Madeline’s Reviews > Color Theory: An Essential Guide to Color--From Basic Principles to Practical Applications > Status Update

Saturated & Neutral Scheme:

A scheme of this nature pairs highly saturated colors with various shades of gray.
Because much of what we see in life is actually some form of gray, this scheme is often the most accurate way to depict color.

Neutral Scheme:

As the opposite of the saturated scheme, the neutral scheme uses colors that have been grayed down. This diffused palette is perfect for foggy landscapes, white-on-white subjects, and scenes with a soft, mellow mood.

Saturated Scheme:

The saturated scheme uses the brightest colors possible, with very few neutrals or grays. While yielding a very lively painting, the scheme makes creating a focal point (or area of interest) a challenge, as all the colors compete for attention.

Analogous Complementary Scheme:

This scheme combines the analogous and complementary schemes, incorporating three side-by-side hues plus the complement of the center color (for example, red, blue-green, green, and yellow-green).

Split Complementary Scheme:
The split complementary scheme uses a color and the two colors adjacent to its complement (for example, red, yellow-green, and blue-green). This scheme still features good color contrast, but it conveys less tension than the complementary scheme.

Complementary Scheme:
offers the most visual contrast because it is made up of two colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. It is most successfully used when one color acts as the dominant color with the other in a supporting role. The two colors should not be of the same saturation intensity and must be visually balanced.
Ex: subdued hue dominates but vibrant hue balances/makes the painting

Triadic Scheme:

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel (for example, red-orange, blue-violet, and yellow-green). Many artists enjoy using this scheme because there is ample color contrast and a natural color balance. One color serves as the dominant color, while the other two act as subordinate hues.

Analogous Scheme:

Made up of colors that sit adjacent to one another on the color wheel. Most often, one color serves as the dominant color, with others used to accent and enhance the overall scheme. Although the lack of contrasting colors yields a simplistic look, this scheme has a simple elegance that is pleasing to the eye.

Monochromatic Scheme:

The monochromatic color scheme uses a single color throughout, along with variations of the color's shades, tints, and tones.
While it's not known to be the most exciting color scheme, a monochromatic palette is elegant, easy on the eyes, and soothing. This is the easiest color scheme to create; all you need is your color of choice, black, and white paints.

• How do you make a color appear warmer? Place a cooler color adjacent to it.

• How do you make a color lighter? Place a darker color adjacent to it.

• How do you make a color appear brighter? Place a duller color adjacent to it.