Visual Arts Teacher Simone
How do we perceive color? ď‚— We perceive color when natural or artificial light
illuminates objects.
White Light What color is sunlight? We call sunlight “white light”, but light is actually
NOT white. Isaac Newton discovered that white light is actually made of infinite colors. You can observe this when a ray of light passes through a crystal prism.
White light
When light hits a solid object… …it bounces off the surface. The white light contains all possible colors. The object absorbs all light waves but it rejects the
wave of it’s own color. For example:
When light hits a solid object‌
The 3 qualities of color Hue: Identifies the color. For example, blue, green,
orange…
Saturation: Indicates the intensity of the color.
Tone: Indicates the quantity of black or white the
color contains.
Tone
The Color Wheel ď‚— The color wheel is a diagram which shows the
relationship between hues.
The color wheel is divided into three different types of color:
Primary colors: Red Blue Yellow
These colors are “primary”, or basic, because they
cannot be created from other colors. All other colors come from these three colors.
Secondary colors: Orange Green Violet
When we mix any two primary colors in equal parts,
we get secondary colors. For example: 50% Red + 50% Yellow = Orange
Tertiary colors Blue Green Yellow Green Yellow Orange Red Orange Red Purple Blue Purple When we mix a primary color with the secondary
color adjacent (next to) it on the color wheel.
Complementary colors ď‚— Are colors opposite each other on the color wheel. ď‚— They contrast.
Analogous colors ď‚— Are colors next to each other on the color wheel. ď‚— They are similar.
Complementary colors ď‚— Complementary colors, when used together, create
optimal contrast as opposed to analogous colors.
What colors can express Colores have lots of expressive quality. They can express temperature. Warm and cool.
Colors can express emotion ď‚— What emotions do you associate with blue? Red? Green?
Combinations of colors can create different sensations ď‚— Analogous colors create harmony. ď‚— They can express calm.
Tranquility Calm Peace Harmony
ď‚— Complementary colors can create contrast. ď‚— They can give the sensation of aggression and energy.
Energy Fun Vibrant
More examples‌
Aggression Hate Passion
Energy
Happiness
Playful
Intense