Color Theory 101

The Color Wheel

The cornerstone of color theory is the color wheel, which displays all the tones in a circular rainbow. These colors fall into three classifications: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary colors are red, blue and yellow, the three bases for all other hues. The secondary colors purple, green and orange are each made from combining two primary colors. And the tertiary colors describe all the different gradations found between the spaces on the wheel.

Colors on the wheel can be considered in terms of their "temperature," if they visually exude heat or cold. The warm half of the wheel includes red, orange and yellow, which give the impression of warmth and light. The cool half includes green, blue, and purple, which are associated with lower temperature subjects like grass and water. Tones that are not found on the wheel, such as browns and grays, are classified as neutral.

In nature, all colors have some portion of black or white to them. The proportion of white to a color is called its brightness, while the proportion of black is known as its value. An addition of white is called a tint, and an addition of black is called a shade. Gray, the mixture of black and white, is known as a tone when added to a solid color. The infinite possible configurations of color and light/dark are saturations.

The most important reason an artist should know the color wheel is to know how the different colors work together. Colors that are next to each other on the wheel are analogous, and their similarities create a pleasing harmony. But colors that are across from each other on the wheel, known as complimentary, create a jarring conflict and are harder to use together. Knowing when to use color analogously and when to use it complimentary is key to creating the desired visual effect.

There are many defined color schemes, just as there are infinite possible configurations of color. None of these schemes creates art by itself, and is not a guaranteed method for aesthetic success. But the more understanding an artist has of color theory, and the greater knowledge he has of different colors schemes and their functions, the better chance he has of applying colors to his work in a way that is pleasing.