colorcolor theory and psychology. review- the color wheel primary colors – red, yellow, blue ...

COLORTheory 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 & GreenOrange & BlueYellow & 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

COLORPSYCHOLOGY

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