Understanding color leads to choosing harmonizing yarns. A rich history of color theory exists to help fiber artists make flattering projects.

History

Isaac Newton was the first person to take the “color wheel” approach. After he set the stage, others, both artists and scientists, developed upon his idea until every color visible to the human eye was explored.

A century after Newton, Johann Wolfgang Goethe began studying psychological effect of colors. Goethe created a color wheel showing the psychological effect of each color. He divided all the colors into two groups – the plus side (from red through orange to yellow) and the minus side (from green through violet to blue). Colors of the plus side produce excitement and cheerfulness. Colors of the minus side are associated with weakness and unsettled feelings.

The current form of color theory was developed by Johannes Itten, a Swiss color and art theorist. Itten developed 'color chords' and modified the color wheel. Itten's color wheel is on red, yellow, and blue colors as the primary triad, and includes twelve hues.

Primary Colors

The sequence of colors on a color wheel isn’t happenstance. It is based on the order in which color appears in the spectrum of light from the shortest wavelength to the longest. When those colors are arranged in a circle, they make a color wheel.

In traditional color theory, there are three pigment colors that cannot be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors—red, yellow, and blue. All other colors are derived from these three hues. These three colors are placed on a color wheel in an equilateral triangle, traditionally with yellow at the top, red at the lower right, and blue at the lower left.

Secondary Colors

Secondary colors are formed by mixing two primary colors together.

• Red + Yellow = Orange
• Yellow + Blue = Green
• Blue + Red = Violet

Each secondary color is located centrally between two primary colors.

Neutrals

Missing from the color wheel are all neutral colors: black, white, and brown. These three can be combined with any of the colors on the color wheel for a harmonious look. White is a combination of all colors; cream is a subtle darkening of white. Black is the absence of all colors.

Grays, tans, and creams are undoubtedly the most sophisticated and difficult monochromatic palette of all. Color wheels are unable to break down the intricate values of neutrals. Only an expert eye and knowledge can maintain the shading and balance of these subtle color hues.

More Information

Besides the history of color theory and primaries, secondaries, and neutrals, there are still splits, monochromatic and complimentary colors to delve into. Special problem colors, like yellow (one of the hardest colors to wear,) are fascinating to explore. Proportion in color is absolutely captivating. And, of course, choosing colors that complement a person’s face is of utmost importance.

Knowing how colors work will result in using a color wheel much more productively.

More Information: How to Use a Color Wheel, The Meaning of Color in Fashion

Sources:

• Itten: The Elements of Color by Johannes Itten. John Wiley and Sons, 2003.
• www.colormatters.com