"In the visual arts, color theory is the body of practical guidance for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination."
This topic covers the science behind color and how artists use it in their work. It explores topics such as hue, value, saturation, color schemes, and color psychology.
Color wheel: A circular diagram that shows the relationship between primary, secondary, and tertiary colors.
Primary colors: Colors that cannot be made by mixing any other colors.
Secondary colors: Colors that are made by mixing equal parts of two primary colors.
Tertiary colors: Colors that are made by mixing equal parts of a primary color and a secondary color.
Complementary colors: Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel and create a strong contrast when used together.
Analogous colors: Colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel and create a harmonious color scheme when used together.
Warm colors: Colors that are associated with warmth, such as red, orange, and yellow.
Cool colors: Colors that are associated with coolness, such as blue, green, and violet.
Value/ tone: The lightness or darkness of a color.
Hue: The characteristic of a color that distinguishes it from other colors.
Saturation: The intensity or purity of a color.
Color temperature: The perceived warmth or coolness of a color.
Color psychology: The study of how color affects human behavior and emotions.
Color harmonies: Various combinations of colors that are pleasing to the eye, such as monochromatic, triadic, and split-complementary.
Color contrast: The use of different colors or values to create a visual separation, such as light against dark or warm against cool.
Color schemes: A planned combination of colors used in a work of art or design.
Color mixing: The process of creating new colors by mixing different pigments or hues.
Color symbolism: The use of colors to represent certain meanings or ideas, such as red for passion or blue for tranquility.
Color perception: The subjective experience of color, influenced by individual differences in vision and cultural associations.
RGB: This is the additive color model that is used in electronic displays and digital photography. It uses red, green, and blue light to create a full range of colors.
CMYK: This is the subtractive color model that is used in the printing industry. It uses cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink to create a full range of colors.
Color wheel: This is a circular diagram that organizes colors in a specific order. It can help artists and designers understand how colors interact with each other and create harmonious combinations.
Complementary colors: These are colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel (e.g. red and green). They create high contrast when used together.
Analogous colors: These are colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel (e.g. blue, blue-green, and green). They create a harmonious and peaceful effect.
Warm and cool colors: Warm colors, such as red, orange, and yellow, suggest warmth, energy, and excitement. Cool colors, such as blue, green, and purple, suggest tranquility, serenity, and relaxation.
Tints and shades: Tints are created by adding white to a color, while shades are created by adding black. They can be used to create depth and dimension in a painting or design.
Color symbolism: This refers to the cultural associations and meanings that people attach to colors. For example, red is often associated with passion or danger, while blue is associated with calm or authority.
Color psychology: This involves the study of how colors can affect human emotions and behavior. It can be useful for designers to understand how colors can influence the perception of their work.
Color harmony: This involves creating a pleasing and balanced combination of colors. Different color harmonies include monochromatic, complementary, and triadic color schemes.
"Color terminology based on the color wheel and its geometry separates colors into primary color, secondary color, and tertiary color."
"The understanding of color theory dates to antiquity."
"Aristotle (d. 322 BCE) and Claudius Ptolemy (d. 168 CE) already discussed which and how colors can be produced by mixing other colors."
"The influence of light on color was investigated and revealed further by al-Kindi (d. 873) and Ibn al-Haytham (d.1039)."
"Ibn Sina (d. 1037), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 1274), and Robert Grosseteste (d. 1253) discovered that contrary to the teachings of Aristotle, there are multiple color paths to get from black to white."
"More modern approaches to color theory principles can be found in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c. 1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1490)."
"A formalization of 'color theory' began in the 18th century."
"Initially within a partisan controversy over Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of primary colors."
"It developed as an independent artistic tradition with only superficial reference to colorimetry and vision science."
"Color theory is the body of practical guidance for color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination."
"Color terminology based on the color wheel and its geometry separates colors into primary color, secondary color, and tertiary color."
"The understanding of color theory dates to antiquity."
"Aristotle (d. 322 BCE) and Claudius Ptolemy (d. 168 CE) already discussed which and how colors can be produced by mixing other colors."
"The influence of light on color was investigated and revealed further by al-Kindi (d. 873) and Ibn al-Haytham (d.1039)."
"Ibn Sina (d. 1037), Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d. 1274), and Robert Grosseteste (d. 1253) discovered that contrary to the teachings of Aristotle, there are multiple color paths to get from black to white."
"More modern approaches to color theory principles can be found in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c. 1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1490)."
"A formalization of 'color theory' began in the 18th century."
"Initially within a partisan controversy over Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of primary colors."
"It developed as an independent artistic tradition with only superficial reference to colorimetry and vision science."