Art & music · Grades 6–12

Visual design · Quick reference

Reference sheet for Grades 6 to 12: colour theory basics and elements of art and principles of design. In traditional (red, yellow, blue) colour theory, the primary colours are red, yellow and blue; mixing two primaries makes a secondary colour; complementary colours sit opposite each other.

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Rule and key idea

Colour theory basics

In traditional (red, yellow, blue) colour theory, the primary colours are red, yellow and blue; mixing two primaries makes a secondary colour; complementary colours sit opposite each other.

red + yellow = orange · yellow + blue = green · blue + red = purple

On a traditional colour wheel, which colour is the complement (directly opposite) of yellow? → purple

Elements of art and principles of design

Elements of art are the building blocks (line, shape, form, space, colour, value, texture); principles of design describe how they are arranged.

elements: what an artist uses · principles: how they are arranged

Which art term means the area around, between or within objects? → space

Check yourself

Four practice questions on this topic. Try each one before you open the answer.

Which is a primary colour in traditional colour theory: purple or yellow?
- purple
- yellow
Show the answer
yellow In traditional (red, yellow, blue) colour theory, the primary colours are red, yellow and blue; mixing two primaries makes a secondary colour; complementary colours sit opposite each other.
Which is a cool colour: yellow or green?
- green
- yellow
Show the answer
green Warm colours are red, orange and yellow; cool colours are blue, green and purple.
Which is a primary colour in traditional colour theory: green or blue?
- green
- blue
Show the answer
blue In traditional (red, yellow, blue) colour theory, the primary colours are red, yellow and blue; mixing two primaries makes a secondary colour; complementary colours sit opposite each other.
Which is a warm colour: yellow or purple?
- purple
- yellow
Show the answer
yellow Warm colours are red, orange and yellow; cool colours are blue, green and purple.