Creative Corner features creativity freedom to make their own art from various materials that can be found around their homes and/or are inexpensive to purchase. Art courses are for the inner creative geared towards individuals 15 years of age and older.
Tune in this upcoming Monday, June 6th at 4:00 p.m. for a demonstration on the color wheel and a discussion of Color Theory and terminology. Available through our Facebook page and YouTube channel, search @galluplibrary.
Color Theory, Terminology, & More.
Color Theory Definition
Color theory encompasses a multitude of definitions, concepts and design applications – enough to fill several encyclopedias. Color theories create a logical structure for color. For example, if we have an assortment of fruits and vegetables, we can organize them by color and place them on a circle that shows the colors in relation to each other.
Color Wheel
The Color Wheel A favorite of designers and artists, the wheel makes color relationships easy to see by dividing the spectrum into 12 basic hues: three primary colors, three secondaries, and six tertiaries.
Terminology for Review:
Analogous Colors
Any three colors which are side by side on a 12-part color wheel, such as yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. Usually one of the three colors predominates.
Complimentary Colors
Complementary colors are any two colors which are directly opposite each other, such as red and green and red-purple and yellow-green.
Hue
An attribute of a color which makes it unique. Example: Red, Forest Green, Cerulean, Violet, Pink, Magenta, etc.
Primary Colors
In traditional color theory (used in paint and pigments), primary colors are the 3 pigment colors that cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these 3 hues.
Example: Red, Blue, and Yellow
Secondary Colors
These are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors.
Example: Green, Orange, and Purple
Shade
Refers to the mixture of a hue with black or any darker color. This mixture reduces the overall color brightness.
Tertiary Colors
These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color.
Example: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green & yellow-green
Tint
A tint is created when you add white to a hue and lighten it. It is also sometimes called a pastel color.
Tone
In art, the term “tone” describes the quality of color. It has to do with whether a color is perceived as warm or cold, bright or dull, light or dark, and pure or “dirty.” The tone of a piece of art can have a variety of effects, from setting the mood to adding emphasis.
