Talking Points: Colour Theory
A collection of sources and imagery to explore terms used in colour theory.
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Colour Theory
Colour theory can be overwhelming to understand and teach.
AccessArt would encourage an intuitive approach to teaching colour through resources such as Expressive Painting and Colour Mixing, however the information below will help you understand some of the terminology used in colour theory.
Primary Colours
Primary colours are any of a group of colours from which all other colours can be achieved by mixing. Red, yellow and blue can’t be recreated through colour mixing and act as the building blocks for all other colours.
Secondary Colours
Secondary colours are achieved when the primary colours are mixed together in equal parts. On the colour wheel, secondary colours are located between primary colours.
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Red and blue: Purple
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Red and yellow: Orange
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Yellow and Blue: Green
Tertiary Colours
Tertiary colours can be achieved by mixing primary and secondary colours. Blue-green, blue-violet, red-orange, red-violet, yellow-orange and yellow-green are colour combinations you can make from colour mixing. On a colour wheel, tertiary colours are between primary and secondary colours. – Adobe
Additional Terms Used When Talking About Colour:
Hue: Brightest and purest form of the colour on the colour wheel.
Saturation: The intensity and vibrance of a colour.
Value: How light or dark a colour is.
Shades: Achieved by adding black gradually to a colour.
Tint: Achieved by adding white gradually to a colour.
Tone: Achieved by adding grey gradually to a colour.
See Resources Exploring Colour Below...
Colour Mixing
Exciting Colour
Expressive Painting and Colour Mixing
