Color theory is an important foundation for any career in art and design. Working with color is part science and part psychology. You need to understand not only how colors relate to each other, but also how they make viewers react. – Piper Nilsson, Sessions instructor.

Do you notice when people wear clothes with colors that clash? Ever been in a room with colors that work together and make you comfortable being there? It’s not always easy to figure out if groups of colors clash or harmonize. Trying to find the right colors takes time. Fortunately, an understanding of color theory can make this process much easier. 

One of the tools designers use is the Color Wheel. The Color Wheel is a visual presentation of 12 colors in a circle or wheel. The wheel is based on three primary colors, three secondary colors, and six tertiary colors.   

Here’s why you should use it: Colors presented in this way allow you to easily identify colors that complement each other and colors that clash. By using it to choose colors, you can create harmony or dissonance with your colors as you desire.

Sound useful? It really is. And here’s a tip: Sessions has a fantastic Color Wheel Calculator you can try for yourself!