Color Theory, Color Mixing, and the Color Wheel
Don't let the word 'theory' intimidate you. An understanding of the basics of color theory and the color wheel is essential for every artist and can increase the possibilities for your work. Colors are, after all, one of the basic tools of painting.
What You Need to Know About Color Theory for Painting
All the basic information you need to know about color theory and color mixing, arranged in easy-to-understand color theory lessons.
All the basic information you need to know about color theory and color mixing, arranged in easy-to-understand color theory lessons.
The Three Sides to a Paint Color's Personality: Hue, Value, and Chroma
What hue, value, and chroma mean in a paint color, and why it's important to consider all three when mixing colors for painting.
What hue, value, and chroma mean in a paint color, and why it's important to consider all three when mixing colors for painting.
Color Theory Quiz
Test how much you know about the basic principles of color mixing with this color quiz.
Test how much you know about the basic principles of color mixing with this color quiz.
Do a Simple Lightfastness Test for a Paint Color
An explanation of how to do a simple or basic lightfastness test to see how stable a paint color is.
An explanation of how to do a simple or basic lightfastness test to see how stable a paint color is.
My Favorite Color Mixing Tips
Here are a few tips to help you get the best results when mixing colors that I wish I'd known when I started painting!
Here are a few tips to help you get the best results when mixing colors that I wish I'd known when I started painting!
Online Color Mixing Palette for Painters
This online color mixing tool lets you experiment with mixing primary colors and secondary colors without worrying that you're wasting paint.
This online color mixing tool lets you experiment with mixing primary colors and secondary colors without worrying that you're wasting paint.
What You Need to Know About Tones or Values for Painting (and Why)
What is a tone in a painting, how it tone different from color, and why is it important for artists? Find out in this article on painting tones or values.
What is a tone in a painting, how it tone different from color, and why is it important for artists? Find out in this article on painting tones or values.
What Colors are Shadows?
How the Impressionists changed the colors we use to paint shadows.
How the Impressionists changed the colors we use to paint shadows.
Opaque or Transparent?
Some pigments are extremely transparent, barely showing on top of another color. Others are extremely opaque, hiding what's beneath. Here's a simple way to test.
Some pigments are extremely transparent, barely showing on top of another color. Others are extremely opaque, hiding what's beneath. Here's a simple way to test.
Palettes of the Masters - Vincent van Gogh
Van Gogh deliberately set about using colors to capture mood and emotion, rather than using colors realistically. At the time, this was completely unheard of.
Van Gogh deliberately set about using colors to capture mood and emotion, rather than using colors realistically. At the time, this was completely unheard of.
Vincent van Gogh on Tone and Color Mixing
What did Van Gogh think about tone and color mixing? This extract from a letter he wrote in 1882 tells us.
What did Van Gogh think about tone and color mixing? This extract from a letter he wrote in 1882 tells us.
Color Mixing Class: How to Mix Chromatic Black
How to mix chromatic black and why it's superior to black straight from a tube.
How to mix chromatic black and why it's superior to black straight from a tube.
Color Class: Mixing Green on the Canvas Rather than on a Palette
An illustrated step-by-step tutorial of how to mix green on a canvas, rather than on a palette.
An illustrated step-by-step tutorial of how to mix green on a canvas, rather than on a palette.
Color Theory: Know Your Reds
A look at the various red paints available to artists.
A look at the various red paints available to artists.
The Accidental Discovery of Prussian Blue
The discoverer of Prussian blue, the colormaker Diesbach, was in fact not trying to make a blue, but a red. Hard to believe, but true. Read what went wrong.
The discoverer of Prussian blue, the colormaker Diesbach, was in fact not trying to make a blue, but a red. Hard to believe, but true. Read what went wrong.
Ultramarine: The Most Expensive Pigment Ever
Genuine ultramarine is characteristic color in Medieval paintings, and was once the most expensive pigment available.
Genuine ultramarine is characteristic color in Medieval paintings, and was once the most expensive pigment available.
What Paint Did Pollock Use?
A look at the type of paint that the Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock used in his paintings, and his painting technique.
A look at the type of paint that the Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock used in his paintings, and his painting technique.
Palettes of the Masters: Gauguin
A look at the colors the Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin used in his palette.
A look at the colors the Post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin used in his palette.
Top Books on Color (and Color Mixing) for Artists
This is a selection of books I've found useful and accessible for learning more about colors, paint pigments, and color mixing.
This is a selection of books I've found useful and accessible for learning more about colors, paint pigments, and color mixing.
Book Review: Bright Earth – The Invention of Colour by Philip Ball
Any painter interested in knowing more about the colors they use and the way colors were discovered, developed, or evolved will find this book fascinating.
Any painter interested in knowing more about the colors they use and the way colors were discovered, developed, or evolved will find this book fascinating.
Book Review: Colour Mixing Bible by Ian Sidaway
If you haven't the time to make your own color-mixing charts, you'll find them in great book (for oils, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, soft pastels, colored pencil, and ink).
If you haven't the time to make your own color-mixing charts, you'll find them in great book (for oils, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, soft pastels, colored pencil, and ink).
Mixing Greens
An extremely thorough article on mixing greens. Everything you could want to know, and probably much more.
An extremely thorough article on mixing greens. Everything you could want to know, and probably much more.
Sedimentary Pigments
In watercolors, some pigments mix together well while others separate out. This article looks at how you can use this characteristic in your paintings.
In watercolors, some pigments mix together well while others separate out. This article looks at how you can use this characteristic in your paintings.
Psychology of Color
We all associate particular colors with specific things, such as black with funerals. This article discusses the psychology of color and how it can be used in a painting. It's fascinating but a bit heavy going as there are no illustrations.
We all associate particular colors with specific things, such as black with funerals. This article discusses the psychology of color and how it can be used in a painting. It's fascinating but a bit heavy going as there are no illustrations.
Color Theory Lesson: The Three Primary Colors
The first step in color theory or color mixing is knowing about the three primary colors -- yellow, blue, and red.
The first step in color theory or color mixing is knowing about the three primary colors -- yellow, blue, and red.
Color Theory Lesson: Secondary Colors
Secondary colors (oranges, green, and purples) are created by mixing two of the three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) together. Find out how to mix your own secondary colors and why you should know how to do this rather than simply buying them.
Secondary colors (oranges, green, and purples) are created by mixing two of the three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) together. Find out how to mix your own secondary colors and why you should know how to do this rather than simply buying them.
Color Theory Lesson: Tertiary Colors
Tertiary colors are neutral colors such as browns and greys. Learn how to mix these and how to stop them becoming muddy.
Tertiary colors are neutral colors such as browns and greys. Learn how to mix these and how to stop them becoming muddy.
Color Theory Lesson: Complementary Colors
Complementary colors make each other appear brighter and also appear in the shadows. Find out which colors complement each other and an easy way to remember this.
Complementary colors make each other appear brighter and also appear in the shadows. Find out which colors complement each other and an easy way to remember this.
Color Theory Lesson: Using Black and White
Should you add white to lighten a color and black to darken it?
Should you add white to lighten a color and black to darken it?
Use Color Symbolism from Ancient Egypt
In Ancient Egypt color was considered an integral part of a person's nature, and items with similar colour were believed to have similar properties. By using modern-day equivalents you could use the meanings of colors to add an intriguing level of symbolism to a painting.
In Ancient Egypt color was considered an integral part of a person's nature, and items with similar colour were believed to have similar properties. By using modern-day equivalents you could use the meanings of colors to add an intriguing level of symbolism to a painting.
Color Technology in Ancient Egypt
Do you use lamp black? Did you know that it was developed by the Ancient Egyptians way back when...? This article looks at what other colors they developed, and the technology used.
Do you use lamp black? Did you know that it was developed by the Ancient Egyptians way back when...? This article looks at what other colors they developed, and the technology used.