Color Theory I: The Color Wheel

This course is based on the color wheel. The objective is to teach you the principles of color harmony (i.e., the relationships of colors) through the monochromatic, complementary, analogous, and split-complementary exercises.

Color combinations are used to evoke emotions. The intensity of primary color complements can be jarring; whereas tertiary color complements tend to give a sense of elegance. Analogous color combinations are more subdued, especially when primary and secondary colors are placed in juxtaposition. Split-complements are colors flanking the complement. They are less confrontational than the complements.

We will not be working with triadic colors because they are difficult for students to handle at this level. Generally primary triadic colors tend to give a primitive, unsophisticated effect, while secondary triadic colors being less strident, tend to have a more refined effect. Tertiary triadic colors can be strident and violent (think Andy Warhol).


The same white still-life is used in all the exercises. Maintaining the subject as a constant effectively "subtracts" out the visual impact of the subject, allowing you to see color effects more easily. These effects will not be obvious while you are working on each exercise. It is only at the end of the course, when all 4 exercises are lined up for comparison, that you can fully appreciate the principles of color theory.

Exercises
:

1. Monochromatic color exercise (4 colors total)
primary color, + white, + black, + its neutral (the mixture only)

2.

Complementary color exercise (7 colors total)
primary color, + white, + black, + its neutral (the mixture only)
primary color's complement, + white, + black

3. Analogous color exercise (9 colors total)
primary color, + white, + black
scondary color to the left or to the right of the primary color, + white, + black
tertiary color next to the secondary color, + white, + black

4. Split-complmentary color exercise (9 colors total)
primary color, + white, + black
color to the right of the primary color's complement, + white, + black
color to the left of the primary color's complement, + white, + black

Material: In addition to the material you have from the Beginning Oils course (see Basic Material for Oils for list) you will need a 23 x 16 cm. canvas board and four F8 size canvasses. If you have a color chart in the Beginning Oils course, you need not buy the canvas board. A summary of what you need for this course is also included at the bottom of the class schedule.