COLORCOLOR Theory and Psychology

Review- The Color Wheel  Primary colors – RED, YELLOW, BLUE  Secondary colors- GREEN, ORANGE, VIOLET  Tertiary colors- yellow-orange, red- violet, etc.

 Color Theory is a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual impacts of specific color combinations  Color Schemes are combinations or arrangements of colors regarded as elements in a systematic conception Color Theory- Different Schemes

Color Schemes: Analogous  Colors next to one- another on the color wheel (usually either warm or cool colors)  Example: Red, red-orange, orange, yellow-orange

Color Schemes: Analogous  Similar color traits  Create sensation of warm or cool compositions  Doesn’t have to use either warm or cool colors. There can be overlap! Example: blue violet, violet, red-violet, red

Color Schemes: Complementary  Opposites on the Color Wheel  Examples: Red & Green Orange & Blue Yellow & Purple  Tertiary colors have compliments also also, like Red-Orange & Blue- Green

Color Schemes: Complementary  Create contrast when placed in a composition next to one another (because they are across from each other on the wheel!)  They dull when mixed, creating brown tones

Color Schemes: Monochromatic  One hue with its light and dark tones  Example- A Blue hue with different tones

Color Schemes: Monochromatic  Can really set a mood for the artwork  Color contrast (use of different tones) is key to making the artwork interesting

COLOR PSYCHOLOGY What is it? Scientific studies have been done that show how color effects mood! Colors differ in lightness and darkness and have the ability to affect feelings accordingly. They affect our nervous system, prompting alarm, arousal, caution, joy and more. Color perception also goes beyond vision mechanics. Although generalities apply, each person brings personal baggage to color interpretation.

Color Psychology: WARM versus COOL  WARM: Colors based on the red/ orange/ yellow area of the color wheel appear (to most of us) as warm colors and inviting.  COOL: On the other hand, violet- blue/ blue/ green-blue appear to recede from us and are known as receding colors.

Color Psychology - WHITE WHITE:  Clean  Innocent  Pure  Holiness

Color Psychology - BLACK BLACK:  Darkness  Death  Mourning  Despair  Questionable character

Color Psychology - GRAY GRAY:  Neutral  Unnoticed  Somber  Practical

Color Psychology - RED RED:  Passion  Fire or sun  Joyous  Authority  Alarm  Emotional power

Color Psychology - ORANGE ORANGE:  Radiant warmth  Fire  Explosive  Strong spirit  Festive

Color Psychology - YELLOW YELLOW:  Energy  Caution  Healing  Divine enlightenment  Jaundice  Sickness

Color Psychology - GREEN GREEN:  Youth  Renewal  Health  Calm  Jealousy  Envy

Color Psychology - BLUE BLUE:  Peace  Passive  Coolness  Truth  Wisdom  Fidelity

Color Psychology - VIOLET VIOLET:  Royal  Exclusive  Romantic  Moodiness  Mourning and penance

Color Psychology - BROWN BROWN:  Earthy  Lean toward another color  Dirty  Crude

 While colors should be chosen wisely, color is not the only compositional technique that effects the viewer’s mood!  How you handle your subject matter is extremely important for conveying mood.  Consider all Elements and Principles in the overall mood you’d like to set Things to consider when creating MOOD