Elements of Art

Colour TheoryColour Theory
Kyereh Kwaku

How do I knowHow do I know
whichwhich colorscolors toto useuse??

What are the Primaries?
Red Yellow Blue

Any other colour is achievedAny other colour is achieved
from the primariesfrom the primaries

Secondary colours result
from when two primaries
are added:

Intermediary colours are
formed by mixing a
primary and a secondaryRed
Orange
Prim. Sec. Intermediary
Red-
Orange

When all the primaries,
secondaries and
intermediaries combine, they
make up the colour wheel

Cool and Warm ColoursCool and Warm Colours
Warm
Colours
Cool Colours

Cool Colours …
Depicts a sense of water,
ice or cold temperature

Warm colours carry a
sense of heat, fire or
hot temperature

Neutral ColoursNeutral Colours

Neutral colours are formed from
rotten, dried or decayed objects

Tints and ShadesTints and Shades
AddAdd blackblack toto shadeshade
AddAdd whitewhite toto tinttint

Tintsandshadeprovides
severalcolourrange

Chose one of the five
harmony groups
Choosing pleasant colours …Choosing pleasant colours …

What are the 5What are the 5
harmony groups?harmony groups?
they are….

Monochrome is tints and
shades of the same colour

and this….
mmoonnoocchhrroo
mmee

Complimentarycoloursare
oppositeonthecolourwheel

3.Split-complimentary3.Split-complimentary
One colour plus the
two colours on either
side of its opposite

4. Triad colours4. Triad colours
3 equally spaced3 equally spaced
colours on the wheelcolours on the wheel

This is a triadThis is a triad
also…also…
greengreen
orangeorange andand
violetviolet

5. Analogous Colours5. Analogous Colours
2 or more colours between
primaries, except both primaries

Be creative, use the colour
scheme for any artwork ….

Assignment:
Create a 12-point colour
wheel
Period: One week

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