What is the Color Wheel and How Are Colors Created?

 

The color wheel is a basic theory in art that is the basis of many beautiful masterpieces. The color wheel is an important basic that artists should be aware of and understand when creating, and this article will explain everything you need to know about the color wheel.

Basic colors

The basic color wheel is made up of 6 colors. This does not include various shades of each color, but more complex color wheels do. Once you understand the basics of color and color mixing you will be able to understand even the most complex color wheel. The basic colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, and they appear in this order in the color wheel.

Primary colors

The color wheel is made up of 6 colors, and there are many colors found everywhere in nature and the world, but what most people do not realize that all of these colors come from three basic colors. These colors are known as the primary colors, and they are red, blue, and yellow. All of these colors mixed together in different amounts can replicate all the colors found in nature, and they are used to create the other colors on the color wheel. Red and yellow make orange, red and blue make purple, and yellow and blue make green. Green, orange, and purple are known as secondary colors, and all together with red, blue, and yellow you have all of the colors in the color wheel.

Complimentary colors

When looking at the color wheel you may notice that certain colors are across from each other, and when you use these colors together they make each other stand out. This combination of colors is known as complimentary color usage. Red and green, yellow and purple, and blue and orange are complimentary colors, and when you use them together they really pop.

White and Black

Now that you can see how all the colors of the basic color wheel exist in harmony with each other you may be wondering how pastel or dark shades of colors come about. Well, this is where black and white come into play. The use of black and white causes you to turn a regular color into a shade or a tint. Adding white to a color will make it a tint and change the tone of the color; adding black to a color will make it a shade, and it will also change the tone of the color. Using black and white is the perfect way to portray light in pictures, and it allows you to create subtle depth and realistic art.

The color wheel is a wonderful tool for all artists, and understanding the basic theory behind it can help any artist create better work. These theories can improve your art and your understanding of the art you see.