Color Schemes

1. Color Schemes
Monochromatic Colors
Analogous Colors
Complementary Colors
Split Complements
Color Triads
Warm and Cool Colors

2. Circle Map
One color
Monochromatic
Unify design boring
colors
Tints and shades of
one color
1. Monochromatic Colors
2. Analogous Colors
3. Complementary Colors
4. Color Triads
5. Split Complements

3. Monochromatic Colors
 one color (tints and shades)
 looks clean and elegant
 soothing effect
 easy on the eyes
 unifying effect
 can convey boredom, loneliness, sadness

4. Analogous Colors
 colors that are side by side on the color wheel
 looks richer than monochromatic
 ties one shape to the next
 lacks contrast
 not so vibrant
 unifying effect

5. Complementary Colors
 opposite colors
 strong contrast
 high intensity
 colors vibrate
 can be used for special effects
 exciting & loud
 demand attention

6.  a color & two colors on each side of its complement
 easier to work with
 offers more variety
 strong visual contrast
 lower tension
 harder to balance

7. Triadic Color Scheme
 3 colors equal distance apart on the color wheel
 can be difficult to work with
 the contrast can make people feel uncomfortable
 lower tension
 harder to balance

8. Warm and Cool Colors
Cool Warm
 sunshine
 fire
 moves toward
the viewer
 ice, snow
 water, grass
 moves away
from the viewer

9. The Tragedy
By
Pablo Picasso
What color scheme is used? Why?
Look at the title. Does the painting evoke this feeling?

10. Relational Painting
By
Fritz Glarner
Even though this painting is based on the primary triad,
It is very comfortable to view. How has the artist organized
the colors to make this painting easy to look at?

11. The Color Wheel

12. Activity
• In your sketchbook draw 3 squares.
• Arrange your initials or the letters of your name in a design in one
of the squares.
• The letters must touch the four edges of the square.
• Do several different designs using the remaining squares.
• Play with the letters- turn them upside down, twist them out of
shape, make them fat, or overlap them.
• They do not have to be readable.
• Find a design that you like and reproduce it on white paper.
• Color it using one of the color schemes (colors should be smooth
and it should complement your design).