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Color Schemes  -  TRIADIC

The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. The easiest way to place them on the wheel is by using a triangle of equal sides. This scheme is very popular among artists because it offers strong visual contrast while retaining balance, and color richness. The triadic scheme is not as contrasting as the complementary scheme, but it is easier to acomplisht balance and harmony with these colors.

This color scheme offers a higher degree of contrast while at the same time retains the color harmony.  As far as contrast is concerned, it is not as high as the complementary color scheme, but the color harmony it presents is easier to achieve.

Two things (at least) to keep in mind when using it:

  • Select one color that will be used as a predominant color.

  • If the colors look too bright or overpowering, use lower saturations by combining them with gray values.

In this example (lef) we have a typical painting done in this popular scheme.

Regata at Argenteuil. c.1872. Oil on canvas.
Musée d'Orsay, Paris, France.

     

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