Colour Theory Explained: The Elements of Art

Colour is the element of art that refers to reflected light.

Colour theory can be broken down into three parts, colour wheel, colour value, colour schemes, each part of colour theory builds on the previous. Understanding each section will help you understand its importance in the creation of art making.

Colour Theory/ Part 1 : Colour Wheel :

The colour wheel is made up of three different types of colours; primary, secondary , and tertiary. The primary colours are red, yellow, and blue. Primary colours can only be created through the use of natural pigments.

Secondary colours are orange, green and purple. Secondary colours are created by mixing equal parts of two primary colours. Yellow and blue will give you green, red and blue will give you purple, red and yellow will give you orange, Secondary and all other colours found on the colour wheel can be created by mixing primary colours together.

Tertiary colours are created by mixing equal parts of a secondary colour and a primary colour together. There are six tertiary colours-red-purple, red-orange, blue-green, yellow-green, blue-purple, and yellow-orange. Notice that the proper way to refer to tertiary colours is by listing the primary colour first and the secondary colour, second.

The colours are namely the following; Yellow, Amber, Orange, Vermilion, Red, Magenta, Purple, Violet, Blue, Teal, Green, Chartreuse and so on.

Analogous colours are colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel. When used as a colour scheme, analogous colours can be dramatic. An example: Blue- orange, or red- green, or yellow-green, or red-purple.

Complementary colours are colours found directly across from each other on the colour wheel. Complementary colour scheme provide strong contrast. An example: Blue and orange, red and green, yellow-green and red-purple.

Split complementary colour schemes are made up of a colour and it’s complements closest analogous colours. Examples: Blue, orange- yellow, yellow and/or red-orange,

red and green.

Colour Theory / Part 2 : Colour Values : Hues, Shades, Tints and Tones

Colour value refers to darkness or lightness of a colour.

If we are dealing with blue colour and adding white to a colour, adding white to a colour produces a tint. Tint is lighter version of a colour.

Tints of a blue colour: Mixing a colour with white creates tints of blue. A hue is produced by the addition of white.

Adding black to colour produce Shade.

To make colour darker in value, black is added. A darker colour is called a shade of original hue of red.

The tints, shades and tones below made by adding layers of white, black or grey on top of the base colour.

A Blue colour scheme

Colour tone: When greys are added to the colour, the intensity of the colour is affected. Intensity is related to value. A hue is produced by addition of grey. Intensity refers to the brightness or dullness of a particular colour. Blue is often considered the most soothing colour in the universe. A natural shade, with a deep connect to nature, each one of us likes at least one shade in blue! The different hues and shades of blue are portrayed.

Let's have a look at below!

Colour Theory/ Part 3 : Monochromatic colours :

All the tones, shades, ad tints of one single colour are called monochromatic colours. Colour scheme is made up of one colour and its shade and tints.

Monochromatic colours are the tints, shades and tones of a single hue. You can actually do a lot with a single colour. Your whole painting can be done with one of the twelve colours from the colour wheel! All of these colours add up to twelve and form the RYB (red, yellow, blue) colour wheel.

So, monochromatic colours can be created for any of these twelve colours from the colour wheel. Let's take a look at the colour wheel now!

Can you see the different shades of the colour of red in the oil painting on the right ? These are all just slight variations of the original colors! Just by adding some white, gray and black to the original color, so many shades, tints and tones can be created.

Colour Scheme:

A colour scheme is a set of colours that are chosen in such a way that they look good together and complement each other. They can be contrasting or in harmony. A basic colour scheme is black text on white background. While this is a contrast colour scheme, monochromatic colours which are also a colour scheme, are in unison with the original colour.

Colour schemes of green: For example, in the below image we see seven different shades/tints/tones of green. Now these are nothing but monochromatic colours, which can be made by mixing different proportions of white, grey and black.

Colour schemes of yellow: In the same way we see different shades/tints/tones of yellow. There are 5 shades in this colour scheme which are made by mixing white, grey and black with yellow. Many other shades of yellow can be created like this.

A monochromatic blue skies and mountain.

A monochromatic yellow tree.

Summary: Color Theory Terms and Definitions:

Colour : Element of art derived from reflected light. We see colour because light waves are reflected from objects to your eyes. Colour wheel: Colour spectrum bent into a circle. Primary colours: The most basic colours on the colour wheel, red, yellow and blue. These colours cannot be made by mixing. Secondary colours: Colours that are made by mixing two primary colours together. Orange, green and violet (purple). Tertiary colours: Colours that are made by mixing a primary colour with a secondary colour. Hue: The name of the colour. Intensity: The brightness or dullness of a colour. DO NOT CONFUSE WITH VALUE. Colour value: The darkness or lightness of a colour. Ex pink is a tint of red. Tints: Are created by adding white to a colour. Shades : Shades are created by adding black to a colour. Optical colour: Colour that people actually perceive-also called local colour. Arbitrary colour : Colours chosen by the artist to express feelings or mood.

A Sunset Landscape Painting

Exercise 1 :

a) Draw a tree (including a background, middle ground and foreground and label each part.

b) List the colours you have used and label them with warm or cold colour scheme.

Exercise 2:

Write the names of Primary colour:

1.

2.

3.

Write the name of secondary colours:

1.

2.

3.

Fill the following:

BLUE + YELLOW:

RED + YELLOW:

BLUE + RED :