How to Use and Understand The Color Wheel

Understanding color is something I have always taken for granted (I grew up painting and literally lived above my parent's art gallery and frame shop as a child) and understanding complimentary colors is something everyone should know. It helps you when decorating your house, picking out mats when framing your artwork, knowing what eyeshadow works for your eye color and many many other decisions in life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A color wheel either bought at your local art store, made, or simply looked up online
• A memory so you can grasp the colors and wont need the above reference!
• Some items to test your knowledge, pick a color in your room and be able to know what color is its compliment
• Start a color hobby and buy some paint and canvas!

1. 
   artsparx.com

   Look at your color wheel. How it works is it shows the natural colors of the rainbow and the opposing or "complimentary" colors. Primary colors are Blue, Red, and Yellow. A Primary color cannot be made. If you want to paint a blue sky, you need blue paint! (although as most artists will tell you, your sky most certainly does not have to be blue)

2. 
   artsparx.com

   Secondary colors are made by mixing any of the Primary colors together. You probably know most of these but test yourself, what makes green? What makes purple, and what makes orange? To make the color green you need blue and yellow, equal portions to make the actually secondary color "green". To make purple you mix blue and red of equal portions. And for orange, you mix red and yellow. If you guessed right congratulations!

3. 
   artsparx.com

   The Tertiary colors are those that are mixed from a Secondary color and a Primary color. For example, you would get an aqua color by mixing blue and green. In all, this is made up of three colors (the two that made the Secondary color--blue and yellow, and then the blue again) Other colors would be red-orange, yellow-orange, a lime green and also a blue violet. On the photo to your left the outermost ring showcases the Tertiary colors.

4. As for coordinating colors, use opposing colors. The contrast gives the eye a balanced combination and the colors allow you to have a colorful environment without it looking like a box of crayons. So, red and green for example, are complimentary colors. Although I tend to think it always looks like Christmas, maybe that is where everyone got the idea from! Others are purple and yellow, orange and blue, light lime green and pink, etc.

5. Use this new knowledge whenever you go out! Thinking about and acting upon color choices gives a well balanced atmosphere and harmony to your visual life.

[Ballzy]

on 11/19/2008 Great Detailed Article! 5*

[timsmom]

on 11/10/2008 This is great. We moved into our new house in July. I already selected paint colors,
but now this will help in getting my decor together. Thanks!

[frenchwriter]

on 11/7/2008 Hola BeaEmery:
Gracias de este consejos...Thank you for your advice on the color wheels..very practical. I have learned the same in France and painting is also my hobby.

You also have a smile that can stop ten trains..just keep smiling. International Business...check this wihere I am planning to teach next semester..
www.miis.edu my business is exporting worldwide..limousines, cars, airplanes etc...
Blessings to you...espero tus noticias y que Dios te bendiga..para servirla
Michel

[bossypants]

on 11/4/2008 You have a wonderful teaching style. You made this very easy to understand. Thank you!

[mommashopper]

on 11/4/2008 I am going to use this concept when I paint my house. thanks