This presentation introduces introductory art and design students to the 5th element of art - color. The color wheel is shown and the color families are defined, as well as important color schemes. A project is outlined to get students practicing with the use of color.

1. COLOR
[a property of light seen on a
spectrum, a hue]

2. The Color Wheel
Created by Sir Isaac Newton

3. PRIMARY Colors
• Red , Yellow , Blue
• Basic colors from
which all other colors
are derived
•Cannot be made from
any other colors
•When you mix one
PRIMARY with another
PRIMARY, you get……..

4. SECONDARY Colors
• Orange, Green, Violet
• The result of mixing
two primary colors
• Red + Yellow = Orange
• Yellow + Blue = Green
• Red + Blue = Violet
•When you mix a
PRIMARY color with a
SECONDARY color, you
get……..

5. TERTIARY Colors • Red-Orange, Red-Violet,
Yellow-Green, Yellow-Orange,
Blue-Green, Blue-Violet
• The name of the Primary
is listed first
• Red+ Orange = Red-Orange
• Red + Violet = Red-Violet
• Yellow + Orange = Yellow-Orange
• Yellow + Green = Yellow-Green
• Blue + Green = Blue-Green
• Blue + Violet = Blue-Violet
• These are the beginning to a
more complex / sophisticated
palette (how many PURE
primaries and PURE secondaries
do we see in the “real world?”

6. TINTS and SHADES
Adding White to a
color makes a TINT
Adding Black to a
color makes a SHADE

7. Monochromatic Color Chords
Sometimes an artist may
decide to use a
monochromatic
color palette.
These only include
one hue , plus the tints and
shades from that hue; may
include the complete range of
value (of one hue) from white
to black.

8. Warm Colors………vs………Cool Colors
Red
Yellow
Orange
Blue
Green
Violet

9. Complementary colors are across from each
other on the color wheel.
When placed side by side, they create contrast
and emphasis!
Three sets of Complementary colors:
Red / Green
Blue / Orange
Yellow / Violet
Analogous colors are next to each other on the
color wheel.
When placed side by side, they create flow and
harmony!
Some examples:
Red / Red-Orange / Orange
Blue-Green / Green / Yellow-Green
Red-Violet / Violet / Blue-Violet

10. Remember Geometric / Organic shapes?
Which is which?

11. Tomas Seraceno
“Stillness in Motion – Cloud Cities”
2016
Baltimore Museum of Art houses one
of his installations currently
Dale Chihuly
Renowned Glass Artist
Inspired by organic and geometric
forms in his large-scale glass
installations

12. Radial Balance
A design whose
general shape is
based on a circle
and has designs
extending from the
center is said to
have radial balance.

13. Project #6: COLOR
Objectives:
• Create two radial designs in analogous and
complimentary color schemes
• Practice color mixing and brush control
• Investigate geometric vs. organic forms as
inspiration for your project

14. Project #6: COLOR
Preliminary (Sketchbook) Work:
• 6 compositional studies
• 3-5 sketches/photographs of geometric / organic forms that inspire you
Materials:
• 1 sheets white watercolor paper, size 15x22”. Each design should measure
8”x8”
• 3-5 photographs of geometric / organic forms that inspire you
• Acrylic paints
• Brushes
• Pencils /eraser
• Masking tape

15. Process:
• Create two radial designs inspired by the geometric and
organic forms you have photographed. Develop these on
practice paper first.
• Sketch out your designs onto your watercolor paper, side by
side. Then begin filling in the forms and shapes with acrylic
paint. One of your designs must use an analogous color
scheme, and the other must utilize a complimentary color
scheme. Both projects should incorporate tints, tones and
shades of the chosen hues. Experiment with changing the
focal point on each project by working with value contrast
and different levels of color saturation.

16. Analogous Color Scheme

17. Complementary Color Scheme

18. Analogous Color Scheme