COLOR THEORY BASICS: Use the Color Wheel & Color Harmonies to Choose Colors that Work Well Together

Learn color theory and how to choose colors that work well together: with the color wheel, color harmonies and color palettes.
See the written version on the blog: sarahrenaeclar...
Get the PDF Workbook: sarahrenaeclar...
Get The Color Catalog that was mentioned in this video: sarahrenaeclar...
Have you ever wondered how some artists are able to find perfect color combinations that just seem to work, every time? In this video, I’m going to show you how to use the color wheel and color harmonies to choose color combinations that look GOOD.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
Basic color theory: What is the color wheel?
What are the primary colors?
What are secondary and tertiary colors?
What is the difference between hue, color saturation, color value, and color temperature?
What is the difference between warm red and cool red?
What are color harmonies?
What are monochromatic colors?
What are complementary colors?
What is a split-complementary color scheme?
What is a triadic color scheme?
What are tetradic colors?
What are analogous colors?
How can I use color harmonies to choose colors?
How can I use color palettes?
We’ll cover the 6 different types of color harmonies, including plenty of example color palettes:
1. Monochromatic colors
2. Complementary colors
3. Split-complementary colors
4. Triadic colors
5. Tetradic colors
6. Analogous colors
We’ll be using the traditional RYB color wheel throughout this video, with the primary colors Red, Yellow and Blue. There are other color wheels (RGB and CMY) that are often used for better color mixing, but the RYB color wheel is still the best for working with color harmonies.
If you want to take a deeper dive into the other color wheels and color theory, check out my next video here: • Controversial Color Th...
#sarahrenaeclark #colortheory #colorharmony
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Become a channel member: / @sarahrenaeclark
Join my free Facebook group: sarahrenaeclar...
Get a free coloring book: sarahrenaeclar...
/ sarahrenaeclark
/ sarahrenaeclark
/ sarahrenaeclark

[@indigokids88]

Love its like different hues you know like the green hue on a computer 🖥 😊

[@mortenlund1418]

Wow, just wow. How can you compress so much great information in such a comprehensive way. Thank you for this - thank you.

[@thecuriousdemeanour]

you’re really invested in this video

[@Theartloyalist]

Yes! I am a new art teacher and I could have never explained it this thoroughly in five minutes. Amazing!❤

[@cinderblockstudios]

Even as an experienced painter, I found this really refreshing to go back to listen to!

[@PichuElric]

This is going to be so helpful for not only drawing, but also determining what colours go well in an outfit! Thank you, you packed so much information into a clean cut video!

[@Portia620]

This is so true and something I never had the opportunity to learn but now I am!!!!

[@trapez77]

. [Brightest] / _WARM_ Yellow / / Orange Chartreuse / Red [Mid-Grey] Green / Magenta Cyan / / Blue _COOL_ / [Darkest] .

[@k.p.2706]

Thanks!

[@EthanMckennaMusic]

This is prolly out of left field, but I'm a songwriter and this is giving me new ideas for using the circle of 5ths like a color wheel. Very cool

[@hannahrose5739]

I too am a musician, but don't quite get the comparison with the circle of fifths. (What is it you're planning to do, may I ask?). However, one thing I got from being a musician that I apply to lettering (and I realize we're into color theory here, but maybe it applies, too) is: you probably have to "see" something BEFORE you create it on paper, just like a musician "hears" a note before it's played/sung. How do you see that?

[@vocalchords3609]

To add a dollop of encouragement, absolutely right and in fact extend further into modes within a given key and the parallels extend also. You and I know that the choice of key is massively important to the look and feel of what a composer is seeking to 'say' or the emotional context. I am giving a lecture very soon with a Clinical Psychologist who includes in her clinical practice - Art Therapy. She and I will be co-operating between colours, colour harmonies, dissonance - using examples from the world of the French Impressionists (composers and artists). In other words Ethan - go and have more fun with the Circle of 5ths! Endless jot in the creative process. ATB

[@eileenjake5603]

Absolutely cool. It’s all connected…the values of color, the values of musical chords…can be scientifically assigned and measured and plotted , and what we see are the patterns of the universe. You’re an artist.

[@arlenethude]

What is prolly?

[@eileenjake5603]

@@arlenethude slang for “probably”

[@katewaters5092]

Very well explained. Thank you. I have been learning to quilt for about a year now and always have trouble with this. I rarely use more than a few colors because I want things to look right. You simplified it so I could understand. 😊

[@katewaters5092]

Update: Purchased your Color Theory book.😊

[@EDISON-n2l]

Hey can you share with me as well?

[@katewaters5092]

I went to her website.

[@d4rkuniverse_224]

She is the art teacher we all needed but never had

[@pictures4urears]

Thank you

[@alexb6040]

Yea one time I painted this vase with flowers and it came out really good. I showed my art teacher and she accused me of cheating by making my mom paint it. I was in 7th grade. You suck Ms. Fasset!

[@MichealSeaghdha]

If voices were colours, yours would be bright and vivid and undoubtedly part of a wonderful colour scheme. That was a brilliant explanation and the visuals were helpful, interesting and terrific. Thank you!

[@jmminion9870]

THIS IS THE BEST, SIMPLE YET COMPREHENSIVE AND CREATIVE WAY OF DISCUSSING COLOR THEORY🥰🥰🥰 I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING JUST IN 7 MINUTES 💕

[@trapez77]

. [Brightest] / _WARM_ Yellow / / Orange Chartreuse / Red [Mid-Grey] Green / Magenta Cyan / / Blue _COOL_ / [Darkest] .

[@drviagrin3798]

I'll second that!

[@stephierwjones]

I TOTALLY, TOTALLY AGREE!!!! I love it when I learn something and I just did with this one.

[@projectiledreamz]

Blown away by the simplicity in the explanation!

[@PeacockPigment]

In scrapbooking, color matching is always the hardest thing for me! I'm going to try referencing these various color wheels. Thank you for the tips!

[@realMartinHamilton]

The best video on the basics and foundational building blocks of actionable uses of color coordination. Thank you!

[@silver10188]

can't thank you enough, I'm a mobile app developer who deals with colors a lot, I always resort to color sites for inspirations, but now I have new way to look at it.

[@nathaliacalmon]

Totally the best explanation on the subject I've seen so far. I feel I'll never forget it anymore :o Thank you!!

[@carlsonedwincreated]

So far the best color lesson i have ever watched in KZbin, every explanation is on point. Thanks..

[@lauzthorbzarella4655]

I am amazed by a lot of these comments. Colour theory is what I always go by for interior, fashion etc. The colour wheel book was one of my favourites to look at when visiting boring DIY stores with my parents as a kid. It's a pity that preschools and early years primary schools don't use this as part of education. So much can be achieved by this knowledge in various industries. I'm a home educator, this video is simple for my little ones to learn. I love wowing friends with colours they would never believe go together. This video is simply going to educate them. Thank you. I love it.

[@theHoneyandAbsinthe]

This is so important for beginner creatives to learn and experienced ones to review! Awesome video!

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Thanks! It helped me to review it too as I was making it 😝

[@michiganlighthouse]

So true. I thought I knew color wheel just fine, but I didn't know as much as I thought I did. So helpful. Theory goes a long way when presented like this.

[@mosesjoe3763]

​@@SarahRenaeClark The "Achromatic color scheme" is a line of dark and light grays ranging from black to white, and is locatated in the center of the color wheel... It's my favorite color scheme... ⚫️⚪️🖤🤍 🤩 Monochromatic = Only One Hue/Color ⚫️🔴⚪️ Achromatic = No Hue/Color ⚫️⚪️

[@eamoroso56]

Thank you, I’ve always struggled with color with all crafts, knitting crocheting, quilting and now jewelry beading.

[@bonniek356]

This was so helpful! I needed the reminder about color harmonies. I’m a painter so I use these principles daily in the back of my mind, but I love videos like this one that remind me to use colors intentionally.

[@cocostub]

this is probably my favorite video i’ve discovered in ages. I’m a visual person and the graphics in this video are just amazing!!!!

[@173jaSon371]

Been doing photography, specifically wildlife with a spritz of nature/landscapes mixed in for a couple of years now. I'm always trying to learn more and think about things from other angles and perspectives to improve my work, and this video just blew my mind. Obviously it can be a bit tougher to incorporate specific colors into every photo than it is for an artist to just make another color on their wheel, but I still took a lot away from such a short and concise video. Now that it's spring, I've been focusing a lot more on getting a nice array of colors in my images to improve the dynamic range of them, which makes them more visually appealing most of the time. Going to be coming back to this one a number of times to refresh on it.

[@BNJewelryandArtwork]

As a hair colorist for the last 30 years I can totally relate to this. I use this for my jewelry and paintings as well.

[@skylovecraft2491]

I watch A LOT of artist KZbinrs for tips and tutorials, reviews and unboxing and you are my absolute FAVORITE by far!! I really trust you and your art is just fantastic!💖

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Yay! Thank you!

[@maryzwolak7960]

Thank so much Sarah. I am a color theory newbie even though 69 years old I’ve never had any instruction. I feel that with your videos and questions that you I have answered for me that I just might be learning something thank you so much again.

[@SarahRenaeClark]

I’ve also created an E-Book and worksheets you can use! sarahrenaeclark.com/shop/color-theory-for-beginners/ And watch my new video on Advanced Color Theory here where I talk more about CMY vs RYB color wheel debate: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4O0nolqjb6gp6s

[@craigdurso3005]

Sir Issac Newton is surely humbled by taking something seemingly so complex and rendering it in such simple terms ... take a deep bow and thank you 👍

[@castilloaragonesluis]

thank you Sarah! today, i start as beginner, and i feel more confident on how to use the colors and how to mixed them. now it's practice.

[@JonathanHernandez-wz2ul]

Why does she have such a good voice over voice? It’s like beyond professional

[@annaelle_d]

Thank you for your explanations. I just want to say that (5:26) these colors "work"... to create a disharmonious or chaotic sensation, which is sometimes what we want to represent. The context or goal of our paintings is really essential in the selection of the palette. And you give really practical advices to ease this process. I've subscribed to your channel 🙂

[@victoriabarclay3556]

I never learned the wheel. It was always mysterious to me. This is so helpful! I’m. Be rewatching this a lot

[@MZZ0797]

Your explanation of the color wheel was just the help I needed for new looks in my wardrobe! Thank you for putting such a great video together!

[@libbyhime1702]

Wow. As an artist, I never knew any of this but I intuitively picked up on monochromatic, complementary and analogous colours. Now I learned of three more. Thank you.

[@SmilingBinaryCode-ug5zz]

Informative, enlightening. Thanks

[@keithaguilar1354]

Excellent Video. One of the best out there. Will be using in my classroom. Just the right amount of information without the video being too long for all the short attention spans I have to deal with.

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SICresinwrks]

You nailed this vid, ive seen so many people in school, here on yt and irl talk about the color wheel and over complicate it, you made a nice clear and very helpful video for beginners and anyone that just wants to refresh their memory.

[@YuliaTarbath]

Thank you for explaining it so well with great visualization! Hope to start using it!

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Yulia Tarbath thank you!

[@janalewis-sands5185]

One of the best color theory videos ever! I loved the simple explanations paired with visuals: You made it so easy to understand and am inspired to incorporate not only in my art, but applying to the flower combinations outside ! I'm so glad this video came across my feed!!!

[@HairsbychristineFrank]

I’ve looked at a ton of videos, but this one is very clean and concise! Love it

[@nopenah2957]

BEST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ALL COLORS ONE COULD GATHER . THANKS A LOT .

[@seunkoleosho5672]

I watched this video about a year ago on another site for my exams which helped me a lot. Now I'm seeing it here and I'm shocked because I've been subscribed to you before that and I didn't know you were the one! OMG!

[@changchesserly7591]

What a well explained and easy to understand tutorial! Thanks for dymysifying color therapy in a simple way ... 💕

[@AvalynGirl]

Best explanation I have seen for this EVER. Thank you!

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Thank you!

[@youtubewithlouis50]

My teacher use this video to explain us about the color theory and I was trying to find it now its 1 day before art exam glad i found it the video is very simple but very useful keep up the amazing work.

[@mobinphotography7163]

Thank u so much for this great valuable information ❤❤ Thanks a Lot

[@EricPham-gr8pg]

Thanks. This is one of tge most clear and comprehensive presentation in the subject... Worth million views...

[@ariellenahh]

this is soo helpful!!

[@murielbarry3766]

I just cataract surgery on my left eye, and I am still amazed at the beautiful colors. Now I realize why my quilts were so mellow, for wont of a better word.

[@idkwhatimdoing..]

Just 5 minutes ago I was upset because I had no idea how colors worked And I opened youtube. This was the first video that popped up In my reccomended. And it has been so useful!!! Thank you so much

[@Aimz360]

I have watched a handful of colour theory videos and this is the only one so far that made sense and i learned at least 3 more different variations like split and whatever that analgamous thing was. This was really helpful for someone like me, i have autism and i struggle to understand certain things but like i said this was easier for me to understand.

[@SarahRenaeClark]

I’m so glad it was helpful!

[@viviwilhelmsson307]

Finally a video with all the concepts! Now my confusion can probably be cleared up! Many thanks!

[@ikechukwukingsley2534]

This is a very power key for colour use in graphics design. Splendid. Kudos @Sarah Renae Clark.

[@Couchwanderlust]

Finally! So far the simplest breakdown of this information. I have been struggling so much understanding this. ❤️ Could you also make a video to help understand color mixing?

[@marvinm8446]

Beautiful color wheel 🌈💙💚💛💜🩷🩶🩵🧡❤️

[@MaxxRemKing1]

Thanks to this video, this is the first time I’ve ever felt like I can understand color theory!

[@vaishalikaushish]

Thanks for reminding me of my first designing class as a fashion student it's helped me a lot then and even now too a fine refresher.

[@yunelle]

Wow, even as a more advanced artist, I've learned a lot here... So much information in such a short, coherent and well-paced video, amazing!!

[@yialn]

I've watched all the color theory videos on youtube , and i can tell this one is the best. Great job 👌🏻

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Thanks Aylin!

[@markprecious]

All this time I spent wondering why my stuff wasn’t quite right despite my hard work on getting accurate form and good composition. Thank you for the concise and precise explanation!

[@pranjalshelar3830]

Best color Harmony video on KZbin... I wandered a lot... Thank you

[@douba_plusa]

This was so clear and helpful! I’m making a booklet with images and information about my diet to share with family/family friends as my health now requires a pretty restrictive diet. They want to help and I wanted to present everything in a clear, but visually appealing way. I especially loved the explanation of color relationships as I hadn’t heard of a lot of them before

[@tamekabarnes8538]

Wow! Very informative video! I never knew Issac Newton created the color wheel. You learn something new everyday! This give me so much coloring inspiration

[@jesguerra6914]

I love colors but I don’t know how to combine or what is best for that colour until I watched your video. In a short time I learned a lot.

[@Desireshoping]

Excellent and useful explanation

[@downloadiam4874]

Oh my god. You helped me a lot. Im always confused abt what colors I should use when I did my scrapbook and it took me a lot of time. Now I can choose more quickly and the colors will be well organized. Thank you 🌼🌼🌼

[@carolbell8008]

There are some trained individuals whom can identify the tone of one’s skin and give you a wallet of each of your colors for reference and they all match or enhance each other. Its removes guess work and everything can make an outfit. Its the best thing ever. And you look good in them all.

[@MlovesYT]

Hi Sarah, came along this vid of yours on YT and very glad with it! It's very useful and not so difficult and long :) One of the most difficult things I find when lettering is the colours (and embellishments) to choose!

[@SarahRenaeClark]

If you do lettering and need help with colors, you might also enjoy my Color Catalog 😉

[@adrianwilliams763]

The best explanation I’ve heard. This video is a keeper.

[@sarahbrowett1371]

Wow, I've been waiting years to understand colours in this amazing clear educational video... #grateful thank you!!!

[@runrgrl35]

Geez...your 7 min. lesson on the color wheel and color theory was easier to understand than the 4 hr. class I took on color theory. Thanks

[@BTS-4eva]

My art teacher is forcing me to watch this

[@rage8673]

Your teacher is great if he/she is making you watch interactive videos to teach Instead of being ignorant teaching like he has 0 motivation.

[@BTS-4eva]

@@rage8673 nah man we just watch this everday and she just lets us play on our phones we do nothing i wish we did actual projects

[@ammarabbasy1130]

Same 😂

[@lillyrose1422]

Awww...😢😂😂😂

[@montemccall910]

if it doesn't come natural this video is a great learning experience keep going there is much to explore, endless creation

[@seeker3983]

you really deserve a prize or reward for this video Alone. its just too perfect

[@LisaB_12204]

Thank you for demystifying why I like specific color combinations.

[@Sensydon1538]

Kudos to you for this one!! I can only imagine the time and effort that went into it...

[@Ar.Ankit_Verma]

Thank you 1000x, I have watched a lot of videos, book, architectural faculty, designer’s guide but nothing worked for me, this video solved everything, really thank you so much again🙏

[@lilmuffin4834]

omg this finally is what i needed, every color theory tutorial only tells you basics on color mixing and not the things that you actually should know that nobody shows, thanks sarah once again

[@KG-zk3pv]

WOW!! Thank you for finally clearing up, definitively and succinctly, one of biggest mysteries in my ability to apply colour combinations for so many purposes. SO grateful.

[@suebungay58]

This video was so easy to follow and very informative. I have absolutely no idea how to color coordinate and this has really helped solve that problem. Thank you so much.

[@kcinosmmd4836]

No no no, you must be an heaven-sent 😍, I was struggling about this subject for a long and guess what, I found your video. Thank you!

[@ReynaThePalisman]

Finally watched this after watching you for years I started drawing realism a couple years ago but I need help color picking now

[@אורנהאברוצקי]

תודה!

[@noushinrafia9593]

ATE. Thankyou for the video. It inspired me to start working and trying atleast a few times more after messing up colours and almost giving it up. Just the needed information!! ❤

[@shirobeju7896]

Best explanation of color wheel I ever seen. Thanks so much!

[@dispirited_official]

I'm not a painter or drawer, but I make jewelry as a side job. This is so useful for making beads color combos!

[@eloisabarretodesigns]

This is THE BEST explanation video of Color Theory I’ve ever seen!!!!! Thank you!!!

[@YesToTech]

Loved learning more about the color wheel! This is super interesting! Thanks so much for sharing! Subscribed and can't wait to watch more! :)

[@SarahRenaeClark]

Thank you!

[@ramachandrananantharaman8809]

Omg.. such an informative video... The way you speak nd the way u explain and the content , it just wow...!! Love the vdo.. and now clear about colours... Love from India ♥️

[@PCGEEK2024]

This was a clear explanation of colour. Thanks for your video.

[@crazymomcraftsalot6351]

Seriously BEST EVER!!!! Wish i had this when i first started 20 years ago but i'm excited to share with my young son who is a budding artist 👨🏼‍🎨

[@bigjeff2491]

Really good color theory video that explains it concisely and shows simple graphics along with it. Easily digestible, not showing any complex examples to try and show how the color palette types are implemented. I get that this is more for website/brand design, but it applies to illustrations and animations just as much as it does for website design.

[@TND12]

Nope literally just talks abt the basic but neve bring up how to actually use em based on value n never brought up how to shade em

[@TheArtRoll]

Hi! I recently started my own Art channel called The Art Roll and have just hit 150 subscribers! This was so refreshing to hear and I watch this at least once a week just to refresh my memory on the subject! Thank you so much for this amazing video!

[@maisiecat71]

Excellent comprehensive video Sarah. Thank you. ❤

[@aida087]

I LOVE learning about "color theory!!"❤️🥰

[@sahasram5526]

the information is so good. i a mso excited for trying the harmones. am sure my work will look 100 time better after these tips

[@watrgrl2]

Wow! This was wonderful Sarah!

[@lorayapp375]

This is the best color theory explanation that I have ever seen. Thank you.

[@teslasuperdestinations]

wow! rosetta stone of color use! I had hobby of painting and customizing star wars x-wing miniatures (small spaceships) . . . with many other like minded hobbyists . . . one hobbyist "Force Majeure" had THE BEST color schemes on his starships, because he mastered color theory . . . I knew he was following patterns, because every one of his work was a masterpiece . . . now I know how he did it! thanks!

[@SJ-dl6uc]

technical teaching is usually lacking from the different KZbin tutorial or production spheres. pls keep up your teaching vids. reducing costs and expenses through education is invaluable in art. art supplies are so freaken expensive ❤️

[@peanuttheyorkie]

The simple and core video to learn about colours!

[@judithfernandes9279]

Thank you for creating such a simple to understand comprehensive video on color theory.