Art Theory, Terms and Concept Articles

Art Theory - Analogous Color Scheme

by Eric Tilden

Published: 2009-10-25, Sun 15:32:10

Art theory is made up of concepts to make sense of art. One of those concepts is the idea of an organized approach toward arranging color of the art surface, called the color scheme. There are four major color schemes pertaining to relationships on the color wheel. The first color scheme is Triadic, using three colors that have a triangular relationship on the color wheel. The second is Analogous, using three or four colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. The third is Complementary, using colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel. The fourth, Monochromatic, is using one color and adding white or black to it in order to cover all of the values represented in a piece of artwork.

Now that we have covered the four types of color schemes, we will explore one of those color schemes in depth, analogous color schemes, continuing my Art Theory Series on the subject. If you wish to read the first two articles you may do so by clicking on Triadic Color Scheme or Monochromatic Color Scheme.

Analogous Concept

Analogous color schemes use three or four colors on the color wheel to cover the range of values needed to complete a piece of art. The concept of an analogous color scheme is to convey mood. Colors communicate temperatures like warm yellow or cool blue, and using the analogous color scheme is an effective way to communicate temperature.

Examples of Analogous Color Schemes

For example, if I wanted to communicate a slightly chilly, spring day, I would use yellow-green grass, green leaves on the trees, blue-green water, and a blue sky. The yellow-green helps communicate early spring, when foliage is new and fresh. The blues and the greens help communicate that spring is often cool, and waters are still churning from the spring thaw.

If I wanted to communicate a hot, oppressive day, I would use warm colors like yellow, yellow-orange, red, and red-orange. The yellow sand of a desert, with yellow-orange shadows under a red and red-orange sunset communicate a very hot environment, at the end of the day, when the day’s heat can be the most oppressive.

Likewise, cold, wintry days are best done with green evergreen trees, blue-green shadows, blue shadows on the snow and a blue-violet sky, communicating the bone-chilling cold of winter.

With a little planning and forethought, you too can create an art using an analogous color scheme!