Why Do Artists Use Color in the Way They Do?

Imagine you're painting a picture of the sea. If you use blue, it looks calm and peaceful. But if you mix in some reds or oranges, it might look like the sun is setting, exciting and warm! Artists choose colors to help tell stories and make people feel things.

Take the quiz →

Examples

A red apple looks more vivid when placed next to a green leaf.
A sunset painting uses oranges and purples to make the sky look warm and inviting.
Blue is used in calm scenes like oceans or night skies.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Art · color theory,art techniques,visual perception