Color Theory with Johannes Itten

THE Color Wheel The color wheel is the basic tool for combining colors. The first circular color diagram was designed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666. The color wheel is designed so that virtually any colors you pick from it will look good together. Over the years, many variations of the basic design have been made, but the most common version is a wheel of 12 colors based on the RYB (or artistic) color model created by Johannes Itten.

So what exactly did he contribute? Who is… Johannes Itten? Swiss painter and teacher Johannes Itten was a pivotal member of the Bauhaus; Germany’s most influential art and design school in the early 1900’s. He was the main painter and taught a mandatory design and color class at the school. The theories he created and taught are still used today by artist world wide! So what exactly did he contribute?

Contributions What were his… The 12 Point Color Wheel 4 Qualities of a color: Hue Intensity Value Temperature 7 Color Contrasts: contrast of saturation contrast of light and dark contrast of extension complementary contrast simultaneous contrast contrast of hue contrast of warm and cool

What is… Color Theory The artist’s most notable impact on present-day color theory was the association of certain colors with specific emotions. Traditionally, there are a number of color combinations that are considered especially pleasing. These are called color harmonies and they consist of two or more colors with a fixed relation in the color wheel. The easiest color harmonies are… Warm and Cool Colors….

Warm and Cool Colors? What are… Warm Colors: Red, Yellow, Orange Warm and cool colors refer to the temperature of a color. Warm Colors: Red, Yellow, Orange Cool Colors: Blue, Green, Purple EVERY color has a warm and cool variation…

What are… Warm Colors? Warm colors are made with orange, red, yellow and combinations of these three. As the name indicates, they tend to make you think of sunlight and heat. Because these colors are the first colors the eye sees, Warm colors look as though they come closer in paintings.

What are… Cool Colors? Cool colors such as blue, green and light purple have the ability to calm and soothe. Where warm colors remind us of heat and sunshine, cool colors remind us of water and sky. Unlike warm colors, cool colors look as though they recede because they are the last colors our eyes see.

Color Schemes What are… With colors you can set a mood, attract attention, or make a statement. You can use color to energize, or to cool down. By selecting the right color scheme, you can create an ambiance of elegance, warmth or tranquility, or you can convey an image of playful youthfulness. Color can be your most powerful design element if you learn to use it effectively.

Monochromatic Colors What are… One color used with varying tints and shades of that color are called Monochromatic colors… Like analogous colors, monochromatic colors create relaxing and harmonious feelings. Unlike analogous colors they lack in creating strong focal points because of the lack of color variations.

Analogous Colors What are… Analogous color schemes use colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. They naturally match well and “feel” good. Analogous color schemes are often found in nature and are harmonious and pleasing to the eye. When used with enough contrast analogous color schemes have more colors to choose from and therefor are more successful at creating focal points than monochromatic colors. Choose one color to dominate, a second to support. The third color is used (along with black, white or gray) as an accent.

Complementary Colors What are… Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are considered to be complementary colors … ex: red and green The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look when placed NEXT to each other and therefore must be managed well so it is not jarring. They also create a variety of neutrals such as black and brown when MIXED. Complementary color schemes are tricky to use in large doses, but work well when you want a strong focal point.

Split-Complementary Colors What are… Split-Complementary Colors The split-complementary color scheme is a variation of the complementary color scheme. In addition to the base color, it uses the two colors adjacent to its complement. This color scheme has the same strong visual contrast as the complementary color scheme, but has WAY less tension and MORE color options. The split-complimentary color scheme is often a good choice for beginners, because it is difficult to mess up.

Triad Harmony What are… Natural Triads include A triad color scheme uses three colors that are evenly spaced around the color wheel.  (pick 1/Skip 3, repeat) Triadic color schemes tend to be quite vibrant, even if you use pale or unsaturated versions of your hues. To use a triadic harmony successfully, the colors should be carefully balanced - let one color dominate and use the two others for accent. Natural Triads include Primary and Secondary Colors!

Tetrad Harmony Square What are… The Tetrad Harmony of 4 Square Color Scheme is similar to the rectangle, but with all four colors spaced evenly around the color circle. This gives it a more complementary feeling than the rectangular version. Square color schemes works best if you let one color be dominant. You should also pay attention to the balance between warm and cool colors in your design.

Tetrad Harmony Rectangle What are… Tetrad Harmony Rectangle The Tetrad Harmony of 4 Rectangle uses four colors arranged into two complementary pairs that are placed close together. This gives it a slightly more analogous feeling than the Square Tetrad. This rich color scheme offers plenty of possibilities for variation. Tetradic color schemes works best if you let one color be dominant. You should also pay attention to the balance between warm and cool colors in your design.