Colour theory for painters
Mix any colour with a limited palette and understand warm, cool and complementary colours.
How to paint
A split-primary palette (a warm and a cool version of red, yellow and blue) mixes nearly every colour you need.
Complementary colours sit opposite each other on the wheel. Placed side by side they vibrate; mixed together they neutralise into rich greys and browns.
Value — how light or dark a colour is — matters more than hue. Squint at your subject to see values clearly.
Related guides
- Acrylic painting for beginners
- Oil painting basics
- Watercolour techniques every artist should know
- How to paint a landscape