Paint Notes Color Theory Color Physics We cant

Paint Notes & Color Theory

Color Physics • We can’t see color without light • White light contains all colors Visible light only occupies a small portion of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

Describe color in terms of: • Hue: Name of the color • Intensity: Brightness or dullness of a color • Value: Lightness or darkness of a color

Intensity Four ways to change the intensity of a color: 1. Add white 2. Add black 3. Add gray 4. Add complement

Value TINT (+ white) Adjust the value of a color by adding black or white. SHADE (+ black)

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors Primary: RED - BLUE - YELLOW Secondary: PURPLE - GREEN - ORANGE Tertiary: Yellow-orange, red-purple, blue-green and yellow-green

Color Temperature The closer a color is to red-orange, the warmer it is; the closer to blue-green, the cooler it is.

Color Schemes • • • Monochromatic Analogous Triadic Complementary Split Complementary

MONOCHROMATIC One color, different values Pablo Picasso, The Old Guitarist - 1903

ANALAGOUS Share a common hue Vincent van Gogh, The Iris - 1889

TRIADIC Forms a triangle on the color wheel Sarrah Phipps, Untitled - 1999

COMPLEMENTARY One hue and its complement Sandy Skoglund, Revenge of the Goldfish - 1981

SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY One hue & the hues on either side of its complement. Edgar Degas, Elena Carafa - 1875

PAINT ANATOMY • Pigment: finely ground, colored powder • Binder: liquid that holds together and drives pigment • Watercolor = gum arabic • Acrylic = acrylic polymer • Solvent: controls thickness or thinness (dilutes) • Watercolor = water • Acrylic = water / acrylic medium

Color Context Colors look different depending upon what colors they are placed with.