Applying Color Theory
Dennis's
The Art of Color Theory Series
The color wheel is an essential tool for artists, providing a visual representation of colors arranged according to their chromatic relationship. By having the color wheel as a guide, artists can explore analogous themes, complementary colors, and triadic color schemes, along with how to appropriately mix colors to achieve the desired saturation, value, and hue. Understanding the color wheel is crucial for artists to convey their creativity and express emotions in their works.
Tertiary Colors
Tertiary Colors
Every Other Color Around the Color Wheel
Tertiary colors, also known as intermediate colors, are formed by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. Tertiary colors may be complemented by utilizing the Tertiary color opposite of the dominant color on the color wheel. It is a good practice to use the complementary Tertiary color sparingly to accent and set the contrast for the principal Tertiary color.
Tertiary colors play a critical role in color theory in visual art and design. To establish a tertiary color, mix a principal primary color (blue, red, or yellow) plus a secondary color (purple, green, or orange). This process results in distinctive hues that encompass the color wheel.
There are six tertiary colors on the color wheel, each with unique characteristics:
• Red-Orange: A mix of red and orange.
• Yellow-Orange: A mix of yellow and orange.
• Yellow-Green: A mix of yellow and green.
• Blue-Green: A mix of blue and green.
• Blue-Purple: A mix of blue and purple.
• Red-Purple: A mix of red and purple.
Tertiary colors offer a wider range of hues, providing artists and designers with more options for creating depth and visual interest.
A tertiary color is created by mixing equal parts of a primary and secondary color. On the color wheel, tertiary colors are positioned between primary and secondary colors.
Combinations of the six tertiary colors include:
• Yellow-green, Yellow-orange,
• Blue-green, Blue-purple,
• Red-purple, Red-orange,
Tertiary colors are an essential model in art color theory and schemes. It provides a greater insight into how colors work together and mix to create new hues. These hues are the colors that result from mixing a secondary color and a primary color which can be either purple, orange, or green. As a result of this combination, unique color range, depth, and variety automatically add to the artwork.
