nature, it can
also imply sadness. Men are more
likely than women to say that brown is
their favorite color. This is a color that
is found abundantly in nature so it
could illicit the typical, common,
constant, or well known.
Royalty, luxury, wealth,
sophistication, and femininity.
Because purple or violet is rare in
nature purple can sometimes appear
artificial. This can carry connotations
of being fake. In Thailand purple is
worn as a color of mourning. Purple
hearts are military awards for soldiers
wounded or killed in battle.
Nature, calm, refreshing, clean.
Green is the easiest color on the eyes
and can actually improve your vision.
Hospitals use green because it calms
the patients. Sometimes green is used
to symbolize jealousy, but can also be
Used to describe someone who is new
at something or good at gardening or
with nature.
Peaceful, tranquil, it causes the body to
actually produce chemicals that calm
people. Blue can also be cold and
depressing. Studies indicate that people
are more productive in blue rooms. When
people are feeling down we refer to that as
feeling blue. Blue can also symbolize the
very best. First prize is often a blue ribbon.
Happiness, optimism (however,
people lose their tempers more
often in yellow rooms because it is a
difficult color for the eye to take in, it
can be overpowering if overused)
Yellow can speed up your
metabolism. If we call someone
“yellow” it means they are cowardly
Sadness, depression, darkness, evil.
Black can be considered a color of
authority and power. Villains often are
seen wearing black in Western movies.
Test yourself. On the following
slides are questions relating to all
the aspects of color you’ve been
learning about. Click on the
answer you think is most accurate.
Blues, greens, and violets
are what type of colors?
Warm
Complementary
Dull
Cool
That’s right.
No, they are not opposite
each other on the color
wheel.
No, try again
No, red, yellow, and orange
are warm colors.
A color scheme using
several colors right next to
each other on the color
wheel is…
Complementary
Analogous
Symmetrical
Cool
Correct!
No, complementary means
opposite on the color
wheel.
No, try again.
Possibly, but not always.
To make a shade you add
what to a color?
It’s complement
White
Black
Gray
No, that would make a tint.
No, try again.
Yes, that is right.
No, not gray.
What is a secondary color?
A dull color
Two primaries mixed
A primary and a tertiary
A color that can’t be mixed
Try again.
Great job.
No, we haven’t gotten that
far yet!
No, the only colors that can’t
be mixed are primaries.
To make a tint you add
what to a color?
Gray
White
Black
Water
No, you know this.
That is correct!
Adding black makes a shade.
What?!
What are the three primary
colors?
Blue, green, and yellow
Blue, red, and violet
Violet, yellow, and red
Blue, red, and yellow
Of course!
No way.
Try again.
One more try.
What word describes how
light or dark a color is?
Hue
Intensity
Value
Complement
No, hue is the color name.
No, intensity is the brightness
or dullness of a color.
Yes!
No, try again.
Reds, oranges, and yellows
are what type of colors?
Warm
Complementary
Dull
Cool
Yes, that is right.
No, complementary colors
are opposite each other on
the color wheel.
Definitely not.
Blue, violet, and green are
cool colors.
What color scheme uses
one color, black, and
white?
Primary contrast
Complementary contrast
Cold/warm contrast
Light/dark contrast
No, that is red, yellow, and blue.
No, that is opposites on the
color wheel.
No, not this one.
Very good.
What is another name for
light/dark contrast?
Analogous
Complementary
Monochromatic
Simultaneous
No, try again.
You know this, reread the question.
Yes, that is it.
Sorry, one more try.
What is the name for a color
scheme that uses a color
and it’s opposite?
Complementary
Analogous
Simultaneous
Monochromatic
Absolutely!
No, those are colors right
next to each other on the
color wheel.
No, try again.
No, monochromatic is one
color plus black and white.
Orange, green and violet
are what type of colors?
Warm
Complementary
Secondary
Cool
Green and violet are cool colors.
Complementary colors are
opposite each other on the
color wheel.
Great job.
No, orange is not a cool color.
In the U.S. red does not
symbolize…
Love
Anger
Excitement
Mourning
Sometimes it does.
Try again, red can symbolize anger.
No, it can symbolize excitement.
That is right. In China red
symbolizes mourning.
What do you mix to get a
tertiary or intermediate
color?
Two primaries
A primary and secondary
Two secondaries
A secondary and black
No, that makes a secondary color.
Excellent.
No, try again.
That will make a darker
secondary color.
What do yellow orange,
and blue violet have in
common?
They are both warm colors
They are both tertiary colors
They are both impossible to mix
They are both dull colors
Blue violet is a cool color.
Yes. They are both tertiary.
No, only red, yellow, and
blue can’t be mixed.
No, not really.
Mixing a color with it’s
complement makes the
color…
Warm
Complementary
Dull
Cool
Not necessarily.
No, try again.
Yes.
Not always.
Credits:
http://www.colormatters.com
https://faculty.rpcs.org/hartmanj/Grade 7.htm
http://www.waltersartstudio.com/bart.jpg
http://cr037.k12.sd.us/best_of_years_past.htm
http://www.danaellynart.com/artatwork/pogo2005.html
http://fc.yarmouth.k12.me.us/~elaine_Fletcher/000BFC1A-007EA7AB.9/butterfly.jpg
http://www.worqx.com/color/index.htm
http://www.brittonkill.k12.ny.us/findlayweb/monochromatic_paints.htm