Colour theory simplified

Mastery of colour theory is essential for artists. Philip Straub takes a look at some the basic principles of colour.

When used effectively, colour helps describe mood and evoke an emotional response from the viewer. Correct colour application is one of the most important components for a painting to succeed. The application of colour isn’t just something that an artist inherently knows, it’s a craft that’s studied. There are rules to follow and ignore but all artists must begin with the basic building blocks of colour theory to find success.

There’s an incredible amount of scientific documentation available; however, much of it’s not applicable to artists. I’d like to cut through all the redundant stuff and get down to

the most important info on colour theory. We’ll be looking at different types of colour schemes available to an artist, how to use colour as a compositional tool, how to use colour to lead the viewer’s eye through a painting, and how to use balanced colour in a painting. So here we go…