Colour Theory
Primary, secondary, warm and cool colours
Understanding Colour
Colour theory helps artists mix and use colours effectively. Primary colours (red, yellow, blue) cannot be made by mixing. Secondary colours are made by mixing two primaries (orange, green, purple). Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) feel exciting; cool colours (blue, green, purple) feel calm.
Example
Colour Mixing
Primary + Primary = Secondary:
Red + Yellow = Orange
Yellow + Blue = Green
Blue + Red = Purple
Complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel) create contrast:
Red & Green, Blue & Orange, Yellow & Purple
Add white = lighter (tint), Add black = darker (shade)
Note
Remember
The colour wheel helps artists choose colours that work well together. Warm colours advance (seem closer), cool colours recede (seem further). SA artists like Irma Stern used bold colours to capture the beauty of African life and landscapes.
Key Vocabulary
Primary colourRed, yellow or blue — cannot be made by mixing
Secondary colourMade by mixing two primary colours
Warm coloursRed, orange, yellow — feel energetic and warm
Cool coloursBlue, green, purple — feel calm and cool
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