Colour Theory

The Colour Wheel

The colour wheel is a basic tool we use when working with colours.

In colour mixing for painting, the fundamental rule is that there are three colors that cannot be made by mixing other colors together. These three, red, blue, and yellow, are known as the primary colours.

The Primary Colours

Secondary Colours

What happens when you mix primary colours?If you mix two primary colours together, you

create what is called a secondary colour. Mixing blue and red creates purple; red and yellow make orange; yellow and blue make green.

Primary+Primary=Secondary

Tertiary Colours

The tertiary colours are:Yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet,

red-orange and yellow-orange.They are made by combining a primary and a

secondary hue.Note: They are named by the Primary colour

first.

Wait, what are the primary colours again?

And how do I create the secondary colours?

If you mix two primary colours together, you create what is called a secondary colour.

Colour Wheel Task

Now it’s your turn to create your own colour wheel!

Colour TheoryWarm and Cool Colours