Wendy Scarbrough

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Color Theory Basics - The Artist Life

Color theory is a really interesting topic that can help you understand how different colors work together to create beautiful designs and art. Basically, it's all about how colors affect our eyes and brains, and how they can be combined and contrasted to create visually appealing compositions.

 

So, let's start with the color wheel!

This is a visual representation of the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. You've got your primary colors of red, blue, and yellow, which are the building blocks of all other colors. Mix two primary colors together and you get a secondary color - green, orange, or purple. And then there are the tertiary colors, which are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color.

 

Next up is color harmony!

This is all about choosing colors that work well together. There are different types of color harmony, like complementary (opposite colors on the color wheel), analogous (colors next to each other on the color wheel), and triadic (three colors evenly spaced on the color wheel).

 

Temperature

Color temperature is another important concept. Warm colors, like red, orange, and yellow, can create a sense of energy and excitement. Cool colors, like blue, green, and purple, can create a more calming, relaxing atmosphere.

 

Saturation and Value

Color saturation and value are also key. Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color, while value refers to its lightness or darkness.

 

So, now that you've got the basics down, have fun experimenting with different color combinations and see what works best for you!