Color Theory: Rules and Laws of Color
Know the Color Wheel
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The color wheel is one of the most powerful tools an artist can master — not because it tells you what to do, but because it helps you understand why color works.
The color wheel is a circular diagram that organizes colors by their chromatic relationship. There are 12 colors on the wheel. It maps out the spectrum, showing how hues interact, contrast, and harmonize. It helps you visualize relationships between warm and cool colors, complementary contrasts, and harmonious blends. A Little History: The first color wheel was created by Sir Isaac Newton in 1666, who mapped the colors of the visible spectrum into a circle. Since then, artists and theorists — from Goethe to Itten — have refined the wheel into the version we use today. Why It Matters for Artists: The color wheel isn't just for beginners. It's a decision-making tool — helping you craft color palettes with purpose. It allows you to:
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Tips to use the color wheel:
• Pair opposites for dynamic contrast (complementary colors)
• Group neighbors for subtle harmony (analogous colors)
• Control dominance with split complements and triadic schemes
• Push emotional impact by shifting temperature or saturation
In watercolor, the wheel becomes even more vital — because every pigment behaves differently. Learning to see your palette through the lens of the wheel can dramatically improve your compositions and clarity.
• Pair opposites for dynamic contrast (complementary colors)
• Group neighbors for subtle harmony (analogous colors)
• Control dominance with split complements and triadic schemes
• Push emotional impact by shifting temperature or saturation
In watercolor, the wheel becomes even more vital — because every pigment behaves differently. Learning to see your palette through the lens of the wheel can dramatically improve your compositions and clarity.
Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Colors
12 colors on the color wheel are divided into primary, secondary and tertiary colors.
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Yellow
Red Blue These are the primary colors that can't be mixed from any other colors. But they are the only three colors you need to mix the other color combinations. In Color Theory classes students are always asked to create our own color wheel from these three colors only. Try it, it's truly an exciting exercise. |
Why primary colors are so important?
Because once you understand your primaries — not just in theory, but how your specific paints behave — you gain full control over your palette.
Want vibrant secondaries? You’ll need the right red and blue.
Want soft neutrals? Mix strategically with warm and cool primaries.
Want harmony? Limit your palette to just three well-chosen primaries — and discover how much you can express with less.
Not all reds, blues, and yellows are equal.
A warm red (like cadmium scarlet) and a cool red (like quinacridone rose) will give you very different results when mixed. That’s why many professional artists choose a split primary palette — one warm and one cool version of each.
Understanding your primaries means:
• More accurate color mixing
• Fewer muddy outcomes
• Better harmony across your painting
• A deep connection to your medium
Start observing how your red, yellow, and blue behave. Mix them, chart them, challenge them — because from this triad, a world of color unfolds.
Because once you understand your primaries — not just in theory, but how your specific paints behave — you gain full control over your palette.
Want vibrant secondaries? You’ll need the right red and blue.
Want soft neutrals? Mix strategically with warm and cool primaries.
Want harmony? Limit your palette to just three well-chosen primaries — and discover how much you can express with less.
Not all reds, blues, and yellows are equal.
A warm red (like cadmium scarlet) and a cool red (like quinacridone rose) will give you very different results when mixed. That’s why many professional artists choose a split primary palette — one warm and one cool version of each.
Understanding your primaries means:
• More accurate color mixing
• Fewer muddy outcomes
• Better harmony across your painting
• A deep connection to your medium
Start observing how your red, yellow, and blue behave. Mix them, chart them, challenge them — because from this triad, a world of color unfolds.
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Secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors in equal parts:
Orange = red mixed with yellow Violet = red mixed with blue Green = yellow mixed with blue |
When primaries come together, something new emerges.
They’re the next layer of your palette — and understanding how to mix them well is where artistry begins to deepen.
Why it matters:
You can buy pre-mixed secondary paints, but when you mix your own, you have full control over temperature, vibrancy, and transparency.
Want a glowing sap green? Use a cool yellow and cool blue.
Looking for a smoky, earthy orange? Try a warm red with a neutral yellow.
Temperature is key
Secondary colors shift dramatically depending on which version of the primaries you use. Warm + warm creates intensity. Cool + warm creates balance. Cool + cool brings subtlety.
In watercolor, less is more.
Mixing secondaries from primaries on your palette (or paper!) adds cohesion and prevents color chaos. It also helps keep your painting fresh and unified.
Pro tip:
Make your own secondary color chart using the pigments from your current palette. The process will teach you more than any theory ever could.
They’re the next layer of your palette — and understanding how to mix them well is where artistry begins to deepen.
Why it matters:
You can buy pre-mixed secondary paints, but when you mix your own, you have full control over temperature, vibrancy, and transparency.
Want a glowing sap green? Use a cool yellow and cool blue.
Looking for a smoky, earthy orange? Try a warm red with a neutral yellow.
Temperature is key
Secondary colors shift dramatically depending on which version of the primaries you use. Warm + warm creates intensity. Cool + warm creates balance. Cool + cool brings subtlety.
In watercolor, less is more.
Mixing secondaries from primaries on your palette (or paper!) adds cohesion and prevents color chaos. It also helps keep your painting fresh and unified.
Pro tip:
Make your own secondary color chart using the pigments from your current palette. The process will teach you more than any theory ever could.
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Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a neighboring secondary on the color wheel:
Red + Orange = Red-Orange Yellow + Orange = Yellow-Orange Yellow + Green = Yellow-Green Green + Blue = Blue-Green Blue + Violet = Blue-Violet Red + Violet = Red-Violet |
Tertiary colors give your palette sophistication, subtlety, and style.
Why they matter:
Tertiaries are the in-between tones — the soulful shades that make a painting feel rich and alive. These are the colors of shadows, petals, reflections, and atmosphere. They add depth. Mood. Movement.
Use them to:
Mix red and green (complementaries) in small amounts. Watch the subtle, earthy tertiaries emerge — moody and organic, perfect for shadows or quiet backgrounds.
Tertiary colors aren’t in your paint tubes — they’re in your mixing decisions. Mastering them is a sign of a confident, intentional artist.
Why they matter:
Tertiaries are the in-between tones — the soulful shades that make a painting feel rich and alive. These are the colors of shadows, petals, reflections, and atmosphere. They add depth. Mood. Movement.
Use them to:
- Transition smoothly between major hues
- Create complex color stories
- Add vibrancy without harsh contrast
- Push your palette beyond basic
Mix red and green (complementaries) in small amounts. Watch the subtle, earthy tertiaries emerge — moody and organic, perfect for shadows or quiet backgrounds.
Tertiary colors aren’t in your paint tubes — they’re in your mixing decisions. Mastering them is a sign of a confident, intentional artist.
Color Harmonies or Color Combinations
The most commonly used color combinations or harmonies are complementary, analogues, triad, tetradic.
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Complementary - 2 color combination
It can be any two colors found opposite of each other on the color wheel. This is always a very bright color combination with high contrast effect. The easiest way to train your eye and learn how to capture those color combinations would be in nature or in our every day life. Red and green would be an example of a complementary color harmony. We often see it in the Christmas tree decorated with red ornaments, red tomato or a strawberry have green leaves, etc. |
Analogous - 3 color combination
Using 3 colors located next to each other will give you more subtle choice, but it can lack the wow effect and seem monotonous. Using one of three the colors as dominant and other two as contrast colors is usually recommended. Tree foliage would be an example of an analogous color harmony with multiple shades of green in the Summer or red/orange in the Fall. Or a blue sky meeting blue water on the horizon line. |
Triad - 3 color combination
It can be any three colors evenly spaced out on the color wheel. This harmony always creates a vibrant effect. It can often be found in nature. Daisy flower for example has a stunning combination of purple, yellow and green. |
Tetradic (Rectangle) - 4 color combination
It can be any four colors evenly spaced out on the color wheel. Tetradic theme is very bold, rich and vibrant. Like with the other complex harmonies it works best if one of the four colors is dominating and the other three supporting it as details or accents. This color combination will also involve a balance between warm and cold colors. |
Color temperatures
Color wheel is also a great tool to help artists understand and differentiate between color temperatures. Knowing color temperatures is essential for creating well balanced art work and in achieving various psychological effects.
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WARM COLORS
If you look at the color wheel, all the colors (hues) from red through yellow are considered to be warm colors. The psychological effect of warm colors will make you feel warm or hot, like sun or fire do. Browns and tans would belong to warm colors category as well. Red violet Red Red orange Orange Orange yellow Yellow |
COOL COLORS
Colors (hues) from blue to purple – are cool colors. Water is cold and calm, it relaxes and calms you down. Keep this psychological affect of cool colors in mind when gravitating towards cool colors in your art work. Greys would be your cool colors too. Yellow green Green Blue green Blue Blue violet Violet |
On top of pure warm and cool colors we can have cool-warm color combinations. You can have warm greys and cool browns. Or we can have cool red – raspberry color vs traditional warm red (e.g. fire). Warm green would be lime color, cool green - emerald, etc.
Color vs hue, tint, shade and tone
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Term “color” is a general term which describes hue, tint, shade and tone.
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Hue – this would be all the pure colors you’d see on the color wheel (primary, secondary and tertiary) as the term “hue” refers to the dominant color family, to the origin of color human eyes and brain can distinguish. It’s a pure pigment without any additives (e.g. white or black)
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Tint – it’s a mix of pure hue and white. Tints are created when you need to lighten the color and make it less intense and may give you pastel effect.
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Shade – it’s a mix of pure hue and black. Shades will help you darken the color and make it richer. Shades allow for more dramatic effect of your art work.
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Tone – it’s a mix of pure hue and grey (black & white combined). Tones are somewhat similar to tint in making your color look duller and more subtle.
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Saturation and luminance of color
Color saturation is an indicator of the intensity and vividness of color. If the saturation is zero, you’d see no color, there’d only be white, grey or black.
Color luminance shows the amount of light and brightness in the color. It’s the degree of luminance which makes the color appear lighter or darker.
