Color theory is the foundation of all visual art. Understanding how colors interact, complement, and contrast with each other is essential for creating compelling artwork.
The Color Wheel
The color wheel is your most important tool. It organizes colors in a circle, showing relationships between them:
Primary Colors: Red, Yellow, Blue - These cannot be created by mixing other colors.
Secondary Colors: Orange, Green, Violet - Created by mixing two primary colors.
Tertiary Colors: Red-Orange, Yellow-Orange, Yellow-Green, etc. - Created by mixing a primary with an adjacent secondary.
The Color Wheel
Color Harmonies
Color harmonies are pleasing arrangements of colors based on their position on the wheel:
Temperature
Colors are also categorized by temperature:
Understanding temperature helps create depth and mood in your work.