Getting Started in painting-Color Theory

Painting is an exciting medium that allows you to express your ideas through brush stroke and values. Color, or lack there of, will play an important role in your final pieces so we need to talk about color theory. We also need to learn about composition, surfaces(canvas, watercolor paper, boards, etc..) techniques and brushes. This page will be a source for you to come back to when you need to review. We will be exploring several kinds of paints such as watercolor, oil, acrylic, ink and mixing of medias.

What is Color Theory? Well, I am glad you asked. Color Theory is the study of the element of color and how it interacts with other colors. It can be broken down into 3 basic parts, for our purposes, which are The color wheel, color value, and color schemes.

Learning Targets:

Students will learn about color theory and demonstrate their knowledge of color blending through creation of a color wheel design.
Students will learn how to create strong compositions.
Students will learn about the importance of pattern and negative space and study of design from other cultures including their own.

Vocabulary Terms:

Color Theory

Shades

Color

Analogous Color Scheme

Additive and Subtractive Color

Temperature

Saturation

Hue

Triad Color Scheme

Primary

Tints

Monochromatic

Value

Complimentary Color Scheme

Secondary

Tones

Neutrals

Contrast

Emphasis

Color Wheel

Color Family

Tertiary

Here are some great sites to learn more about Color Theory Website and Color theory and the color wheel

Additive and subtractive color video

Examples:

Color_Lecture

Assignment:

Students will create a color wheel of their own using design and color theory concepts to complete the project. An emphasis on design and craftsmanship will be studied.

Students may create a final radial design (circular) using design elements inspired from Art nouveau, Art deco, Native American, Hmong, or Celtic art which students will use four color schemes with tints and shades in each quadrant or specific area. If you prefer not to work in a circular design, please feel free to work on some other sketch ideas and we can change up the shape of your paper to fit. Use 4 color scheme from the color theory lecture. One of the color schemes must be from the following list:

Primaries

Secondary Colors

Tertiary Colors

And three additional color schemes. Refer to the classroom presentation lecture material above and the worksheets I handed out in class.

see samples below:

Taking inspiration from the unruly aspects of the natural world, Art Nouveau influenced art and architecture especially in the applied arts, graphic work, and illustration. Metropolitan Museum of Art Website

Examples of Celtic Art