Color Theory Basics: The Color Wheel
By: DecoArt
July 11, 2017
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The basic color wheel is a collection of 12 colors which include: three primary, three secondary, and six tertiary colors.
In design, selecting color schemes for your project can sometimes be challenging. Learning the basics of the color wheel and how colors relate to one another will help you create color schemes that both make sense and are pleasing to the eye.
PRIMARY COLORS: Red, Yellow, and Blue
These three primary colors are the foundation of the color wheel. Their true color pigments cannot be created by mixing any other combination of colors. All other colors in the color wheel are derived from these three color hues.
SECONDARY COLORS: Violet, Orange, and Green
These secondary color hues are created by mixing equal parts of two primary colors together.
Red + Blue = Violet
Red + Yellow = Orange
Blue + Yellow = Green
Blue (primary) + Violet (secondary) = Blue-Violet
Red (primary) + Violet (secondary) = Red-Violet
Red (primary) + Orange (secondary) = Red-Orange
Yellow (primary) + Orange (secondary) = Yellow-Orange
Yellow (primary) + Green (secondary) = Yellow-Green
Blue (primary) + Green (secondary) = Blue-Green
COMPLEMENTARY COLORS:
Complementary colors are those that enhance each other. They are opposite colors and are located directly across from one another on the color wheel. The color wheel consists of six basic sets of complementary colors. The graphic above depicts four examples of complementary colors. Using these color combinations give your projects high contrast. When mixing complementary colors, you achieve a muddy, brownish-grey color.
ANALOGOUS COLORS:
An analogous color scheme includes three neighboring colors. They are next to one another on the color wheel and share one dominant color (the color in the middle). These color schemes achieve a harmonious look and feel.
COLOR WHEEL IN ACTION:
Now that you know the basics of the color wheel, apply your knowledge (and maybe learn a little more) by completing this painted color wheel using Americana Premium Acrylics.
This colorful piece will be a lovely point of reference in your craft room or home studio. BONUS: the template needed to complete is free to download!
Comments
I love the DecoArt color wheel!!! I've been stuck choosing the Munsell wheel (with its limited hues) or a RGB/CMY split primry wheel (which can't be put together in a sensaible way). DecoArt nailed it with the Americana premium color wheel as each of the 12 colors is dead on and has enough pure hues to make constant quaternary colors not having to guess if you got each succession of color right. Most other paints I've used missed along the spectrum leaving me mixing and matching brands.
Gino Fernandez
June 11, 2019
Quisiera saber si tienen oleos, trementina sin olor y aceite de linaza estoy ubicada en Colombia, me podrías dar una guía y como se piden en línea y que costos . Muchas gracias.
Angélica
June 14, 2019
Hola - Desafortunadamente, no llevamos esos productos. Tenemos un distribuidor en Colombia aunque: INDUSTRIAS PICCOLO SAS CARRERA 17 # 63-84 BOGOTA, CO +575713475521
DecoArt
June 17, 2019
This is great! Is it available for download or purchase?
Jennifer L Walling
August 27, 2019
Hi Jennifer - We don't have a download and you don't have to purchase it, but we do have an easy print feature at the top of the article that would allow you to print or save as a PDF for later reference.
DecoArt
August 28, 2019
I love your colors. Would you classify Deco Art acrylic paints at least medium grade? Thank you
Eveline
October 8, 2019
Hi Eveline - The grade of DecoArt paints depends on what paint line you are referring to; for instance, our DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics and DecoArt Traditions Artist Acrylics are artist-grade, our Americana Premium Acrylics are medium-grade, and Americana Acrylics are craft quality.
DecoArt
October 9, 2019
Nice explanation! Just one small correction... In the opening sentence you say: "The basic color wheel is a collection of 12 colors which include: three primary, three secondary, and three tertiary colors." Actually, there are six tertiary colors (3 +3 + 6 = 12).
James
October 18, 2019
I'd love to see the color wheel painted using Traditions colors to create the 12 color families.
Debbie Williams
October 21, 2019
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