SAA Jr High Art

Unit 5

COLOR

GeometricShapesWithColorWheel 2a

Color Vocabulary

1. Primary colors – Red, yellow, and blue. The three pigment colors from which all other colors are created. Theoretically, mixing all three colors makes black. First color category. (Triadic colors in an equal lateral triangle).
2. Secondary colors – Green, orange, and violet/purple. The three colors created when two primary colors are mixed together. Second color category.  (Triadic colors in an equal lateral triangle).
3. Tertiary colors –The colors that are created when a primary and its adjacent secondary color is mixed together. Sometimes called, Intermediate colors, i.e. red-violet, yellow-green, blue-green, etc. Color category. Third color category.
4.  Complementary colors – Colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel. A line through the center of the color wheel helps identify this color scheme.
5. Split-complementary colors – Start with complementary colors on the color wheel, and on one side take the two colors that lie next to that complementary color. An isosceles triangle helps identify this color scheme. It consists of three colors.
6. Analogous colors – Colors next to each other on the color wheel. This color scheme often implies three colors. For example green, yellow-green, and yellow.
7. Monochromatic – Literally means “one color”. A one color, color scheme.
8. Tint – Adding various amounts of white to a color creates a tint. Lightened color value.
9. Shade – Adding various amounts of black to a color creates a shade. Darkened color value.
10. Value – A colors lightness or darkness. This can incorporate tint and shade.
11. Hue – A pure color or the name of a color.
12. Warm colors – Yellow, Orange, and Red. They imply high temperatures like fire and the sun.
13. Cool colors – Purple, blue, and green. They imply low temperatures like shadows and water.
14. Contrast – A high degree of difference. Colors on opposite sides of the color wheel. Opposite values.
15. Pigments – Matter that gives color to material such as paint, dyes, crayons, ink, etc.
16. Four-color harmony – Four colors that work together for a specific desired effect. Sometime created by using a square or rectangle pattern on the color wheel.
17. Subtractive color theory – When light hits a surface and reflects off that surface (reflected light). Used for mixing pigments.
18. Additive color theory – When the light is a color (direct light).  Used when combining different colors of light, used in computers, theater lighting, etc.