Colour Theory and Composition

Why study colour?

Colour communicates mood and meaning. Kenyan artists such as those in kanga and kitenge design, Maasai beadwork and contemporary painting use colour deliberately. In the Senior School Fine Arts pathway, you apply colour theory to painting, graphic design and textile projects.

Properties of colour

• Hue: the name of the colour (red, blue).
• Value: how light or dark it is.
• Saturation (intensity): how pure or dull it is.
• Tint: hue plus white. Shade: hue plus black. Tone: hue plus grey.

The colour wheel

• Primary: red, yellow, blue.
• Secondary: orange, green, violet (mix of two primaries).
• Tertiary: mix of a primary and neighbouring secondary, e.g. red-orange.
• Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) appear to advance; cool colours (blue, green, violet) appear to recede, which helps create depth.

Colour schemes

Symbolism

Red may show danger or passion. Green stands for nature and growth. Black, red and green on the Kenyan flag represent the people, the blood shed for freedom and the land; white stands for peace.

Elements of art

Line, shape, form, colour, texture, space and value.

Principles of design

• Balance: symmetrical or asymmetrical.
• Contrast: differences in colour, size or texture.
• Emphasis (focal point): where the eye goes first.
• Rhythm and repetition: repeating elements guide movement.
• Proportion and scale: relative sizes.
• Unity: all parts belong together.

Composition tips

• Use the rule of thirds: divide the picture into a 3 x 3 grid and place the focal point on an intersection.
• Overlap objects for depth; make distant objects smaller, lighter and cooler.
• Leave space to rest the eye.

Worked example 1: mixing

To make a brown, mix orange with its complement, blue. Add more blue for dark brown, white for light brown.

Worked example 2: composition

A market scene: place the main vendor on a third line, use warm reds and yellows in the foreground, cool blues in the background, and let the diagonals of tables lead the eye.

Try it

• Paint a colour wheel using only red, yellow, blue and white.
• Make a six-step tint and shade strip of green.
• Create a small composition with a complementary scheme.
• Identify the focal point and balance in a Kenyan painting you know.