What is the color wheel? A color wheel is a circle of colors that shows the relationship between the colors and how they are affected by the three primary colors. You can purchase one at your local stamp store or online. In addition, I recommend that people create their own color wheel using their different media. In the example, watercolor crayons are used, but you can use ink pads, colored pencils, or markers to create your own wheel. (To see a sample of a commercially available color wheel, see Ramie Ahlstrom’s "Monochromatic Color Schemes" article in this issue.. 
Primary colors are those that cannot be made by blending. They are yellow, blue, and red. On the color wheel, you see that they are 1/3 apart in the wheel so they are equal. Secondary colors are those that come from blending equal amounts of the primary colors (i.e., yellow + blue make green), but there are other tones and values in these colors that can help to build our color library. These colors are called Tertiary or intermediate colors come from blending a secondary color with a primary color. For example, blending yellow with green will give you either a yellow-green or a green-yellow, depending upon whether you add more primary green or more primary yellow.
Methods of using color
Different uses of color can create different moods and different focus in your artwork. For example, simple elegant cards can come from a monochromatic color scheme. This color scheme uses different shades and tints of one color. For more information on this, see Monochromatic Color Schemes in Stamping By Ramie Ahlstrom also in this issue.
By contrast, a complementary color scheme uses colors that are opposites on the color wheel to bring out the differences in the colors and to add excitement to the artwork.
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For a smoother, or softer look, many stampers stick with an analogous color scheme. This is an easy color scheme, to be sure of, as it uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. The latest craze of sepia-toned images is the result of warm tones. Warm colors are those that look sun kissed with reds, yellows, and their different values. The warm tones send off a feeling of warmth that makes the viewer comfortable. This is part of the reason it is so popular.
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On the opposite end of the color spectrum are the cool colors. These are soothing colors, such as blues, greens, and purples. Stampers often choose these colors because they are relaxing and natural.Many of us stick to one color scheme when we do artwork. With stamping, we sometimes do what is familiar and not what is necessarily new and challenging. Avoid falling into a rut and try some new color techniques in your own artwork.
If you have questions about this article or the included artwork, please contact me at fran@elegantnotiondesigns.com.
