The Painter’s color wheel consists of colors we would often use in art class—those colors we learn about as children. The primary hues are red, blue and yellow.

Primary Colors: Colors at their basic essence; those colors that cannot be created by mixing others.

Secondary Colors: Those colors achieved by a mixture of two primaries

Intermediate Colors: Those colors achieved by a mixture of primary and secondary hues.

Complementary Colors: Those colors located opposite each other on a color wheel.

Analogous Colors: Those colors located close together on a color wheel.

Monochromatic Relationship: Colors that are shade or tint variations of the same

Double Complement: Two sets of complements in one color scheme.

Alternate Complementary: A four-color scheme that combines a triad and the direct complement.

Triadic Color Scheme: Any 3 colors that create a triangle on the color wheel.

Split-Complementary: A color and the 2 colors on either side of its complement.

Warm Colors: The colors representing warmth. Think fire.

Cool Colors: The colors representing cold. Think ice or cold grass.