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History of the Color Wheel

The first color wheel has been attributed to Sir Isaac Newton, who in 1706 arranged red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet into a natural progression on a rotating disk. As the disk spins, the colors blur together so rapidly that the human eye sees white.

Modern-Day Color Wheel

Colors opposite each other on the wheel are called complementary colors. Analogous colors, those next to each other, can also be combined successfully.

Complimentary

Colors

Analogous Colors

Warm and Cool ColorsCool colors represent the half of the color wheel in which blue appears.Warm colors are found in the other half where red/orange appears.

Cool Colors Warm Colors

What words would you use to describe these scenes?

The color blue communicates:oTranquilityoPeacefulnessoCoolnessoQuietness

What words would you use to describe these pictures?

Browns are used to convey:WholesomenessEarthyHome-likeRustic

What words would you use to describe these pictures?

Greens are used to convey:SoothingRefreshingHealingNaturalFresh

What words would you use to describe these pictures?

Pinks are used to convey:HappySweetRomanticYouthful

Purples convey:ElegantEccentricRegalSpiritualmysterious

Reds convey:EmergencyExcitingStimulatingProvocativeDynamicAlarm

Yellow convey:HarmoniousSunnySplendorAnxious (depending upon brightness

Orange convey:SharpFriendlyNaturalTimelessquiet

Colors are often combined to create a particular feel.

A combination of warm colors create a comforting feeling.

Bright colors are used to give readers a sense of festivity or excitement

Bright blues and greens create a cool image.