Colour Theory Basic Theoretical Understanding. A color circle, based on red, yellow and blue, is traditional in the field of art. Sir Isaac Newton developed.

Colour Theory Basic Theoretical Understanding

A color circle, based on red, yellow and blue, is traditional in the field of art. Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666.

Sir Isaac Newton was one of the first scientists to investigate color theory. Around 1671-72 he discovered the origin of color when he shone a beam of light through an angular prism and split it into the spectrum (the various colors of the rainbow).

COLOR HARMONY

Harmony can be defined as a pleasing arrangement of parts, whether it be music, poetry, color, or even an ice cream sundae.

In visual experiences, harmony is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it creates an inner sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it's either boring or chaotic.

PRIMARY COLOURSRed, yellow and blue In traditional color theory, these are the 3 pigment colors that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.

SECONDARY COLORSGreen, orange and purpleSecondary colours are formed by mixing the primary colours.

TERTIARY COLORSYellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green. These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color. That's why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange.

Monochromatic colors are shades and tints of one color. This combination of colors is harmonious, restful and subtle.

Analogous colours are any three colors which are side by side on a 12 part color wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colours is predominant.

Opposite colours are diagonally opposite one another on the colour wheel. You can work out the opposite colour to any primary colour by taking the other two primaries and mixing them together. The result will be its opposite or ‘complementary’ colour.

A color scheme based on complementary colors

Complementary colors are any two colors which are directly opposite each other, such as red and green and red-purple and yellow-green. In the illustration above, there are several variations of yellow-green in the leaves and several variations of red-purple in the orchid. These opposing colors create maximum contrast and maximum stability.

The split complementary scheme uses a color and the two next door neighbors of that colour’s complement. This sample uses Yellow with the two neighbors of its complement, Violet (Red-Violet and Blue-Violet).

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The triad colour scheme uses three colours equidistant on the colour wheel. Traditionally, art students have been taught to draw a triangle with equal sides, put it in the middle of the wheel and turn it. The colours at the three points would make a triadic colour scheme. We just start with a colour and add every fourth colour from it. Works the same way.

This sample presents a more unusual and exciting triad of Tertiary colors: Yellow-Orange, Red-Violet, and Blue-Green (Turquoise). The Triadic is a semi-exciting experience for the eye.

The Tetrad uses four colours – evenly spaced around the wheel. Start with a color and add every third color from it.

DISCORDS

Classical discords are a combination of two colours in which the natural order of light and dark has been inverted – that is the darker colour has been made lighter and the lighter colour, darker.

Complementary discord uses colours opposite each other on the circle.

Alternating Discords use colours separated by one intervening hue on the colour circle.

Color Context

How color behaves in relation to other colors and shapes is a complex area of color theory. Compare the contrast effects of different color backgrounds for the same red square.

Tone is the lightness or darkness of a color. It is used to suggest the effect of light and shade and to create the illusion of 3D form.

A tint describes a color that is mixed with white.

A shade describes a color that is mixed with black.

Color as Emotion

A knowledge of colour theory helps us to express our feelings in an artwork. The language of colour has even entered our vocabulary to help us describe our emotions. You can be ‘red’ with rage or ‘green’ with envy. We often speak of bright cheerful colours as well as sad or dull ones. A ‘grey’ day may be depressing and result in a feeling of the ‘blues’.

The paintings of Vincent Van Gogh show an instinctive understanding of color theory. In his 'Sunflowers' still life, he uses warm colors to create a feeling of hope and cheerfulness .

On the other hand a more conscious use of color theory is found in the paintings of Picasso’s 'blue period'. He chooses cool colors to evoke the chill of sadness and despair in 'The Tragedy', a typical subject from his work at this time.

Warm colours and Cool colours