Theories about colors

1. by
VICTORIANO D. DONOSO III
Master Teacher II
District Art Education Coordinator
District of Dumangas I

2. Of all the elements of art, color is the easiest to notice.
This is so because the impact of colors on our eyesight and
nerves is so strong that it cannot escape our notice.
The impact is so strong that sometimes we do not notice
the shape, size and textures of objects the color of which has
struck us.
Colors derived from light. The sensation of color
stimulated in the brain by the way the eyes respond to the
different wavelengths of light.
The brain then clarifies these colors as separate stripes in
a narrow band known as spectrum (red, orange, yellow, green,
blue, indigo and violet).
The Color Wheel invented by Isaac Newton around 1666
makes it easy for us to recognize different colors and learn how
to mix them in producing artworks.
Colors can be repeated to create movement and unity.
Dark and cool colors generally recede while warm colors usually
advanced.

3. Many different color charts have appeared
recently, this is a sign that our friends in science,
particularly chemistry have not yet stopped seeking
new colors for our enjoyment to use. For the time
being, we shall study two of the best known color
charts. The Munsell and Prang Charts

4. The Munsell system disregards primary and
secondary colors, because according to munsell, such
gives an excess of orange and yellow in the chart.
Instead, the system establishes five principal hues.
Red, yellow, green, blue and purple.
The five intermediate hues are yellow-red,
green- yellow, blue-green, blue-purple and red-purple.
Regarding orange and violet as mere shades of
fruits and flowers.
Munsell has ten basic hues, compared to twelve
in the prang system.

6. Based on the Brewster-Newton theory,
this system deals with primary, secondary
and tertiary colors. There are twelve basic
hues in the prang color system, namely:
three primaries, three secondary’s and six
intermediates.
On the two systems, the Prang is the
easiest to conceptualize.

7. Primary colors – the root of all colors
a. yellow
b. blue
c. red

8. Secondary colors – produced by the
mixture of any two primary colors
a. green (yellow and blue)
b. orange (yellow and red)
c. violet (red and blue)

9. Intermediate colors – produced by the
mixture of one primary color and one
secondary color in the color chart.
a. yellow-green d. red-violet
b. yellow-orange e. blue-violet
c. red-orange f. blue-green

11. The teacher should guard against
confusing the children by not teaching
them the two color charts at the same time.
The experienced teacher concentrates
his teaching only on one or the other.
Most teachers found Prang chart to be
the better one to teach because the colors
are not only easy to remember but they are
also well balanced.

12. PROPERTIES OF COLORS
Colors has three properties or
dimension:
1. Hue
2. Value
3. Intensity

13. 1. Hue
Hue is the identity or name of the color. It is
its warmth or coolness. Hue and color are not the
same.
The right answer for the question, “What is
the hue of this flower?” should be the name of the
color as red, yellow or orange as the case may be.
But if the question is, “What is the color of
this flower?” the proper reply should include the
three properties, as for example, light, dull red, or
dark grayed yellow.
In other words, hue, value and intensity of
the flower should be given.

14. 2. Values of Color
Value is the lightness or darkness of
color. Value is the amount of light in an
object. Value of colors may be divided into
tints and shades.
Tints of color may be produced by
adding white pigment or water respectively.
Shades of color is produced by adding
a little black pigment to the color.

16. 3. Intensity or Chroma
Intensity is the brightness or dullness of a color, its
strength or weakness, its purity and impurity.
The twelve normal colors of the Prang color chart
possess the maximum intensity because they are all stand
out and they are noticed with equal force.
The intensity of a color can be reduced by mixing
with it an amount of its complement.
For example, a normal green can be made duller by
adding a little of red to it. Doing so results in reduced
intensity or brilliancy.
The more red is added to it, the duller will the
green be. When the equal amount of red is mixed with
green, the resulting mixture will be destroyed and the
result will be neutral.

17. COLOR HARMONY
Color harmony means the pleasing,
effective, congruent and balance
combination of two or more colors or
shades.
It does not only imply a random
mixing of colors but a purpose selection of a
number of colors to achieve a desired effect.
You can achieve harmony by
combining related or contrasting colors.

18. 1. Monochromatic Harmony
It is otherwise referred to as one-mode
or one-hue harmony.
It combines different intensities or
values. Lightness or darkness or
brightness or dullness of one color only.
Examples are blue, light blue, dark
blue.

20. 2. Analogous Harmony
It means a combination of two or more
neighboring colors in the color chart.
Examples:
blue, blue-green, green
green, yellow-green, yellow
red, red-orange, orange
yellow, yellow-orange, orange

22. 3. Complementary Harmony
Complementary harmony is the
combination of two opposite colors in the
color chart together with their values and
intensities.
Examples:
blue and orange,
red and green,
yellow-orange and blue-violet
yellow and violet

24. What are the paints suitable for Classroom
Structuring?
Use Latex Paint for Styrofoam materials
preferably BOYSEN brand.
Touluidine Red
Thalo Blue
Hanza Yellow
Latex paint can also be used for painting wall
made of cement.
If you are making Streamers, just use
Enamel paint and must be a BOYSEN brand.
Enamel paint can also be used for painting
materials made of wood and metals.