Colour Theory

Colour is all around us and can have a big influence on how we see our world.  The colour choices we make in textile design have a huge impact on the successful realization of our intended goal. In this post I will examine some of the common colour combinations that can be applied to textile projects.

Every discussion of colour theory has to start with the colour wheel. I found this version at http://color-wheel-artist.com/basic-color-wheel.html and I think it is a good example, especially as it also includes shades and tints. Colour harmonies are combinations of colours based on their relationship to each other in terms of their location on the colour wheel. Below I will provide examples of five different colour harmonies I found in my own life.

Monochromatic

A monochromatic colour scheme is based on shades and tints of the same hue. In this example, variations of blue are used. This is an easy colour scheme to use because it generally looks balanced and appealing. The visual image created is quite soothing and tranquil, which works well for this casual top. When I wear this top I am usually in a relaxed mood, or hoping to create a relaxed mood, and I find the colours to be very compatible with this feeling. The light background pattern adds some interest, as do the areas of darker blue. This prevents the overall look from becoming boring, which can be a danger with a monochromatic colour harmony. 

Analogous

Analogous colours are the ones beside each other on the colour wheel. They usually make well matched and harmonious looking colour schemes. The blue and green colours in this picture from Joshua Tree demonstrate an analogous colour scheme found in nature. The scene is peaceful and easy to look at. When these types of colour harmonies are used in clothing, the effect is similar and makes for a relaxing overall impression. To add interest to an analogous pairing a third adjacent colour is often added with a little more contrast to act as an accent. Adding a neutral colour can also achieve the same result. In this photograph of a natural landscape, the lighter green parts of the trees creates this accent, while the neutral colour of the tree trunks, rocks and ground provides a background that allows the dark blue and green to stand out more.

These two clothing examples of analogous colour schemes demonstrate the use of white and black to break up the main colours. Also notice how the cool colours of the dress give a somewhat stark and businesslike feel, while the warm colours of the bathing suit seem more vibrant and lively. This effect is heightened by the rigid lines of the dress and the curved lines of the bathing suit. An example of colour being combined with other elements of design to achieve a certain impression. 

Complementary

Complementary colours are directly opposite each other on the colour wheel. When they are used together they create a bold picture that demands attention. I didn't have to look far for an example. These red and green laundry hampers sit in my kitchen and are used to collect some of our recycling. I wanted to make it easy for all my family to recycle and therefore wanted the collection containers to be obvious; using these complementary colours achieved the visual impact I was looking for. The high contrast also makes it easy to distinguish which hamper is used for the different types of recycling we are collecting (red for cans, glass and plastic, and green for paper and cardboard). An entire kitchen in these vibrant colours would be quite overwhelming, but when used in this small amount it adds a nice splash of colour as well as serving a useful purpose.



Triadic

This delightful holiday sweater, belonging to one of my sons, demonstrates a triadic colour scheme. A triadic harmony uses colours that are evenly spaced around the colour wheel. In this case the primary colours of red, blue and yellow are used. The impression created is quite distinctive and bright. If the intention in wearing this sweater was to stand out, the use of this colour scheme would allow that goal to be realized. The three colours are quite evenly distributed on the dark blue background and seem to compete for attention; the eye is pulled from one area to another with no where to really settle. This is probably fine for the theme of this sweater, but would be less desirable in other garments where you may not want to cause such visual confusion. In that case, one of the colours of the triad could be more prominent and the others used more for accent.




Accented Neutral

Neutral colours like black and white never seem to go out of style and always blend well together. The contrast between the large areas of black in this dress with the white outlined flowers looks quite dramatic. The addition of the bright splashes of red makes the design even more vibrant and creative. The use of a single distinct colour like this, on an otherwise neutral colour scheme, is called an accented neutral. The same effect could be achieved by adding a bright coloured scarf or belt to an otherwise neutral outfit. It would be economical to invest in some good quality neutral coloured basic wardrobe pieces and then liven up or change them by adding different accent colours in accessories. 

Resources for Colour Theory

1. The book Clothes and Your Appearance was provided to all teachers of Textiles Arts 7 when the new curriculum was introduced in NS several years ago. It has a chapter entitled "Colors for You" (pp.185-203) that provides a good introduction and background to this topic.

Liddell, L and Samuels,C. (2008) Clothes and Your Appearance. Goodheart-Wilcox, Illinois.

2. Other resources I found helpful for exploring colour theory are listed below.

Designer at your doorstep. (June 1, 2016). Color harmony in clothes [Blog Post]. Retrieved from http://www.stitchmyfit.com/blog/styling/color-harmony-in-clothes/

Smith, Kate. (n.d.) Color relationships:creating color harmony. Retrieved from www.sensationalcolor.com/understanding-color/theory/color-relationships-creating-color-harmony-1849#.WH_xqVUrKpp

Tiger color. Basic color schemes - introduction to color theory. Retrieved from http://www.tigercolor.com/color-lab/color-theory/color-theory-intro.htm


Suggested Student Activity - Artist Trading Cards

To reinforce the concepts of colour theory, it would be helpful to have students first colour in their own copy of the colour wheel. Following that, they could use their copy of the colour wheel as a guide, to create artist trading cards of different colour harmonies. Artist trading cards are the same size as the more common sports trading cards. Simply use a sports card as a guide and cut out blank cards from cardstock or a similar weight paper. You could suggest various ways for students to illustrate colour harmonies on their cards; they could use collaging from magazine pages to demonstrate different colour schemes, they could draw or cut out actual clothing examples to use, or they could even cut out and glue combinations of fabric samples on the cards. There are many possibilities. Whatever format chosen, students should clearly label each card with the colour harmony used. I have had my Visual Arts students make artist trading cards to help reinforce their understanding of the Elements of Art for several years. Below is a picture of some sample cards. Since the cards are small, they don't take too long to complete and students seem to have fun making them. The completed cards serve as a good reference and reminder of the elements of design, and I think they could successfully serve the same purpose for colour harmonies.