Color Theory

COLOR THEORY VOCABULARY

​Primary Colors - red, blue and yellow (cannot be made by mixing other colors).

Secondary Colors - orange, green and purple. Are created by mixing primary colors.

Intermediate/Tertiary Colors - are created by mixing primary colors with secondary colors. (ex: yellow green, primary color always goes first)

Complementary - the colors opposite to each other on the color wheel.

Analogous - hues that are next to one another on the color wheel.

Split Compliment - is a complimentary color and the two colors on either side of its compliment.

Triadic - uses 3 colors that are equally spaced apart on the color wheel.

Monochromatic - having one color.

Tint - a hue that has been mixed with white.

Shade - a hue that has been mixed with black.

Cool - the colors on the green-blue side of the color wheel.

Warm - the colors on the yellow-orange side of the color wheel.

Lesson 1        Color Theory Part I:   The Color Wheel

STEP #1 - COLOR THEORY POWERPOINT & VOCABULARY. 

Go through the color PowerPoint and video below and study the color theory vocabulary. 

The color wheel was developed by Sir Isaac Newton by taking the color spectrum and bending it into a circle. If you follow around the color wheel, you will find the same order of the color spectrum- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo(blue-violet), and violet.  Some remember it by the acronym ROY G. BIV.

The color wheel is made up of three different types of colors - Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary.

The primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.  They are called primary for a couple of reasons.  First, no two colors can be mixed to create a primary color. In other words, primary colors can only be created through the use of natural pigments.  Secondly, all other colors found on the color wheel can be created by mixing primary colors together.

The secondary colors are orange, green, and purple.  Secondary colors are created by mixing equal parts of any two primary colors.  Yellow and blue will give you green.  Red and blue will create purple(violet). Red and yellow will give you orange.

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

SUPPLIES NEEDED: 

STEP #2 - COLOR WHEEL WORKSHEET. 

Color the color wheel handout with colored pencils. Must use correct colors. When filling in the spaces make sure to us the burnishing technique. Color must look solid and smooth. The white of the paper should not show through.  Split the color wheel in half and label warm and cool. 

Lesson 2   Mixing Colors

Supplies you will need:

Step 1: Gather all the materials you need and print off the blank color wheel. 

Step 2: Using ONLY the primary colors, create all the colors in the color wheel by mixing the primary colors and painting the correct area on the color wheel. 

Watch the video below if you need help.


Example:

Lesson 3      Color Theory Part II: Color Schemes

STEP #1 - Go through the color schemes powerpoint and study the vocabulary below.     

Supplies needed:

Color schemes are an organized way of using colors. Colors are put together in an intelligent way that is aesthetically pleasing.

Color Theory Part II.pptx

STEP #2 - COLOR SCHEMES WORKSHEET  Color the color schemes worksheet with colored pencils. For the monochromatic color scheme apply more and less pressure to achieve the different values of one color.  


Example:

Monochromatic 

literally means one (mono) color (chroma).  So a monochromatic color scheme is made up of one color and it’s shades and tints.



Analogous

are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
When used as a color scheme, analogous colors can be dramatic. Ex. Blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green; red, red-purple, purple, blue-purple

Complementary 

are colors found directly across from each other on the color wheel.  Complementary color scheme provide strong contrast.  Ex. Blue and orange, red and green, yellow-green and red-purple.

Color Triads 

- consist of three colors found on the color wheel that are equally spaced apart from each other. Ex. Red, blue and yellow or orange, green and purple.


Split Complementary

color schemes are made up of a color and it’s complements closest analogous colors. Ex Blue, yellow-orange, and red-orange. Red-orange, red-purple, green.

Warm

- colors that are usually associated with warm things.  Ex. Red, yellow, orange.


Cool

colors that are usually associated with cool things.  Ex. Blue, purple, green


Lesson 4: Abstract Color Scheme Name Design

Materials:

Key the video below to the time listed at the end of each step. That is the point in the video with the instructions for that step.  

Lesson 5: Numbers in Analogous Colors a la Jasper Johns

Supplies you will need:

SKM_450i21102713552.pdf

Step 6 Example

Objective: To learn about Jasper Johns and analogous colors through discussion, research, and practical work.

Work by Jasper Johns

colored pencil ex

Example of Finished Piece

Step 1:   Learn about Jasper Johns by viewing the videos above. 

Step 2:  Choose 3 to 5 numbers that are meaningful to you. The example uses 2906 (29th June). On the worksheet, draw thumbnails of possible compositions. 

Step 3: Choose your favorite from the 8 thumbnail sketches. Using photocopies of the numbers, trace* the numbers using tracing paper. The numbers will overlap and create sections to paint in.

Step 4: Color the back of your tracing paper with a wood pencil. Then place on top of your watercolor paper and trace over your drawing to transfer your number drawing to the watercolor paper. 

Step 5:  Clean up your drawing using your eraser. Then choose an analogous color scheme to use. Paint your composition using watercolor. Make sure to follow the "Tips for success" listed below. 

Step 6: Complete the colored pencil practice worksheet. Watch the video below for helpful hints and instructions.  

Step 7: Identify the complementary color of the three analogous colors used in your painting. Add shading to your painted artwork. The different pencils will achieve different effects on the various painted colors. A majority of sections will be shaded.

Good Example 1.pdf
Good Example 2.pdf
Good Example 3 (finished artwork).pdf

                             Step 4                                                         Step 5                                                  Step 7                  

Tips for success:

• Reminder to hold your paintbrush with your fingers on the metal cuff (called the ferrule) for maximum control.

• Mix up enough color in a palette to cover a whole section.

• If you see dry-looking brush marks you aren’t using enough water.

• Watercolor should have lots of water in it and should not be used thickly.

• To create flat, smooth areas they need to load their brush with paint.

• Don’t work wet sections next to wet sections or the paint will bleed.

Colored Pencil Worksheet Demonstration

Step 6

Analogous

are colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. When used as a color scheme, analogous colors can be dramatic. Ex. Blue, blue-green, green, and yellow-green; red, red-purple, purple, blue-purple

Complementary 

are colors found directly across from each other on the color wheel.  Complementary color schemes provide strong contrast.  Ex. Blue and orange, red and green, yellow-green and red-purple.



Jasper Johns Number Watercolor Demonstration

Step 5

Jasper Johns Numbers Colored Pencil Demonstration

Step 7

Universal Rubric

Lessons and videos originally created by Mrs. Zotos 

http://mrszotos.weebly.com/