Want to see an improvement in your paintings? Mastering colour theory can feel tricky at first but once you get it, you will be able to notice a difference in your skills.
Traditional colour theory explains the behaviour of colours, how they interact with each other when mixed, colour contrast effects, colour harmony, colour schemes, colour symbolism & associated emotions.
At its core, color theory is the study of how colors mix, contrast, and complement each other. It’s based on the color wheel, which was first developed by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666.
The colour wheel consists of:
🎨 Primary colours – Red, Blue, and Yellow (cannot be mixed from other colors).
🎨 Secondary colours – Green, Orange, and Purple (created by mixing two primary colors).
🎨 Tertiary colours – Red-Orange, Yellow-Green, Blue-Purple, etc. (formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color).
Understanding how these colours interact is the foundation of colours harmony in art.
the colour wheel aims to explain aspects of colour theory through diagrammatical representation of colours whereby they are placed next to each other to form a circle. A basic colour wheel is made up of the three primary & three secondary colours, though most artist colour wheels also display tertiary colours..
This consistent representation of hues gives artists the opportunity to visualise colour harmony & achieve balance of hues in their work.
if you feel like you’re back in kindy it’s probably because that’s when you first came across colour theory.
The three primary colours, yellow, red & blue, are the basic foundations for all colours. They cannot be mixed or created, but rather, the combination of true spectrum colours in various proportions can give any existing hue. They exist equidistant from one another on the colour wheel – you could draw an imaginary equilateral triangle between them.
a secondary colour is created by mixing two primary colours at a 1:1 ratio….
☼ yellow & red to make orange
☼ red & blue to make purple
☼ blue & yellow to make green
Like the primaries, secondary colours are equidistant on the colour wheel.
The tertiary colours are third generation hues created by mixing primary & secondary colours together at a 1:1 ratio. This yields six hyphenated names:
☼ yellow-orange
☼ red-orange
☼ red-violet
☼ blue-violet
☼ blue-green
☼ yellow-green
With these 6 extra hues added to our primary & tertiary colours, we can create a classic colour wheel which consists of 12 different colours – 3 primaries, 3 secondaries & 6 tertiaries.
We can describe colour in terms of its temperature, hue, value & intensity.
Colour temperature refers to how cool or warm a colour is, whereby cool is closer to blue & warm is closer to red. For example orange is warmer than green, & yellow-green is warmer than blue-green.
Colour hue refers to the 12 basic hues on the colour wheel. When we are trying to describe colour, we must put aside lightness & brightness & first decide which of the 12 hues is closest to the colour that we are seeing.
Colour value refers to how light or dark a c colour is, whereby ‘0’ is white & ‘6’ is black. For example
Colour intensity refers to how bright or dull a colour is, whereby bright is closer to the pure hues of the colour wheel & dull is further away. Of course, when we’re mixing colours, & colours in the real world, are not often pure, bright hues. In fact, most colours we see have been dulled down by others. A colour that is in it’s purest form (a pure hue from the 12 segments on the colour wheel) is described as bright, whereas a colour which has deviated from this pure hue is describes as dull. For example the artist pigment cadmium yellow is a bright yellow alike to the hue we imagine when we think of a full spectrum yellow. Further, we might describe the mustard yellow of autumn leaves to be quite dull.
Colours are deeply tied to human psychology and can evoke emotions, memories, and moods. This is why color choices in art, branding, and design are so powerful.
❤️ Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) – Associated with energy, passion, warmth, and excitement. Red can stimulate appetite (which is why it’s used in restaurant branding), while yellow conveys happiness and optimism.
💙 Cool colours (blue, green, purple) – Linked to calmness, stability, and serenity. Blue can have a soothing effect, while green is often associated with nature and renewal.
⚫ Neutral colours (black, white, grey, brown) – Represent balance, sophistication, and timelessness. They are often used in minimalistic and modern designs.
🎭 Cultural and personal influences – Color perception is not universal. For example, in Western cultures, white symbolizes purity, while in some Eastern cultures, it represents mourning. Understanding cultural contexts can enhance the emotional impact of your artwork.
Now that we understand basic colors and their psychology, let’s explore color relationships, or how colors work together in a composition.
🎨 1. Complementary Colours
Opposite colours on the color wheel (e.g., red & green, blue & orange, yellow & purple).
✔ Creates strong contrast and vibrancy.
✔ Used to make elements stand out.
✔ Example: Van Gogh’s “The Night Café” (1888) features red and green for intensity.
🎨 2. Analogous Colours
Colours that sit next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue-green, red-orange).
✔ Creates harmony and unity.
✔ Common in landscapes and soft compositions.
✔ Example: Claude Monet’s water lilies use shades of blue, green, and purple for a calming effect.
🎨 3. Triadic Colours
Three colours evenly spaced around the color wheel (e.g., red, yellow, blue).
✔ Creates dynamic, balanced compositions.
✔ Frequently used in bold and vibrant artwork.
✔ Example: Piet Mondrian’s abstract works use strong primary colors for visual impact.
🎨 4. Split-Complementary Colours
A variation of complementary colors, where instead of one opposite color, you use the two colors adjacent to its complement.
✔ Provides contrast without being too harsh.
✔ Often used in portraits and nature paintings.
✔ Example: Many impressionist paintings use this method to balance vibrancy and harmony.
🎨 5. Monochromatic Colours
A single colour in different shades and tints (e.g., light blue → dark blue).
✔ Creates a subtle and elegant look.
✔ Ideal for mood-focused compositions.
✔ Example: Picasso’s Blue Period (1901-1904) uses shades of blue to convey melancholy.
From a neurological perspective, colour perception happens in the visual cortex of the brain. The cones in our eyesdetect colour, while the brain interprets the wavelengths as specific hues.
🧠 1. The brain loves colour contrast – Our brains naturally seek contrast, which is why complementary colours appear so vibrant together.
🧠 2. Colour affects memory & attention – Studies show that colour improves recall and directs attention, which is why warm colours like red and orange can feel more energetic and urgent.
🧠 3. The role of lighting in colour perception – Ever noticed how colours look different in daylight vs. artificial light? That’s because our brain adjusts colors based on surroundings—a key concept in painting and design!
Even professional artists refer to colour theory aids in order to achieve balance & harmony in their work. The books below are all available on amazon & make for extremely useful colour theory references to have in your studio. I paid for them all myself, with my own money, have read them cover to cover & I would certainly buy them again!
‘The Pocket; Complete Color Harmony’
by Tina Sutton.
This little pocket reference offers hundreds of harmonious hue combinations, as well as some colour theory basics & explanations. It’s the perfect reference for all artists & graphic designers, especially if you looking for colour combinations examples.
by Betty Edwards.
This book offers fantastic, easy-to-read yet comprehensive explanations of colour theory, whilst instructing plenty of paint-along exercises. This read changed my paintings from classy to harmonious in colour – I could literally see the difference in my work!
by Hazel Soan.
Not so much for colour theory basics but this book is great if you want to learn more about using a limited palette in your artwork.
& there’s heaps of artist aids out there that can help you master colour theory.
This colour wheel and pocket book are perfect for any artist wanting to better understand & practice colour theory.
as with a lot of things, colour theory is best learned by doing – so grab a brush, your pencils, markers, whatever it is you prefer, & create your own colour wheel.
Starting your own artist journal can be a super helpful way to learn colour theory, especially if you’re a beginner artist. & having a cute little book of your pigment & colour mixes to refer to is just a bonus.
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✔ Choose colours with intention – Think about the emotion you want to convey before selecting colours.
✔ Experiment with limited palettes – Sometimes, using fewer colours forces more creative solutions.
✔ Study master painters – Look at how artists like Turner, Monet, and Van Gogh used colour harmonies.
✔ Try digital tools – Apps like adobe colour wheel help visualize colour relationships before painting.
✔ Consider light and mood – Colours appear different depending on the time of day and environment.
Now that you have a solid understanding of colour theory, try applying these concepts to your next painting! Experiment with different colour relationships, test out psychological effects, and explore how colour can enhance your artistic expression. 😊🎨✨
If you’re in the mood to keep reading, check out all my articles here.
☼ Albers, J. (1963). Interaction of color. Yale University Press.
☼ Arnheim, R. (1954). Art and visual perception: A psychology of the creative eye. University of California Press.
☼ Fehrman, K. R., & Fehrman, C. (2004). Color: The secret influence. Pearson.
☼ Zeki, S. (1999). Inner vision: An exploration of art and the brain. Oxford University Press.
☼ What is colour theory, and why is it important?
☼ How do different colour relationships affect composition?
☼ What psychological effects do colours have?
☼ How have famous artists used colour harmonies?
☼ How does the brain process colour perception?
☼ What are some practical tips for using colour effectively?
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