Visual ArtsTeacher Simone

How do we perceive color?We perceive color when natural or artificial

light illuminates objects.

White LightWhat 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 colorHue: 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 WheelThe color wheel is a diagram which shows

the relationship between hues.

The color wheel is divided into three different types of color:

Primary colors:

RedBlueYellow

These colors are “primary”, or basic, because they cannot be created from other colors. All other colors come from these three colors.

Secondary colors:OrangeGreen Violet

When we mix any two primary colors in equal parts, we get secondary colors. For example:

50% Red + 50% Yellow = Orange

Tertiary colorsBlue GreenYellow GreenYellow Orange Red OrangeRed PurpleBlue Purple

When we mix a primary color with the secondary color adjacent (next to) it on the color wheel.

Complementary colorsAre colors opposite each other on the color

wheel.They contrast.

Analogous colorsAre colors next to each other on the color

wheel.They are similar.

Complementary colorsComplementary 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 emotionWhat emotions do you associate with blue? Red?

Green?

Combinations of colors can create different sensationsAnalogous colors create harmony.They can express calm.

Tranquility

Calm

Peace

Harmony

Complementary colors can create contrast.They can give the sensation of aggression

and energy.

Energy

Fun

Vibrant

More examples…

Aggression

Hate

Passion

Energy

Happiness

Playful

Intense