Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, Tertiary Colors: What's the Difference? Find out at Color Wheel Artist (2024)

Primary colors are everywhere when we take the time to notice.So areSecondary and Tertiary colors.As a creative person, youare likely inspired by the colors you see in the world. Without a doubt you might be moved to capture the brilliance in a painting.

But as mentioned in another post, artists work with pigments which are Subtractive Color. As a result weoften end up with muddycolors that don't look anything like we envisioned.

For instance you may want to paint the delicious-looking strawberries above.However, it's not enough to just use red paint. You know this of course. However, the trouble begins when you mix in other pigments. Instead of luscious reds, you may get frustrated because the results are sometimesdrab, dirty colors instead.

First and foremost, the Primary Colors, Yellow, Red and Blue,are at the top of any color structure. That's because you can think of the three Primariesas the original parents of all the future generations of colors.

In Theory, Primary Colors are the root of every other color.

So in other words,you could conceivably mix gazillions of colors with onlythree pure Primary pigments of Yellow, Red and Blue.Of coursethat's what they teach us in school. However, as I wrote in a previous Color Wheel post,color is not an exact science.

The problem is paint pigment never works like thatin real life. For instance, if you mix Cadmium Red + Ultramarine Blue, you'll likelybe sadly disappointed.If you were expecting a deep rich Violet (Purple), the resulting Brownwill be a total surprise.

To understand why, we need to look at paint pigments.A Primary Yellow, Red or Blue paint color usually refers to a paint that containsonly one pigment. They are unmixed pigmentsthat can't be created by mixing other colors.

Paint is manufactured with organic, mineral and chemical pigments. As a result, there are many different pure Yellow, Red and Blue pigment paints available.

In our example above, Cadmium Red is a warm pure hue, leaningtoward Orange.Blue and Orange are Complementary Colors. Brown is the neutralized result we get from mixing Complementary colors. In this case it's pureBlue +pure Orangey/Red. This result is only great if you actually want a rich Brown.

In this example, if you wantto mix a rich Purple instead, use a cool pure Red such as Quinacridone Red. That's because this pure pigment leans away from Orange and mixes harmoniously with the cool pure Blue.

In the realm of art and color theory, understanding the complexities of pigments goes hand in hand with exploring the world of creativity. When delving into the world of painting, aspiring artists often seek resources to expand their knowledge. Finding valuable books for cheap can be an endeavor worth embarking upon. These resources provide insights into the nuances of color mixing, helping artists grasp the intricacies that extend beyond the traditional primary color model. While the concept of Primary Colors – Yellow, Red, and Blue – serves as a foundational understanding, real-world pigment interactions demonstrate that achieving desired hues can be both surprising and challenging. As artists experiment with combinations like Cadmium Red and Ultramarine Blue, they uncover the unexpected transformations that occur due to the unique properties of different pigments. Exploring affordable books can be a valuable way to uncover techniques that guide artists in navigating the dynamic world of colors, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of mixing and blending.

Secondary Colors are Second in Line

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Next come the three Secondary colors, Orange, Purple and Green. Think of the Secondary colors as the children of the three Primaries as shown above.

​In color theory we are taught that the Secondary colors are mixed like this:

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• Yellow + Red = ORANGE
• Red + Blue = PURPLE
• Blue + Yellow = GREEN

Again as explained earlier, Color Theory is correct on the surface. It shows us how colors interact in a perfect world. In other words, itservesas a general compass to point us in the right direction.

However, paint color in the real world is another thing entirely. This is why so many artists think a Color Wheel is useless. They mix Red and Blue hoping to get Purple. But if yourefer back to my example in the previous section where we mixed Cadmium Red with Ultramarine Blue, you'll see the theory doesn't seem to work.In this case, the result isan unexpected Brown. Before long, their Color Wheelgets put aside, never to be looked at again.

We'll be exploring the inner secrets of a color wheel in a later post. In the meantime concentrate on getting a basic understanding the Primary Colors, Secondary and Tertiary colors.

Tertiary Colors are the In-Betweens

Finally the remaining six colorsare referred to as the Tertiary Colors. Think of these as the six grandchildren of the Primary Colors.

Again, Color Theory teaches us that each Tertiary color is the result of one Primary Color mixed with one of its nearest Secondary colors. Therefore we end up with a new color somewhere in between.

• Yellow + Orange = YELLOW/ORANGE
• Red + Orange = RED/ORANGE
• Red + Purple = RED/PURPLE
• Blue + Purple = BLUE/PURPLE
• Blue + Green = BLUE/GREEN
• Yellow + Green = YELLOW/GREEN