Color Concepts

Unit: The Art of Design

Problem Area: Elements and Principles of Design
Lesson: Color Concepts

¢ Student Learning Objectives. Instruction in this lesson should result in students

achieving the following objectives:

1 Analyze the color wheel.

2 Compare color schemes.

¢ Resources. The following resources may be useful in teaching this lesson:

“Choosing Home Interior Paint Colors: How to Choose Room Colors,”
YouTube. Accessed Aug. 5, 2012. http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=ME56L4iP-s4&feature=related.
“Color Schemes: Interior Design,” Utah Education Network. Accessed Aug. 5,
2012. http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=445.
Ford, Janet Lynn. “Color Theory: Overview,” worqx. Accessed Aug. 5, 2012.
http://www.worqx.com/color/.
Jirousek, Charlotte. “Color, Value, and Hue,” Art, Design, and Visual Thinking:
Cornell University. Accessed Aug. 5, 2012. http://char.txa.cornell.edu/
language/element/color/color.htm.
“The Power of Color,” The Cool Hunter. Accessed Aug. 5, 2012.
http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/1727/the-power-of-color.
“Psychological Responses to Colour,” eWeb Designs. Accessed Aug. 5,
2012. http://www.ewebdesigns.ca/web-design/psych_colour.ihtml.

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 “Sessions—Color Theory: Color Wheel,” YouTube. Accessed Aug. 5, 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59QGexKdFUI&feature=related.
Sherwood, Ruth F. Homes & Interiors: Careers in Housing & Interior Design,
7th ed. Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2007.
Wolfe, Mary. Fashion Marketing & Merchandising, 3rd ed. Goodheart-Willcox,
2009.

¢ Equipment, Tools, Supplies, and Facilities

ü Overhead or PowerPoint projector
ü Visual(s) from accompanying master(s)
ü Copies of sample test, lab sheet(s), and/or other items designed for duplication
ü Materials listed on duplicated items
ü Computers with printers and Internet access
ü Classroom resource and reference materials

¢ Key Terms. The following terms are presented in this lesson (shown in bold italics):
> analogous
> color
> color harmonies
> color schemes
> color wheel
> complementary
> cool colors
> double complementary
> hue
> intensity
> monochromatic
> neutral colors
> neutral color schemes
> primary colors
> rectangular tetrad
> secondary colors
> shade
> split complementary
> tertiary colors
> tint
> tone
> triad
> value
> warm colors

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¢ Interest Approach. Use an interest approach that will prepare the students for the
lesson. Teachers often develop approaches for their unique class and student situations. A
possible approach is included here.

Project VM–A, and ask students to list the color of each crayon from left to right.
The color descriptions should be very specific: yellow-green, violet-red, etc. Then
have students compare their responses to those of two other students. Use this
activity as a way to introduce the endless colors available to fashion, textile,
graphic, and interior designers.

CONTENT SUMMARY AND

TEACHING STRATEGIES
Objective 1: Analyze the color wheel.

Anticipated Problem: What is a color wheel? How do designers use a color wheel?

I. The color wheel is a circular diagram of the color spectrum used to show
relationships between colors. A color wheel usually shows the primary, secondary
(intermediate), and sometimes the tertiary colors. It is a basic design tool. Sir Isaac
Newton is said to have developed the first circular diagram of colors in 1666. He
arranged red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet on a disk. When the disk
is spun, the colors blur, and people see white.

A. Hue, tint, shade, and tone

1. The color wheel represents the “normal” value of each of the colors (e.g., true
red, true blue, and true yellow). Hue is another name for the “normal value” of
colors: the purest and brightest colors. Different hues are caused by different
wavelengths of light. Color is a general term that represents the entire spec-
trum that is seen, including blacks, grays, and whites. Each color on the color
wheel can be altered in three ways: tinting, shading, and toning.
2. Tint (a pastel) is a color created by adding white to a hue. It is a lighter version
of the hue. A tint produces a soft and soothing color scheme; it is sometimes
referred to as feminine.
3. Shade is a color created by adding black to a hue. It is a darker version of the
hue. A shade produces deep and powerful color schemes; it is sometimes
referred to as masculine. A shade is typically used as an accent.
4. Tone is a color created by adding grey to a hue. It is a more muted version of
the hue. A toned color is pleasing to the eye. It is also complex and subtle.
Sometimes tone is referred to as sophisticated.

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 B. Warm and cool colors
1. The color wheel can be divided into warm colors and cool colors.
a. Warm colors are the red-orange-yellow range.
b. Cool colors are the blue-violet-green range.
2. Warm colors are considered vivid and energetic and are associated with the
sun. Warm colors can actually make a person feel warmer and are considered
“advancing colors” because they make items seem closer.
3. Cool colors are considered calming and soothing and are associated with sky
and earth. These are popular colors for bedrooms and bathrooms because of
the relaxing feeling they exude. Hospitals often use a cool color palette due to
the calming effect on people. Cool colors are considered “receding colors.”
Cool colors make objects seem smaller and walls appear farther apart.
C. Primary, secondary, and tertiary colors are featured on the color wheel. Color
harmonies are color combinations that are visually pleasing.
1. The three primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. All other colors are cre-
ated from mixing these three colors. However, no other colors can be mixed
together to create the primary colors.
2. The three secondary colors are green, orange, and purple. These are the col-
ors formed by mixing two primary colors together.
3. The six tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary and a secondary color
together. Tertiary color hues are a two-word name, such as blue-green, red-
violet, and yellow-orange.

Teaching Strategy: Use VM–B through VM–F in a discussion. Share the following
video with the class: “Choosing Home Interior Paint Colors—How to Choose Room
Colors” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME56L4iP-s4&feature=related.

Objective 2: Compare color schemes.

Anticipated Problem: What are common color schemes?

II. Color schemes are a combination of harmonious colors. Common color schemes
include warm, cool, neutral, monochromatic, analogous, triads, complementary, and
split complementary. Color schemes can be categorized as those that use one or two
colors, three colors, or four or more colors.

A. One- and two-color schemes

1. Monochromatic is a type of color scheme used with a single hue from the
standard color wheel, which is repeated in various tints, shades, and tones.
Using different values or intensities of the hue creates color scheme variations.
The lightness or darkness of a color is the value. In addition, the brightness or
dullness of a color is the intensity. Accents of neutral colors are often used in
a monochromatic color scheme to add interest. The neutral colors are black

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 (absence of all color), white (presence of all color), silver, grey, and brown
(warm neutral) hues.
a. Neutrals make good backgrounds.
b. Neutrals serve to unify diverse color palettes.
c. Neutrals may stand alone as the only or primary focus of a design.
2. Complementary is a type of color scheme that consists of two colors directly
opposite from each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors are some-
times called contrasting colors. Colors directly opposite each other on the color
wheel share a simultaneous contrast: One is always warm, and the other is
always cool. Complementary colors make each other appear brighter and more
intense. This type of contrast makes rooms and textiles look brighter and more
dramatic. Examples of complementary color schemes are blue (cool) and
orange (warm) as well as red (warm) and green (cool).
B. Three-color schemes
1. Split complementary are color schemes that use three colors and are cre-
ated when one hue (the “mother color”) is used with the two hues adjacent to
its complement. The original hue selected is usually the dominant color, and
the adjacent colors to its complement are used to provide contrast. An exam-
ple would be violet (the mother color) used with yellow-green and yellow-
orange. An advantage of a split complementary color scheme is that there are
never any colors that clash with each other. Tips for using split complements
include:
a. The mother color should be used in accent pieces (e.g., pillows).
b. It is best to darken one altered hue and to lighten another for interesting
variations in carpets or fabrics.
c. One of the altered hues could be neutralized with grey walls.
2. Triad is a color scheme that uses any three hues that are an equal distance
apart on the color wheel, such as every fourth color on the color wheel. Skill is
needed to create a pleasing triad color scheme because of the sharp color
contrasts. Yet changing the values and intensities can soften the contrasts.
Examples of triadic color schemes are:
a. Primary colors: yellow, blue, and red
b. Secondary colors: orange, violet (purple), and green
c. Tertiary colors (e.g., yellow-orange, red-violet, and blue-green)
C. Four or more color schemes
1. Analogous are color schemes that consist of four or more hues that are adja-
cent (next to each other) on the color wheel (e.g., green, blue-green, blue, and
blue-violet). These colors tend to blend well together because they are related.
Each color seems to effortlessly merge into the other. Analogous color
schemes work best when one hue is chosen as the dominant and the other
adjacent colors are used in smaller amounts. Analogous color schemes are
considered sophisticated.

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 2. Rectangular tetrad is a color scheme that includes four colors on the basic
color wheel that are an equal distance from each other. It is also known as
double complementary. An example is blue, orange, green, and red, which
form a perfect rectangle on the color wheel (two primary colors and two sec-
ondary colors). The suggested process to create a rectangular tetrad is to
select one color as the mother color and then to add a bit of that hue to each
of the other hues. For example, when blue is the mother color of a rectangular
tetrad:
a. The designer could add a small amount of blue to red and achieve
burgundy.
b. The designer could add a small amount of blue to orange and achieve gold.
c. The designer could add a small amount of blue to green and achieve forest
green.
D. Neutral color schemes are color schemes that use the following hues: black,
white, grey, silver, and brown. Neutral colors contain equal parts of the three
primary colors, and these neutrals have very low color saturation (color intensity).
Neutral color schemes provide a minimalist approach to decorating and textiles.
They are calming and safe. Accenting a neutral color scheme with pops of color
(e.g., red) makes the neutral color scheme more interesting. An example of a
neutral color scheme is black and white. When a neutral is added to a hue, the
value is changed.

Teaching Strategy: Use VM–G through VM–M to illustrate color schemes. View the
YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59QGexKdFUI&feature=related.
Assign LS–A.

¢ Review/Summary. Use the student learning objectives to summarize the lesson.

Have students explain the content associated with each objective. Student responses can
be used in determining which objectives need to be reviewed or taught from a different
angle. Questions at the ends of chapters in the textbook may be used in the Review/
Summary.

¢ Application. Use the included visual master(s) and lab sheet(s) to apply the
information presented in the lesson.

¢ Evaluation. Evaluation should focus on student achievement of the objectives for the
lesson. Various techniques can be used, such as student performance on the application
activities. A sample written test is provided.

¢ Answers to Sample Test:

Part One: Matching
1. e
2. d

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 3. h
4. i
5. b
6. c
7. g
8. j
9. f
10. a

Part Two: Multiple Choice

1. a
2. d
3. b
4. b
5. c
6. a

Part Three: True/False

1. T
2. T
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. T

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 Sample Test
Name ________________________________________

Color Concepts
u Part One: Matching
Instructions: Match the term with the correct definition.

a. analogous f. primary colors

b. cool colors g. secondary colors
c. complementary h. shade
d. monochromatic i. tint
e. neutral colors j. warm colors

_____1. Black, white, silver, grey, and brown hues

_____2. A type of color scheme used with a single hue from the standard color wheel, which is
repeated in various tints, shades, and tones
_____3. A color created by adding black to a hue
_____4. A color created by adding white to a hue
_____5. The blue-violet-green range of colors
_____6. A type of color scheme that consists of two colors directly opposite from each other on
the color wheel
_____7. Green, orange, and purple
_____8. The red-orange-yellow range of colors
_____9. Red, yellow, and blue
____10. Color schemes that consist of four or more hues that are adjacent (next to each other)
on the color wheel

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u Part Two: Multiple Choice
Instructions: Circle the letter of the correct answer.

1. The basic color wheel contains _____.

a. primary, secondary, and sometimes tertiary colors
b. primary and secondary colors
c. primary colors only
d. secondary colors only
2. An example of a primary color is _____.
a. green
b. pink
c. orange
d. red
3. An example of a secondary color is _____.
a. black
b. orange
c. white
d. yellow
4. By mixing a primary and a secondary color together, a person creates _____ colors.
a. analogous
b. tertiary
c. neutral
d. tone
5. A color scheme that includes four colors on the basic color wheel that are equal distance
from each other is called a _____.
a. split complementary
b. complementary
c. rectangular tetrad
d. triad
6. Combinations of four or more colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel are the _____
color harmonies.
a. analogous
b. double-complementary
c. monochromatic
d. triadic

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u Part Three: True/False
Instructions: Write T for true or F for false.

_____1. The color wheel is a circular diagram of the color spectrum used to show relationships
between colors.
_____2. The name of a color is called a hue.
_____3. The primary colors (yellow, blue, and red) are an example of an analogous color
scheme.
_____4. A split complementary color scheme includes colors that clash with each other.
_____5. Tone is a color created by adding grey to a hue.
_____6. Hue is another name for the “normal value” of colors: the purest and brightest colors.

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VM–A

NAMING COLORS
Name each color. Be as specific and precise as possible,
such as blue-green, red-pink, etc.

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VM–B

COLOR WHEEL
The color wheel is the basic tool of design.

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VM–C

COOL COLORS AND

WARM COLORS
Cool colors are greens, blues, and violets. Warm colors are
reds, oranges, and yellows.

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VM–D

PRIMARY COLORS
Yellow, red, and blue are the three primary colors. Mixing
variations of these three colors creates the secondary and
tertiary colors.

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VM–E

SECONDARY COLORS
The secondary colors—orange, green, and violet—are
created by mixing two primary colors together.
t Red + Yellow = Orange
t Yellow + Blue = Green
t Blue + Red = Violet

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VM–F

TERTIARY COLORS
Tertiary colors are also known as intermediate colors and
are named for the colors used to create them, such as
yellow-green and blue-violet.

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VM–G

ONE- OR TWO-COLOR SCHEME:

MONOCHROMATIC
Monochromatic color schemes use a single hue from the
standard color wheel (in this case, orange) and repeat it in
various tints, shades, and tones.

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VM–H

ONE- OR TWO-COLOR SCHEME:

COMPLEMENTARY
Complementary color schemes consist of two colors
directly opposite from each other on the color wheel, such
as orange and blue. Complementary colors share a
simultaneous contrast: one is always warm, and the other
is always cool.

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VM–I

THREE-COLOR SCHEMES:
SPLIT COMPLEMENTARY
Split complementary color schemes use three colors and
are created when one hue (the mother color) is used with
the two hues adjacent to its complement. The original hue
selected is usually the dominant color, and the adjacent
colors to its complement are used to provide contrast.
What is the dominant color here?

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VM–J

THREE-COLOR SCHEMES: TRIAD

Triad color schemes use any three hues that are of an
equal distance apart on the color wheel. What is the triad
color scheme used in this window display?

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VM–K

FOUR OR MORE COLOR

SCHEMES: ANALOGOUS
Analogous color schemes consist of four or more hues that
are adjacent (next to each other) on the color wheel, such
as green, blue-green, blue, and blue-violet. Analogous
color schemes are considered sophisticated. Name the
four or more analogous colors in this autumn landscape.

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VM–L

FOUR- OR MORE COLOR

SCHEMES:
RECTANGULAR TETRAD
Rectangular tetrad (double complementary) color schemes
include four colors on the basic color wheel that are of an
equal distance from each other and form a perfect
rectangle. Which four colors form a perfect rectangular
tetrad in this floral arrangement? Two are primary colors,
and two are secondary colors.

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VM–M

NEUTRAL COLOR SCHEME

Neutral color schemes use hues that have low color
saturation (color intensity). Neutral color schemes provide
a minimalist approach to decorating and textiles. The
result is an environment that feels calming and safe.
Which neutral colors are shown in this living room and
bedroom space?

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LS–A
Name ________________________________________

Title Color Scheme Project

Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to create various color schemes.

Objectives
1. Create a color wheel.
2. Identify six fashion and/or interior color schemes.
3. Create a portfolio of color schemes.

Materials
t notes and VMs
t old magazines
t fabric samples
t wallpaper samples
t paint chip samples
t colored pencils or markers
t watercolors
t computer with Internet access
t printer
t glue
t scissors

Procedure
1. Work independently or in pairs to complete this color scheme project.

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2. Access a blank color wheel at http://www.color-wheel-artist.com/printable-color-
wheels.html. For ideas to create a basic color wheel, access http://www.ehow.com/
how_2077997_make-color-wheel.html. Print eight blank color wheels.
3. Create a basic color wheel using watercolors and/or colored pencils or markers.
4. Using your notes and/or the visual masters (VMs) for this lesson, identify six of the
following color schemes. Your choices may be fashion or interior design examples.
a. Monochromatic
b. Complementary
c. Split complementary
d. Triad
e. Analogous
f. Rectangular tetrad (double complementary)
g. Neutral
5. Cut out and mount fashion and/or room pictures that represent the seven different color
schemes. Use old magazines and/or other items as supplied as a resource for the
images. For each example:
a. Label the color scheme.
b. Describe how the picture you chose represents the color scheme.
c. Create a color wheel for each picture. For example, a complementary color scheme
wheel would include the two complementary colors represented by the picture. Attach
each image to its corresponding color wheel. You may use colored pencils, markers,
wallpaper, fabric, paint samples, watercolors, etc. to create your color wheels.
6. Assemble your Color Scheme Portfolio.
7. Participate in a class discussion of the portfolios.
8. Turn in your completed portfolio to your instructor.

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