Use Color Theory as a Guide when Creating PaintingsMany a color theory abounds, and every artist and art teacher seems to has a favorite. The good news is that no matter your level, whether you are a beginning or an accomplished master, you really only have to contend with the practical aspect of the color theory.
For example, you want to know how to make colors lighter and darker in value without muddying the mixture. Also you want to know what color to use for shadows and reflections, etc. When you see colors, you experience an optical response to reflected light waves. White light can be separated into the 7 colors of the spectrum, each with their unique wavelength. All objects either reflect or absorb these light waves and the reflected waves are the colors we see. For example, an orange takes an orange color because all the other colors besides orange are absorbed and the orange light is reflected. Choice of colors is very personal. In art, color is used to create moods, provoke emotional responses, lead the eye through a painting, and define depth and form. Highly technical color theories aside, the color theory you need to be concerned about here is really simple and straightforward Every child learns at school that blue and yellow make green, red and blue make purple, and red and yellow make orange. Starting from that, you move on to learn other characteristics of colors such as intensity (or saturation) and tone (or value). Do you have a
color wheel?
If not, you can make your own. In fact, making your own color wheel is probably the best way to learn about mixing colors and the interactions between different colors. Nature is your teacher in that it shows you a wide range of colors everywhere. Although you can't possibly reproduce the colors of nature exactly, you can still learn to identify a color with your eyes. This is the first step in learning how to mix paints and colors. I promise that you will learn Far from limiting yourself (“only” three colors), you instead gain more freedom to control colors. And it will keep you from spending time and money on colors you do not need.
Wouldn't it be exciting to learn how to mix colors and gain control over the process instead of the other way around? Then you can develop your own color theory and be even more free to express yourself through art. At first, however, just stick to 'how' and you will go a long way.  top of page 
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