Basic Color Theory

Mar 13

Colors are the heart of every watercolor painting.

They determine the mood of an image, create depth, and bring subjects to life.

In this article, you will learn the most important basics of color theory for watercolor painting—explained simply and ready to apply right away.

1. The Three Primary Colors: The Basis of All Mixtures

In color theory, there are three fundamental colors known as primary colors:

Red
Blue
Yellow

These three colors cannot be created by mixing other colors—they are the foundation for all other shades.

Watercolor paint manufacturers often indicate on their color charts which of their shades are closest to the primary colors.

For example, Schmincke suggests that their Cadmium Yellow Light is close to primary yellow, Cobalt Blue to primary blue, and Magenta to primary red.

The specific hue of a primary color you choose will influence your color mixing results.
For instance, a cool lemon yellow creates a brighter green than a warm cadmium yellow.

💡 Tip: Experiment with different shades of red, blue, and yellow to see how they mix.
This way, you’ll discover your personal favorite color combinations!

2. Secondary Colors: Mixing Two Primary Colors

By mixing two primary colors, you get the secondary colors:

Orange (Red + Yellow)
Green (Blue + Yellow)
Violet (Blue + Red)

But beware: not every mix results in a bright and vibrant secondary color!

The choice of shades makes a huge difference.

A cool blue (e.g., Cyan) mixed with a cool red (e.g., Magenta) results in a brilliant violet.
A warm blue (e.g., Ultramarine) mixed with a warm red (e.g., Vermilion) may create a more muted, earthy violet due to the yellow undertones in the red.

💡 Tip: Create a color chart where you test different mixtures.
This will help you understand your colors better!

3. Tertiary Colors: Exploring a World of Nuances

Tertiary colors are created when you mix a primary color with a neighboring secondary color.
This results in rich and varied shades such as:

Red-Orange
Yellow-Orange
Blue-Green
Yellow-Green
Red-Violet
Blue-Violet

These colors add more depth and harmony to your watercolor paintings, creating smooth transitions between the main colors.

In landscape paintings or portraits, tertiary colors often create more natural, lifelike effects.

💡 Tip: Try out different tertiary colors and observe how they behave in your painting.

A slightly toned-down tertiary shade often appears more harmonious than a pure primary or secondary color.

Conclusion: Just Give It a Try!

Color theory is not a rigid set of rules but a tool that you can use creatively.

By mixing different primary colors, experimenting with secondary colors, and discovering tertiary shades, you will develop a sense of your own watercolor palette’s possibilities.

🎨 Grab your watercolor paints and start your own color experiment!

🎨 Color theory made fun and easy! ✨