Where does Colour come Where does Colour come from?from?

Paint consists of Paint consists of ground up pigment in ground up pigment in some sort of liquid.some sort of liquid.

Pigments are Pigments are ground colored ground colored

material. material.

The first paintings were The first paintings were cave paintings, such as cave paintings, such as those pictured at right.those pictured at right.

Ancient peoples would Ancient peoples would decorate walls of decorate walls of protected caves with protected caves with paint made from dirt or paint made from dirt or charcoal mixed with spit charcoal mixed with spit or animal fat.or animal fat.

Their tools were hands, Their tools were hands, frayed twigs and animal frayed twigs and animal hair and feathers.hair and feathers.

Paleolithic horses from the Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc cave in southeast France

Early Colours

Ancient Egypt and Rome Ancient Egypt and Rome (3000 BC to 500 AD) (3000 BC to 500 AD)

Artists painted frescoesArtists painted frescoes

(powdered paint mixed in plaster )(powdered paint mixed in plaster )

Ancient Greeks Ancient Greeks (3,000 BC- 200 AD)(3,000 BC- 200 AD)•Artists painted scenes from Artists painted scenes from mythology on vases and bowlsmythology on vases and bowls

The Middle Ages and The RenaissanceThe Middle Ages and The Renaissance(500 AD- 1400AD)(500 AD- 1400AD) (1400 AD- 1600 AD)(1400 AD- 1600 AD)

Oil Paint Oil Paint created about 1500 ADcreated about 1500 AD

Powdered paint mixed with linseed oilPowdered paint mixed with linseed oil

Used for paintings on canvas and woodUsed for paintings on canvas and wood

Water ColourWater ColourPigment mixed with waterPigment mixed with water

Tempera, oil and watercolour were the main types of paint until the 1950’sTempera, oil and watercolour were the main types of paint until the 1950’s

Acrylic PaintAcrylic PaintPigment mixed with plasticPigment mixed with plastic

More durableMore durable

Dries fast—this has pros and consDries fast—this has pros and cons

inexpensiveinexpensive

BlueBlue

calm, peaceful, pacific. calm, peaceful, pacific.

Hygiene, freshness Hygiene, freshness and cleanlinessand cleanliness

Blue stands for peaceBlue stands for peace

Modern expressions:Modern expressions:"to be blue with cold" (freezing), "once in a blue moon" "to be blue with cold" (freezing), "once in a blue moon" (very rarely), (very rarely), "to be in a blue funk" (petrified), "the blue" (sea) "to be in a blue funk" (petrified), "the blue" (sea) "blue-blooded" (of noble blood)."blue-blooded" (of noble blood).  

YellowYellowThe colour of the sun, of light, of The colour of the sun, of light, of summer. summer.

Yellow draws people's Yellow draws people's attention.attention.

In advertising, yellow is used to In advertising, yellow is used to attract the eye. attract the eye.

But But Yellow is also associated with illness. Seagoing ships, for Yellow is also associated with illness. Seagoing ships, for example, reserved their yellow pavilions as quarantine example, reserved their yellow pavilions as quarantine quarters. quarters. Yellow is also associated with cowardice and newspapers Yellow is also associated with cowardice and newspapers that exploit sensationalism. that exploit sensationalism.

OrangeOrange Associated Associated

with Sunsets, autumn and with Sunsets, autumn and Halloween and anything Halloween and anything

warm and tropicalwarm and tropical

The colour orange got its name at the time The colour orange got its name at the time oranges first arrived in Europe. The delicious oranges first arrived in Europe. The delicious fruit was called the orange.fruit was called the orange.

We associate orange with fall colours, fire, We associate orange with fall colours, fire, earth and pottery.earth and pottery.

Red Red The colour of passionate love,The colour of passionate love, sensuality and desire. sensuality and desire.

Red excites our senses and activates blood Red excites our senses and activates blood circulation.circulation. Red is joyful. Red is joyful. Red means speed and action. Red means speed and action. Red and orangeRed and orange are easiest to see from a are easiest to see from a distance. distance. Red attracts our attention: Red attracts our attention: Red, the colour of blood, identifies first aid Red, the colour of blood, identifies first aid services such as the Red Cross. services such as the Red Cross. Red conveys anger and aggressiveness, such Red conveys anger and aggressiveness, such as in "to see red", and "red with anger". as in "to see red", and "red with anger".

In the Middle Ages, green was considered the colour of In the Middle Ages, green was considered the colour of calamity and evil, and was associated with the Devil itself. It calamity and evil, and was associated with the Devil itself. It symbolized superstition to the point where one avoided symbolized superstition to the point where one avoided dressing in green.dressing in green.

Some expressionsSome expressions we use:we use:

to give someone the green light (permission)to give someone the green light (permission)

to be green behind the ears (inexperienced)to be green behind the ears (inexperienced)

to be green with envy (jealous)to be green with envy (jealous)

to have a green thumb (be to a good gardener).to have a green thumb (be to a good gardener).

  

Green

Luck and newness, nature and envy

VioletVioletPurple and gold are often associated Purple and gold are often associated

with Royalty, wealth and opulencewith Royalty, wealth and opulence

The religious world The religious world associates violet with associates violet with the Passion of Christ. the Passion of Christ.

In the days of the British Empire, In the days of the British Empire, mauve was the only colour allowed to mauve was the only colour allowed to complement grey, black and white during complement grey, black and white during periods of half-mourning. periods of half-mourning.

During the sixties, During the sixties, the violet family of the violet family of colours became very popular. colours became very popular.

Colour TermsColour Terms

HueHueHue refers to the name of a color.  Eg.  Red, blue, and Hue refers to the name of a color.  Eg.  Red, blue, and purple. purple. IntensityIntensityIt is not always enough to know the hue of a color, since It is not always enough to know the hue of a color, since a color has many different shades.   a color has many different shades.   Intensity is used to describe the brightness and purity of Intensity is used to describe the brightness and purity of a color.    When a hue is strong and bright, it is said to be a color.    When a hue is strong and bright, it is said to be high in intensity.  When a color is faint, dull and gray, it is high in intensity.  When a color is faint, dull and gray, it is said to be low in intensity. said to be low in intensity. Intensities of GreenIntensities of Green

High Intensity High Intensity Low IntensityLow Intensity

More TermsMore Terms

Value in ColorValue in ColorWhen describing a hue, value refers to its lightness or When describing a hue, value refers to its lightness or darkness.  Value changes are often obtained by adding darkness.  Value changes are often obtained by adding black or white to a hue. black or white to a hue.

Here is an example of a value scale that has values Here is an example of a value scale that has values ranging from the darkest dark, to the whitest whiteranging from the darkest dark, to the whitest white

Shade Shade TintTint

The Colour WheelThe Colour Wheel

A color wheel A color wheel is often used is often used to help to help explain and explain and understand understand color. color.

Primary ColoursPrimary Colours

The three primary The three primary colors are red, yellow, colors are red, yellow, and blue.  They are and blue.  They are called primary colors called primary colors because they could because they could be mixed to make all be mixed to make all the other colors, but the other colors, but mixing other colors mixing other colors cannot make them. cannot make them.

Secondary ColoursSecondary Colours

The secondary colors are The secondary colors are orange, green and violet. orange, green and violet. Mixing equal amounts of Mixing equal amounts of two primary colors two primary colors together makes together makes secondary colors.   As a secondary colors.   As a result, they are located result, they are located midway between the midway between the primary colors on the primary colors on the color wheel. color wheel.

Tertiary ColoursTertiary Colours

Tertiary colors are also Tertiary colors are also known as intermediate known as intermediate colors.    Both terms colors.    Both terms refers to the colors found refers to the colors found between the primary and between the primary and secondary colors.   secondary colors.   Mixing uneven amounts Mixing uneven amounts of two primary colors of two primary colors together makes tertiary together makes tertiary colors.   Examples of colors.   Examples of tertiary colors are Yellow-tertiary colors are Yellow-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Green, Blue-Violet and Red-Violet. Violet and Red-Violet.

Warm ColoursWarm Colours

Warm colors consist Warm colors consist of red, yellow and of red, yellow and orange.   They are orange.   They are referred to as warm referred to as warm colors because they colors because they are usually found in are usually found in things such as fire things such as fire and that sun which and that sun which gives off heat and gives off heat and make people feel make people feel warm.  warm. 

Cool ColoursCool Colours

Cool colors consist of Cool colors consist of blue, green and blue, green and violet.   Could you violet.   Could you guess why they are guess why they are called cool colors??? called cool colors???

Complimentary ColoursComplimentary Colours

Complementary colors Complementary colors are also known as are also known as opposite colors.  The opposite colors.  The term refers to two colors term refers to two colors that are directly opposite that are directly opposite to each other on the color to each other on the color wheel.   For example, wheel.   For example, blue and orange are blue and orange are complementary colors.  complementary colors.  

Analogous ColoursAnalogous Colours

Analogous (uh-NAL-uh-gus) colors Analogous (uh-NAL-uh-gus) colors sit next to each other on the color sit next to each other on the color wheel. They tend to look pleasant wheel. They tend to look pleasant together because they are closely together because they are closely related.related.

TRY IT!TRY IT! Choose a primary color Choose a primary color and a secondary color. For and a secondary color. For example, you might choose blue example, you might choose blue and green. Don't they look nice and green. Don't they look nice together? That's because they are together? That's because they are analogous. With just these two analogous. With just these two colors, you can create even more colors, you can create even more analogous colors—blue-green, analogous colors—blue-green, green-blue, and others in-green-blue, and others in-between. All of these will have a between. All of these will have a color in common: blue.color in common: blue.

NeutralsNeutrals

Neutrals don't usually show up Neutrals don't usually show up on the color wheel. Neutral on the color wheel. Neutral colors include black, white, colors include black, white, gray, and sometimes brown gray, and sometimes brown and beige. They are and beige. They are sometimes called “earth sometimes called “earth tones.” tones.”

TRY IT!TRY IT! There are a few There are a few different ways to make neutral different ways to make neutral colors. You can blend black colors. You can blend black and white to make gray. You and white to make gray. You can create brown in two wayscan create brown in two ways—by blending two —by blending two complementary colors complementary colors together, or by blending all together, or by blending all three primary colors together.three primary colors together.