A knowledge of color theory is something every artist should have. Find out where you stand on this subject by testing your knowledge of color as it applies to fine art.
Write your answers to this simple 50-question quiz on paper, then check them at the end of the quiz. Don’t peek!
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
1. Color is _______.
A. a design principle
B. an element of art
C. a value
D. none of the above
2. Which color can not be made by mixing any other color?
A. Yellow
B. Green
C. Purple
D. Gray
3. What are the primary colors?
A. Red-orange, red-purple, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, and blue-purple
B. Green, orange, and purple
C. White, black, gray, and brown
D. Red, blue, and yellow
4. The choice of colors used in a design plan is called a _______.
A. color spectrum
B. color wheel
C. color scheme
D. color mix
5. A circular chart used to show color relationships is called a _______.
A. color ray
B. color wheel
C. color circle
D. color scheme
6. Secondary colors are created by mixing two _______.
A. neutral colors
B. complementary colors
C. primary colors
D. intermediate or Tertiary colors
7. Colors that are different in lightness and darkness are said to be _______.
A. contrasting
B. light in value
C. dark in value
D. bright and intense
8. What are the secondary colors?
A. Red-orange, red-purple, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, and blue-purple
B. Green, orange, and purple
C. White, black, gray, and brown
D. Red, blue, and yellow
9. Which of the following are examples of cool colors?
A. Orange, green, and purple (or violet)
B. Blue, green, and violet (or purple)
C. Yellow, blue and red
D. White, black and brown
10. Which of the following are examples of warm colors?
A. Yellow, red, and orange
B. Yellow, red and blue
C. Yellow, green and blue
D. Orange, purple and green
11. Yellow-orange, red-orange, and yellow-green are examples of _______ colors.
A. intermediate or tertiary
B. secondary
C. primary
D. triadic
12. _______ is another word for the brightness of a color.
A. Value
B. Intensity
C. Hue
D. Complementary
13. What are the tertiary colors?
A. Red-orange, red-purple, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, and blue-purple
B. Green, orange, and purple
C. White, black, gray, and brown
D. Red, blue, and yellow
14. Monochromatic colors are all the colors (tints, tones, and shades) of a single hue.
True | False
15. Complimentary colors are side by side on the color wheel.
True | False
16. To make a shade, you would add _______ to a color.
A. black
B. white
C. brown
D. yellow
17. What words are used to describe color temperature?
A. Light and Dark
B. Hot and Cold
C. Black and White
D. Warm and Cool
18. Which colors will give you the greatest contrast?
A. Red and blue
B. Blue and green
C. Red and green
D. Green and yellow
19. How many colors are on the basic color wheel?
A. Three primary and three secondary colors
B. Three cool and three warm colors
C. Three pairs of complementary colors
D. All of the above
20. Analogous colors is another term for complementary colors.
True | False
21. Red and green are examples of complementary colors.
True | False
22. The color plan of red, yellow, and blue is an example of a triad color scheme.
True | False
23. A related color scheme would be colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
True | False
24. Tints of colors may be created by adding white. Pink is a tint of red.
True | False
25. Intensity refers to the purity of a hue.
True | False
26. Blue and orange are _______ colors.
A. primary
B. related or analogous
C. secondary
D. complementary
27. Red, yellow, and blue are _______ colors.
A. primary
B. related or analogous
C. secondary
D. complementary
28. Yellow, yellow-orange, and orange are _______ colors.
A. primary
B. related or analogous
C. secondary
D. complementary
29. Red and green are _______ colors.
A. primary
B. related or analogous
C. secondary
D. complementary
30. Orange, green and violet (or purple) are _______ colors.
A. primary
B. related or analogous
C. secondary
D. complementary
31. Purple, blue, and red-violet are _______ colors.
A. primary
B. related or analogous
C. secondary
D. complementary
32. Colors that are across from each other on the color wheel are called ________.
A. intermediate or tertiary colors
B. analogous colors
C. color triad
D. complementary colors
33. Three colors that are equal distance apart on the color wheel are called ________.
A. intermediate or tertiary colors
B. analogous colors
C. color triad
D. complementary colors
34. Colors that are next to each other on the color wheel are called ________.
A. intermediate or tertiary colors
B. analogous colors
C. color triad
D. complementary colors
35. ________ are obtained by mixing secondary colors and primary colors.
A. Intermediate or Tertiary colors
B. Analogous colors
C. Color triad
D. Complementary colors
36. ________ are obtained by adding white to a hue.
A. Neutrals
B. Tints
C. Secondary colors
D. Shades
37. ________ are obtained by mixing two primary colors.
A. Neutrals
B. Tints
C. Secondary colors
D. Shades
38. ________ are obtained by adding black to a hue.
A. Neutrals
B. Tints
C. Secondary colors
D. Shades
39. Colors that go with all color plans — white, black, gray, and brown — are called _______.
A. Neutrals
B. Tints
C. Secondary colors
D. Shades
40. Blue, green, and purple are cool colors.
True | False
41. All colors are made by mixing the primary colors.
True | False
42. Yellow, red, and orange are cool colors.
True | False
43. Purple is an example of a primary color.
True | False
44. The lightness or darkness of a color is referred to as the _______.
A. shape
B. value
C. intensity
D. texture
45. The brightness or dullness of a color is referred to as the _______.
A. shape
B. value
C. intensity
D. texture
46. The pure hue is at its brightest _______ right from the bottle.
A. shape
B. value
C. intensity
D. texture
47. What color is the result of mixing red + yellow?
A. Violet (Purple)
B. Orange
C. Brown
D. Green
48. What color is the result of mixing red + blue?
A. Violet (Purple)
B. Orange
C. Brown
D. Green
49. What color is the result of mixing yellow + blue?
A. Violet (Purple)
B. Orange
C. Brown
D. Green
50. What color is the result of mixing red + yellow + blue?
A. Violet (Purple)
B. Orange
C. Brown
D. Green
How did you do on the “Knowledge of COLOR Theory” quiz? Check your answers below to find out.
Additional Reading
For more information on color theory, see the art article titled “Basic Art Element — Color.”
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Answers: 1B, 2A, 3D, 4C, 5B, 6C, 7A, 8B, 9B, 10A, 11A, 12B, 13A, 14T, 15F, 16A, 17D, 18C, 19D, 20F, 21T, 22T, 23T, 24T, 25T, 26D, 27A, 28B, 29D, 30C, 31B, 32D, 33C, 34B, 35A, 36B, 37C, 38D, 39A, 40T, 41T, 42F, 43F, 44B, 45C, 46C, 47B, 48A, 49D, 50C