Color Theory- Part 1
You'll be starting off learning the basics of color, and creating a color wheel. Skip to the bottom to see how to make your color wheel. Grading - this assignment is being graded on the following:
proper mixing of colors (example: 50% red + 50% yellow = orange, and 50% yellow + 50% orange = yellow orange
correct number of colors and their placement - colors should be arranged the same as they are in the example below.
colors should be labeled correctly - see image below
overall quality/neatness - you should spend the time to make your color wheel as neat as possible. After your paint is dry you can outline it in ink too.
First you'll paint a color wheel similar to this. You do not need to paint the smaller wheels on the side, but make sure you label your color wheel! - 50pts
Second you'll choose one color and paint the tints, tones, and shades like the chart below. - 50pts
What is Color Theory?
Color theory is essentially the science and art of color.
Color theory creates the basic rules of how color works for artists to follow. However, we must remember that it’s rules are not absolute. The concepts you’ll find within the theory should be merely considered as guidelines and should not stop your creative process.
Color theory can basically be divided into 3 categories, namely: The color wheel, color harmony, and colors in context.
What is color?
Color is our eye’s perception of light. The process of light bouncing off objects and into our eyes includes the making of color combinations. Our brains then interpret those combinations and translate them into what we call color.
Definitions and Terms
1. Hue
Hue is basically the term for color. Or in the context of speaking, it is the color you are specifying. It also refers to the dominant wavelength of color out to the 12 colors. For example: the hue of navy is blue
2. Saturation
It is the intensity of color. In other words, saturation is the measurement of how pure a color is. To have a high saturation means the color is very bright. Desaturation means the color is washed out or grayed out
3. Varieties of color
Tints are hues to which white is added.
Shades are hues to which black is added
Tones can be produced by adding gray to hues
How to draw your color wheel
These steps show you how to draw the standard color with 12 colors. Be sure to label your colors after drawing the sections.
You can also make a color wheel with just circles.
