An artist working in any medium, whether it be design, painting, illustration, photography, or any other, needs to have a thorough understanding of color. Color has a huge influence on how a piece is perceived and can make or break a piece. I have been working as an artist for most of my life and have many tools at my disposal to help in my work.
Color theory is the basic way to understand how colors interact and whether they should be used together. It helps when designing websites, interfaces, and even creating images.
Color theory is important for artists and creative people of all types, but it can seem daunting to grasp the concepts fully. After all, color is confusing to most people, and the language of color theory is often not the easiest to understand. When it comes to color, it’s not enough to know how to choose the right colors. One must also know how to use them effectively to achieve the most beautiful, meaningful results. If you don’t have a color theory background, here is a breakdown of what you need to know to choose appropriate colors.
The Importance of Color
Let’s assume you’re a painter, and you want to paint the sky. You know what color it should be, but you don’t know which color to choose. Will it be blue or a more vibrant red? And what about the clouds? Which hue should you choose for the sky and for the clouds? Solid colors are boring and don’t really sell; how about something more interesting, like a blended color that has strong, complementary colors?
Color is the most important aspect of visual arts as it determines the viewers’ experience. Color has the ability to affect a person’s mood, and an artist needs to understand how to use it to their advantage. A color chart can help an artist in many ways. It is a visual guide to the color wheel, which artists use to help create their own style. The color wheel was first introduced by the still-life French painter, Paul Cezanne. He used this wheel to help him create his own style.
Enhancing Your Creativity
One of the most important aspects of being an artist is your ability to visualize your work. But it’s not easy to make that connection when you’re sitting in your studio staring at a blank canvas. Your mind can only absorb so much information at one time, so you need to find ways to expand your inner visual cortex. That’s why you need color charts.
Mixing and Matching Colors
When it comes to color mixing, those who choose not to exercise the option of using the color wheel may feel a bit of an oversight. After all, it’s a universal approach to creating the color mixture you desire. And while there are various other options, the color wheel and color mixing are the two most common ways to mix colors.
Matching your paint color to your wall color is sometimes a challenge. Is it a light beige or a darker beige? Or maybe it’s just a random mix of colors that don’t seem to match anything. There are a few ways to get a close match, but sometimes it’s easier just to grab a sample of the wall color and paint a test of it. One of my favorite artists, Annie Parun, has a great tip for matching paint color. She says if you want to match the wall color, you should measure the color you want to use and then cut 25% (or a half) of the color from a sample of the wall color.
Conclusion
Artists need to make decisions, and our brains can view these as black or white — a yes or no, a right or wrong answer. But when it comes to color, we need to see our decisions as shades of gray. Color is just as important as a shape in your painting. It is far more complex than just picking a color. The strength and depth you create in your painting will depend on your choice of colors. The more you understand color, the better you will be able to create quality artwork.
