Colour Theory and Colour Application
What the exam tests
This domain tests the colour wheel, mixing, harmony, temperature and application. Expect questions on primary, secondary and tertiary colours, complementary and analogous schemes, tints, shades, tones and the effect of light on local colour.
Core rules
- Primary pigments are red, yellow and blue; secondary colours are orange, green and violet.
- Complementary pairs sit opposite on the wheel and intensify each other when adjacent.
- A tint adds white; a shade adds black or a dark complement; a tone adds grey.
- Warm colours advance; cool colours recede.
- Mix dark values with complements or burnt umber rather than black alone, which dulls many mixtures.
- Keep water clean and test mixes on scrap paper.
Worked example
To paint a green leaf in shadow, mix yellow and blue for the light green, then add a little violet or red to darken it without making it black. Place a warm yellow-green on the lit edge and a cool blue-green in shadow. Reasoning: the complement lowers brightness while keeping the colour family readable.
Traps
Overmixing until colours turn muddy, using black for every shadow, placing equal areas of complements so they vibrate uncomfortably, and ignoring colour temperature. Also avoid painting local colour without light and shadow variation.