Color Theory
Color Theory: Chromatic versus Achromatic — it all boils down to the blend.
It’s simple, Chromatic is a pure color that contains no hints of white, black, or gray, and Achromatic colors have low saturation, blended with white, black, or grays.
An example of a well-known piece of art that uses Chromatic colors would be the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo Davinci. The painting consists of many different shades and hues of green, yellow, and blue. The lack of black, white, or gray makes the colors stand out more and appear very pure.
An example of a piece of art that uses Achromatic colors would be “The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh. The painting consists of mostly blues, greens, and purples, but there are also some blacks and whites blended in. The overall effect is a very calming and serene painting.
Suggested blends to create Achromatic colors are:
- - 1 part color to 2 parts white
- - 1 part color to 1 part black
- - 2 parts color to 1 part gray
Some examples of Chromatic colors are:
- - Red
