We are surrounded by a colored world, which, upon closer examination, is mostly painted in only three basic tones - blue, yellow and red, in various combinations and combinations, giving dozens of shades familiar to everyone. It is this peculiarity of his that is especially acute for artists. It is not surprising that Itten's color circle, also known to designers, fashion designers, stylists and painters, also invented a man who was creative and enthusiastic.
However, knowledge of the principles of combining shades will be useful to absolutely everyone. Indeed, color harmonies, the palette of which is so diverse, are really capable of working wonders.
In makeup and the choice of clothes, in determining the color type and many other things, the appeal to Itten’s circle most often becomes the basic criterion for choosing. How to draw it, how to use it? What is the right color combination to use in one case or another? This simple but powerful colorist tool can be created in just a few minutes. But the benefits of its use can be felt for a long time.
History
The very concept of “color circle” was used as far back as the 17th century. With its help, a certain rule of mnemonics was developed, which allowed to form and fix the basic principles of mixing and color combination.
There are several options for color circles, but the most famous of them is created by a Swiss painter, teacher, author of the Bauhaus training course in the first half of the 20th century, Johannes Itten. It was he who created the work called The Art of Color, which outlined the basic principles for the formation of such combinations.
The initial purpose of this tool was to simplify the search for the optimal coloristic solution in painting.
In fact, all the existing knowledge and principles were simply laid down by Itten and his predecessors within the framework of a scheme that was understandable in use, which a person with initial knowledge in painting could apply.
Features
Itten's circle, strictly speaking, is a graphic display of such a thing as color harmony. The following construction principles are used in the model:
- three basic colors - blue, yellow, red, they form an equilateral triangle;
- 12 colors in a circle;
- a hexagon connecting opposite tones (second-order colors with the exception of basic ones);
- division into two halves - into warm and cold tones;
- colors that go beyond the hexagon are formed by a combination of the shades surrounding them.
The principles of mixing are quite simple. The diagram clearly shows how Itten's twelve-piece circle forms new tones. Green is formed using yellow and blue. It is among the second-order colors. These also include orange and purple. A distinctive feature of these three components of the circle is the inability to highlight the prevailing color in the mixture of two basic tones.
The resulting hexagon fits into a common double circle. Those tones that do not fall on the vertices of the hexagon belong to shades of the third order. This includes 6 elements:
- yellow green
- blue-green;
- blue violet;
- red violet;
- yellow orange
- red-orange.
All of them are located between the base colors, filling the space. With the addition of monochrome gamma, you can expand this spectrum without going beyond the basic coloristic principles.
How to draw a circle?
The construction of the color wheel can be left to the computer. But the transfer of shades in this case will be noticeably less realistic. Connoisseurs recommend not saving time and creating it manually using paints and a sheet of whatman paper. The first step is to create a triangle outline - it should be equilateral, with the top on which the yellow color is located. The bottom left corner will be blue, the right corner will be red.
Having determined the vertices of the triangle, they are used as points for drawing the contours of the circle. According to them, the internal figure is extended to a hexagon, determining the location of additional second-order colors (orange, green, purple). Outside the already drawn radius, a second one is lined up, at a certain distance, centered at the same point. The resulting line is divided into 12 equal parts.
First of all, in the educated sectors, the basic tones are painted over, then the additional tones. The gaps remaining between them are filled with shades of the third order.
How to use?
Itten's color wheel - a real salvation for designers, stylists, and just people interested in fashion in everything - From interior decoration to the selection of wardrobe items. Finding with it the most complimentary combination is not difficult. In addition, the color wheel quite clearly forms the classic combination - a win-win solution that allows you to achieve harmony and balance. What techniques are usually used in working with the development of Johannes Itten?
The combination of opposite tones
Just look at the diagram and it becomes clear that the simplest combinations in a circle form tones located on its opposite sides. They are always the most contrasting. But just such combinations look very bright and expressive - they are also called complementary. Examples include yellow and purple, orange, and blue.
The combination of related couples
Contrast is not a prerequisite for using the color wheel.On the contrary, you can combine the closest - the neighboring colors of the circle - and get a harmonious combination with minimal contrast. It is enough to study the entire palette to see this.
The combination of three colors
In the case of the Itten circle, shades equally spaced from each other are placed in the triangle of such a combination. The following options for the formation of harmonious combinations are distinguished.
- Classic. Using an isosceles triangle. It combines the very yellow, blue and red - the basic tones. But if you shift the design, you can find a much more original combination. The main rule is to single out one main accent, without which the image will look too catchy.
- Contrasting. A sharp triangle is used here with a wide side covering only three colors (five in the classic). The combinations are sharper and more interesting.
- Analogue Here, the construction is carried out without forming a triangle, from three adjacent shades. The similarity of the color scheme makes this selection of shades the most complimentary for any type of appearance.
Four-color combinations
The quadrangle inscribed in Itten's circle shows how you can combine four tones in clothes at once. The locations of its corners are the points that determine successful color combinations. As a rule, the final solution is quite bright, but you can balance it by focusing on the red-green gamut of shades.
Hexagonal combinations
An even more complex solution is the hexagon. The multifaceted figure “works” quite simply, allowing you to make various combinations without too bright contrasts between them. This solution is especially often used by interior designers. But in the selection of clothes or a palette of colors for makeup, it will be quite useful.
Of course, the color scheme proposed by Itten cannot be called an absolute solution for all occasions. But when it comes to combining pure and complex tones, it is completely indispensable. In addition, adding black, gray and white shades to a single gamut, you can expand its range almost unlimitedly, and the principles of the basic scheme will work just as flawlessly.
See how to combine colors in the interior in the next video.
