Introduction
Among the blessings that have been bestowed upon man, are some elements that are left unrealized, because they form an automatic pattern in our lives. Color is one such element of art that is contained within all objects and is left unnoticed at times.
Using colors the right way can make great changes in the lives of individuals. Colors and the way they are used with each other can alter the mood of people and the environment surrounding them. Colors can be used to energize or calm the atmosphere of a locality, and the wise use of colors is important to portray elegance, and warmth to the overall image of any object, or location (Basic Color Schemes, 2008).
What is Color?
Color is an essential element of art, along with design and form, and affects the overall portrayal of visual arts. It has been used since prehistoric times, to give a certain outlook, as desired, to various forms of architecture (Ahmad, G., 1998). Buildings and people are all full of varying colors, and with the advent of science and technology, colors are beginning to hold more significance.
Basic colors are collectively associated with the ‘color wheel’, which was invented by Sir Isaac Newton in the year 1666. White sunlight was split into a range of colors, red, orange, blue, etc. After a century, the psychology of colors began to evolve, with Johann Goethe showing the warm effect of yellow, and the cool effect of blue. An amendment had been made in the color wheel, with warm colors on one side and cool colors on the opposite side. The color theory which is currently in execution is based on the color wheel developed by the Swiss theorist Johannes Itten, who showed the colors red, blue, and yellow to be the primary triad, among the other twelve hues. It can be named a ‘visual representation of the color theory’ (Color Theory Basics, 2008).
The Color Wheel
The color wheel consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. The primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. It is not possible to make these colors with a combination of any other color. Instead, these colors are combined to form the other colors present on the color wheel. The secondary colors are formed by the combination of the primary colors, red and blue make purple, blue and yellow make green, and yellow and red make orange. The tertiary colors are formed by combining the secondary colors (Ryan, F., 2007).
Harmony and Color Theory
Color theory is the study of color and the various ways in which it is placed, keeping in view the reactions that will be produced after doing so. The combination of colors produces varying psychological effects, which can be altered upon replacing and regrouping, to get desired results. It is the method of placing colors together in a way, to produce a harmonious effect. Harmony is attained when something placed together is neither too much in unison, nor too complex to the eye, when viewed. The in-between of these two effects creates synchronization in visual experiences. This is what is essential in the positioning of colors, i.e., to create something which has good synch (Color Matters, 2008).
Harmony in colors is formed when the combination of a certain set of colors proves pleasing to the eye. Some colors, when used together, form a displeasing effect, cutting down the effect that was intended to be produced (Kyrnin, J., 2008). The combination of colors, and the way they look well together, is based on their placement in the color wheel. The same types of colors produce the best harmony (Color Theory and Mixing).
Colors can be perceived differently, according to Alber’s Interaction of Color. He stated that a single color can be perceived in varying manners following its surroundings (Albers, 1963). Similarly, the effect of various color schemes is different for people, depending largely on culture and personal likes and dislikes, thereby affecting color harmony (Kark, J., 2000). Color harmony may arise from the use of similar colors, or contrasting colors, as long as they are pleasing to the eye (Wong, 1997).
Playing with colors and combining them may seem interesting, thus obtaining harmony is crucial, on the mixing up of three or more colors in a color scheme (Ahmad, G., 1998).
Colour Schemes
The harmonious effect that is much wanted by viewers can be acquired by following the principles put forth by various color schemes. These color schemes are the combinations of colors that are generally accepted and pleasing when viewed. The color schemes that are generally used are classified into three, one is the monochromatic color scheme, second is the analogous color scheme, consisting of those colors which lie beside one another in the color wheel, and the third one is the complementary color scheme, comprising the colors which lie opposite one another in the color wheel.
The arrangements of the colors in these orders, either beside each other or opposite to each other, produce harmonious effects to the eyes of the viewers. They are mostly used together, to form vivid and bright effects, depending on their placement. The contrasts that are developed through the combining of these colors produce varying effects, according to the likes of the individuals.
Monochromatic Color Scheme
The monochromatic color scheme uses light and dark shades of a single color. It automatically produces harmony to the eye, as this is a very common practice by ordinary people.
Analogous Color Schemes
These color schemes comprise colors lying next to each other in the color wheel. An example is the use of yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange. One of the three colors of this scheme outweighs the others (Color Shade, 2005).
Complementary Color Schemes
These color schemes consist of colors opposite to each other, producing sharp contrasts. The complementary color scheme can be further subdivided into the single complementary color scheme, consisting of a single color equally opposite to another color, and the double complementary color scheme, consisting of two colors lying opposite to each other. The split-complementary color scheme comprises one color with two colors lying beside (on each side of) its opponent color.
Also present are the triadic and tetradic color schemes, the former one produced by three colors placed in the form of an equilateral triangle in the color wheel, and the latter by using two pairs of opposite colors. This creates a little imbalance and is not a good form of harmony in color.
The use of these colors with one another is proved to produce harmony.
Conclusion
It can be seen that everything in life, after some sort of organization, can produce good and worthwhile effects. Colors are a good example, which, when used together in certain ways to please the sights of viewers, give harmonious effects, increasing the value of pictures and objects.
References
Ahmad, G. Color in Building Conservation 1998. Web.
Kark, J. Journal of Design Communication 2000. Web.
Glossary, Arts118. 2008. Web.
Kyrnin, J. Color Harmony 2008. Web.
Color Matters 2008. Web.
Color Shade 2005. Web.
Ford, J. Color Theory: Overview 2007. Web.
Ford, R. Web.
Color Theory Basics 2008. Web.
Color Theory and Mixing. 2008. Web.
Introduction to Color Theory 2008. Web.