• Colour is one of the most

expressive elements in art

• Colour is used to convey

ideas and meaning

• Colour can be tamed!!

• An element in art derived

from reflected light

• Light passing through

a prism reflects light in

the following order:

RED-ORANGE-YELLOW-

GREEN-BLUE-VIOLET

• A red apple looks red because

it absorbs most light, but

reflects red light waves

• Colour receptors

in our eyes allow us

to sense/see colours

The Properties of Colour

1. Hue

2. Value

3. Intensity

HUE

• This is the name given

to the spectral colours

• RED, BLUE, YELLOW

– Primary Colours

(can’t be made by mixing

any other colours together)

• VIOLET, GREEN, ORANGE – Secondary Colours (made by

combining 2 primary colours

in equal amounts)

The Colour Wheel

VALUE

• Refers to the lightness or darkness of a colour• The amount of light a colour

reflects• Yellow is the lightest hue • Violet is the darkest hue• Black (absorbs all light waves)• White (reflects all light waves)

• Any Hue can have its value

changed by adding

black or white• Adding White = tinting • Adding Black = shading

INTENSITY

• The brightness or dullness of a Hue

• Complementary colours are the colours opposite one another on the colour wheel

• Offsetting of complements make for exciting/vibrant designs

• By mixing a Hue with its Complement,

the Hue begins to dull and eventually

will become a muddy grey/brown.