Color Vocabulary

One of the problems of discussing color is that everyone doesn't have the same color vocabulary. Here's a simple color vocabulary was developed for my students to ensure that everyone will have the same understanding when we talk about color. Once you understand these few words it will be easier to discuss color issues and strategies with fellow artists.

Color Vocabulary

Analogous
Colors adjacent or very close on the color wheel
They share a common color - blue-green blue, blue violet
Chroma/Intensity
Brightness or dullness of a color
Brighter color, higher number on color scales - Cad Red, 13 Burnt Sienna, 4
Each color does not reach it's highest intensity at same value level, yellow-8, Blue-3
Complimentary Colors
Opposites on the color wheel (red-green, blue-orange, violet,-yellow)
Hue
Simply the colors name
Iridescence
Appears to "shimmer"
Requires gray to contrast
Local color
Color name, or hue of an object
Luminosity
A pervasive glow
Highest value or brightness in a composition
Light source must seem to "invade" entire painting
Use purest colors with strongest chroma
Luster
appearance of "brighter than bright"
keep area small and pure in hue, rely on black to contrast
Monochromatic
One color mixed with black and white
Or many values, one color
Neutral
Two complements mixed in such a way that each looses it's identity Result is neither warm or cool, nor shows a predominate color
Shade
Color with black added
Tint
Color with white added
Tone
Value of a color
Where on a gray scale will the color fall
Triad
Three colors equidistant on the color wheel
Value
Degree of lightness or darkness in a color
Compared to black and white