Primary colors are everywhere when we take the time to notice.So areSecondary and Tertiary colors.As a creative person, youare likely inspired by the colors you see in the world. Without a doubt you might be moved to capture the brilliance in a painting.
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But as mentioned in another post, artists work with pigments which are Subtractive Color. As a result weoften end up with muddycolors that don't look anything like we envisioned.
For instance you may want to paint the delicious-looking strawberries above.However, it's not enough to just use red paint. You know this of course. However, the trouble begins when you mix in other pigments. Instead of luscious reds, you may get frustrated because the results are sometimesdrab, dirty colors instead.
Obviously, you want to mixyummy-lookingcolors that almost look good enough to eat. Therefore, you must understand the root of every paint pigment you use.
Primary Colors are Called That for a Reason
First and foremost, the Primary Colors, Yellow, Red and Blue,are at the top of any color structure. That's because you can think of the three Primariesas the original parents of all the future generations of colors.
In Theory, Primary Colors are the root of every other color.
So in other words,you could conceivably mix gazillions of colors with onlythree pure Primary pigments of Yellow, Red and Blue.Of coursethat's what they teach us in school. However, as I wrote in a previous Color Wheel post,color is not an exact science.
The problem is paint pigment never works like thatin real life. For instance, if you mix Cadmium Red + Ultramarine Blue, you'll likelybe sadly disappointed.If you were expecting a deep rich Violet (Purple), the resulting Brownwill be a total surprise.
To understand why, we need to look at paint pigments.A Primary Yellow, Red or Blue paint color usually refers to a paint that containsonly one pigment. They are unmixed pigmentsthat can't be created by mixing other colors.
Paint is manufactured with organic, mineral and chemical pigments. As a result, there are many different pure Yellow, Red and Blue pigment paints available.
In our example above, Cadmium Red is a warm pure hue, leaningtoward Orange.Blue and Orange are Complementary Colors. Brown is the neutralized result we get from mixing Complementary colors. In this case it's pureBlue +pure Orangey/Red. This result is only great if you actually want a rich Brown.
In this example, if you wantto mix a rich Purple instead, use a cool pure Red such as Quinacridone Red. That's because this pure pigment leans away from Orange and mixes harmoniously with the cool pure Blue.
In the realm of art and color theory, understanding the complexities of pigments goes hand in hand with exploring the world of creativity. When delving into the world of painting, aspiring artists often seek resources to expand their knowledge. Finding valuable books for cheap can be an endeavor worth embarking upon. These resources provide insights into the nuances of color mixing, helping artists grasp the intricacies that extend beyond the traditional primary color model. While the concept of Primary Colors – Yellow, Red, and Blue – serves as a foundational understanding, real-world pigment interactions demonstrate that achieving desired hues can be both surprising and challenging. As artists experiment with combinations like Cadmium Red and Ultramarine Blue, they uncover the unexpected transformations that occur due to the unique properties of different pigments. Exploring affordable books can be a valuable way to uncover techniques that guide artists in navigating the dynamic world of colors, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of mixing and blending.
Painting Tips for Primary Colors
* On the whole, my advice would be to have six Primary Colors in your paint kit.
* These would include Yellow, Red and Blue that lean toward the warm side. And in addition it will be helpful to have another set of Yellow, Red and Blue that lean toward the cool side of the color wheel. Just remember to make sure they are unmixed, pure pigments.
Secondary Colors are Second in Line
Next come the three Secondary colors, Orange, Purple and Green. Think of the Secondary colors as the children of the three Primaries as shown above.
In color theory we are taught that the Secondary colors are mixed like this:
- Yellow + Red = ORANGE
- Red + Blue = PURPLE
- Blue + Yellow = GREEN
Again as explained earlier, Color Theory is correct on the surface. It shows us how colors interact in a perfect world. In other words, itservesas a general compass to point us in the right direction.
However, paint color in the real world is another thing entirely. This is why so many artists think a Color Wheel is useless. They mix Red and Blue hoping to get Purple. But if yourefer back to my example in the previous section where we mixed Cadmium Red with Ultramarine Blue, you'll see the theory doesn't seem to work.In this case, the result isan unexpected Brown. Before long, their Color Wheelgets put aside, never to be looked at again.
We'll be exploring the inner secrets of a color wheel in a later post. In the meantime concentrate on getting a basic understanding the Primary Colors, Secondary and Tertiary colors.
Painting Tips for Secondary Colors
* In general, it's not really necessary to buy Secondary colors. Yes, it's true that you can mix a really broad range of Secondary colors from three warm and three cool Primary colors. But in practice, that's sometimes too much work when you're painting.
* My suggestion is to have at least one pure Orange, one pure Purple and one pure Green on hand. If your budget allows it, you can get three that lean toward cool and three that lean toward warm. Again, let me remind you. Your mixtures will be cleaner and much easier to control if you stick with pure pigment paint color.
Tertiary Colors are the In-Betweens
Finally the remaining six colorsare referred to as the Tertiary Colors. Think of these as the six grandchildren of the Primary Colors.
Again, Color Theory teaches us that each Tertiary color is the result of one Primary Color mixed with one of its nearest Secondary colors. Therefore we end up with a new color somewhere in between.
- Yellow + Orange = YELLOW/ORANGE
- Red + Orange = RED/ORANGE
- Red + Purple = RED/PURPLE
- Blue + Purple = BLUE/PURPLE
- Blue + Green = BLUE/GREEN
- Yellow + Green = YELLOW/GREEN
As explained earlier, in practical terms, we artists can quickly find ourselves mixingtruly ugly colors. If we follow the theory too literally, a lot of paint will get thrown away. It's always best to try outsome test samples first.
Painting Tips for Tertiary Colors
* Tertiary colors are truly gorgeous because of their complexity. When you go to an art supply store and see the beautiful array of colors, it's so tempting to buy lots.
* Don't let yourself be seduced. Pre-mixed Tertiary paint colors can easily get you into a huge dull mess of clashing colors. Unless you totally understand how pigments will react to each other, it's best to stick with pure Primary colors and pure Secondary colors.
* If you're adventurous, go ahead andbuy yourself some Tertiary colors. Just be sure they contain as few pigments as possible. There should be no more than two pigments in the mixture, a Primary Color and a Secondary Color. To be clear,when more pigments are used, the chance of them clashing with your other colors rises about 80%.
Let's Review What You Learned
- Primary Yellow, Primary Red and Primary Blue are considered the root of every other color. They are colors that can't be created by a mixture.
- The Secondary colors are Orange, Purple and Green. They are the 'children' of each pair of Primary colors.
- Tertiary colors are the six 'in-between' colors. They are each a mixture of one Primary Color plus its nearest Secondary. They are complex and seductive. But beware!
- If you're a painter and want clear, harmonious colors when you paint, keep it simple. Work with 3 pure warm Primary Colors + 3 pure cool Primary Colors.
- You can paint faster and more spontaneously, if you add a few Secondary pigments to your palette. As I said before, try to find a single pigment Orange + a single pigment Purple + a single pigment Green.
BONUS TIP: Always get familiar with how your paint palettemixes before you start painting. Take a little time to do somemixing tests.
