Color Theory for BEGINNERS + How to ACTUALLY use it in Digital Painting

[@DrStrangechilde]

WOW. If this had been the first video I had ever seen about digital painting, it would have coloured (see what I did there) every study I ever did... this is such valuable advice and the way you have presented it here makes it easy to understand. It is a perfect complement to your art course; I think I'll have to go watch that again now (if anyone is reading the comments and thinking about getting Mikko's Art Course-- go on, get it, you won't regret it). Thank you so much for this! And if you feel like talking more about colour I will be ready to watch and listen!

[@RosenRotInk]

I did the art course and got so much value out of this. :D Best thing I could do. And I agree with you: this video fits perfect to the course. :)

[@woodd0who]

I wish my art professors explained it this way. This made a lot of sense. I am also colorblind, it makes the colors that I see washed out and dull. I compensate by bumping up the contrast. Thank you

[@thistlecourtney8495]

I am trying to learn illustration at 35+ years old because I want a career change but can’t afford University. This video was amazing! I would be willing to listen to any and all advice you have on the subject of color or any topic related to illustration. This was so eye-opening, thank you!

[@UnrealSoundDesigner]

DUDE..... the thing about decorating the house just made SO MUCH SENSE in my head.... woooow... i've seen almost all your videos and this just made so many things click omg

[@ravizzle]

I love all your tips! One of my HUGE struggles is exactly what you said “it looks like a coloring book”. I’m going to try a single color to see what results I get. ❤

[@angrymikko]

You can do it! After that analogous colours are always a good way to learn how to use any individual hue. I often use that palette when I’m having trouble with any particular colour. That’s how I learned to paint with purple btw. It’s tricky at first but it’s every time super effective.

[@ravizzle]

@@angrymikko I will tag you with the result on Instagram. I am then going to purchase your class. I really enjoy the mindfulness that you put into the art. It's truly beautiful.

[@PaulaBean]

LOL I'm still painting like a coloring book. With a ink brush I make a rough design which I then color in using watercolor. I like how watercolor paints work.

[@ravizzle]

@@PaulaBean are you a traditional artist? I always struggled with watercolors because the colors would bleed together lol - cause I would be impatient and not let them dry. Especially when painting skies because what happens when you mix blue and yellow together? GREEN. 🤣🤣☠️

[@PaulaBean]

@@ravizzle I use a hair dryer in between.

[@sashimiart2214]

Digital animation student here! This video has helped a ton!!

[@angrymikko]

Glad to hear that :)

This is fantastic, thank you! Eager to try out the painting exercises you mentioned and I'd love to see a more in-depth video on color theory as well :D

[@angrymikko]

If there’s enough demand for it that would be an interesting topic for me to get into. I’d love to show how to do one of these exercises in practice.

[@GardrexArts]

Mikko... you actually just made me cry! I am listening to the first video in your Breakdown of Sky Academy on Gumroad. Toward the end, you mentioned hours of staring at the painting. I felt very validated (I do so much of that and feel like I am procrastinating or wasting time). But then you mentioned unfinished paintings and patience and so on, and it struck such a chord with me that I got emotional. I have a terrible habit of leaving my art unfinished. I think it is out of fear (like if I leave it unfinished, I always have a good excuse for why it doesn't look good). Thank you for sharing your art and wisdom with all of us. I have learned so much so far.

[@koduje]

How come you only have 183K subs? The amount of work you've put into your craft and to build this youtube channel is insane. Knowledge sharing is not something that everyone can do well either. For me you tick all the boxes and I wish you to bypass a 1M count asap, you definitely deserve that! Truly beautiful job.

[@richalvarezfan101]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS VIDEO!! I'm at a technical college for animation and I'm also very new to digital paint processes in general. My school focuses more on teaching us how to use programs and animation principles vs. more of a "traditional/fundamental" art approach. We are currently working on storyboards and I'm doing a forest scene at night and have been struggling with finding a way to get started due to finding the right colors/rendering pieces. The composition color tips helped so much :)

[@raxxie]

I've watched SO many videos about colour but this was the first one explained this way. I feel like I know how to practice now!

[@TatiQ0]

This is definitely the most useful colour theory I’ve learned! Just hearing about the basics (complementary colours, harmonies, etc) doesn’t really explain how to make them impact your composition and mood to the same degree as this. It’s really much more simple and something memorable that I can apply to my art. Thank you, Mikko ! ❤❤ (edit because not enough k’s in Mikko, oops!)

[@scarsound]

I LOVE these tips! It never occurred to me to put a base colour to capture the mood first before drawing… White truly is distracting and can make me feel desperate to have to fill it in somehow. I’m gonna take this advice to heart and start putting a “base” colour first. Thank you so much! 🤍

[@AnotherBrainArt]

I don’t entirely understand color magnets yet. This is the first time I’ve heard of them. This definitely helped me look at colors differently so maybe not just picking a palette first, but moving dynamically. I’m still trying to learn to incorporate texture. For a time (years) I was art blocked, so I used AI (before AI made actual pictures, it was really just colorful blobs and dots all over the page in wombo app) then I’d just try to see what I could visualize in the “scene” of blobbies to make a painting over it and with the colors. I still struggle with laying down base colors. I’m hoping this is something I can improve on to make my paintings into something real. I have no idea what message I even want to convey yet, just that I love weird cute things and worlds. You’re one the most inspirational artists I’ve watched and your lessons are important to this not so young artist.

[@colorwithkurt]

This is gold. I've been talking about color on KZbin for ten years. I can retire now.

[@darkknight4353]

My mind just blew away... I have seen so many color theory videos but you are right.. they are not beginners friendly. What you just explained is a soul answer to what I was looking for this whole time. The answer is really simple.. to guide the eye... Thank you

[@Gr3ml1na]

Thank you for all this golden knowledge, all for free in a world that chases money only. We need more people like you in the world.

[@andrea15026]

This was so helpful, my only regret is not coming across this video sooner, haha!! I knew this video was going to be good when you said you weren't going to go over the color wheel, because that is 100% what most tutorial videos talk about (which is useful, but only to a certain extent). This was the first video I have seen talking about guiding the eye and such that really made sense to me. Many thanks!

[@angrymikko]

IDEA FACTORY sessions start on membership on Saturday Morning. These are intense painting exercises that the group will do together for 5 days. For all the details, join the channel and check the latest community post for details and share your results on our Discord server (link in the community post). Cozy Landscapes -brush set is now downloadable for everyone who has joined the channel. (+crystal brushes!) Simply locate the download package in the community posts or on Discord announcements. Download links are available for 30 days, so if you’re reading this a month from now, there’s probably another download package available or about to be released soon. 🐻 Let’s appreciate the Mob for making videos like these possible. They are the ones keeping the lights on here. 👏🏻

[@jorgefernanmunoz]

Hi! I can't find were the brush set is avaliable, can you help me?

[@angrymikko]

@@jorgefernanmunozthe downloads are for channel members. Membership includes tutorials, art challenges, feedback sessions, livestreams, downloads and discord access. The content changes depending on what we’re working on and what my schedule allows between making visits such as this one ☝️🐻 A lot of people have commented on how it’s nice that these videos are free. I’d like to remind everyone that it’s the members who make these videos possible. Otherwise I would have to spend way more time on client projects instead of producing new videos here. Don’t thank me thank the angry mob ❤

[@BuranStrannik]

For a beginner, this is eye opening, thanks!

[@RobMillwardPodgekins88]

I’m normally just a graphite portrait on paper Artist but I still found this very interesting and will try using it in a colour piece at some point!

[@angrymikko]

Contrast works the same way in black and white too colour adds just another dimension to it on how much tension there is between the hues.

[@Kira_works0]

He truly deserves millions of subscribers ❤

[@tomkitbumrung3972]

I love your way of teaching. Love how you bring awareness to the thinking process. Thanks heaps.

[@AwakenedBuildsLynxSchool-vf9yw]

Your advices are so valuable. Your channel should be way more popular I hope many people will find you bc way how you explain things is the most detailed what I saw from such a long time. I wish your channel huge succes and thank you for your video

[@Kuonot]

This is probably the best video of colour theory I've ever seen in KZbin. Thank you for these high quality videos!

[@shoyrushoyru]

Thanks, that was beautifully explained. I can't say I have tried or understand all of it in practice, but it's definitely a less-pressure approach to something as soul-destroying as attempting to pursue art when you can't figure out why nothing works the way you want or had hoped.

[@royuu6551]

YOU R A GOOD TEACHER !!! yes pls let’s deg deeper into colours

[@nadavadiv]

This is some high quality content! I am definitely interested in learning more about this topic. It would be really great to be shown some specific exercises to practice these skills to get a practical understanding of all these concepts you introduce me to! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, plese keep it up !

[@dplj4428]

Thank you for sharing these ideas. For me, now, seeing how color and contrasts are just as much a part of composition, not just about linear elements like focal points on the horizon, or foreground, draftsman-centric elements. And it takes me back to sketches and thumbnails for trying on different looks.

[@MrsLolylolapop]

I still have to apply these advices, but this video helped me change my perspective a lot 😊

[@angrymikko]

Perfect that’s my work done here then 🐻 I’m going to do the exercises too because they aren’t just good practices but combined with these 2 ideas they also work as efficient templates for paintings that have a lot of visual impact.

[@OTTERSandKNIVES]

hey its me again! Id very much appreciate that second video on color! Your videos are keeping me busy while I'm healing lol!

[@carl10x]

Started taking your course on gum road on clouds and this is the first time I've felt that I've encountered a teacher someone had it down to a formula on how to pick up art. Clouds are very approachable, as hello world is to programing or as donuts are to 3d art.

[@UncleBoobieCosmicOverlord]

Dude you are a Jedi master. You're the Yoda of art. Mind blown!

[@acerniss]

This is amazing. Your videos have been so helpful in helping get started with digital art, and I cannot believe that I haven’t found you before. Thank you.

[@angrymikko]

I’m glad I found you too 🐻

[@Taiyri]

Thank you for this! I would be very interested to see the follow-up video about the types of color harmonies as well!!

[@angrymikko]

My pleasure, I’ll make it happen when I have a suitable painting for it. The next one is about composition but it’s also a really important topic that I wanted to write about.

[@RosenRotInk]

this came right in time. :) I have so many images in my head, but I struggle with translating it most of the time. Choosing colour is kind of difficult for me and I don't know why. As a grafic designer I know all the basics, but fail to use them in my illustrations. It's strange, so it would be great if you could do more videos on colours and translating headimages to canvas. :D I like to try intuitive painting, maybe I'm to cramped while working. But first I'll do your art course. Kiitos for that. :D I'm all in for whimsycal and crazy clouds and faszinating heavens. It's one of my trademarks. Greetings from Germany Anke

[@angrymikko]

I understand that intuitive painting might be a bit more difficult for someone coming from a graphic design background. It is however worth pushing past the initial discomfort because it can be such an incredible insight into how you see things when there’s no plan behind it. I think it’s worth making more videos on colour but this is one of those topics I’m really glad I got on a video. I think a lot of traditional art teaching jumps into the deep end way too soon and I’m also guilty of doing that in the beginning. The good thing about teaching art for so long is that I’ve had the opportunity to learn about how students learn things and it’s because of that experience alone that I was able to pinpoint this topic as it’s own lesson.

[@RosenRotInk]

@@angrymikko Thanks for your words :) I totally understand your point. And in my opinion this video about colour was the best advice we can get, because there is so much information about colour out there, that it overwhelms you. I surely will watch this video a few more times, to really get into this topic. And then there is only one thing for me: learning by doing. ;)

[@ConfuzzledOwO]

To me this is still sorcery. I feel so lost when it comes to colour and deciding what technique to use. When I’m trying to paint properly with light and everything, it’s like there’s a disconnect between the actual colour of the subject matter and the light reflecting off of it and it makes my brain confused. It’s interesting you bring up lineart and coloring. I find I’m more successful with painting when I don’t have a sketch or lineart because I’m forced to build up with light and color to turn it into the subject matter rather than having the idea in my head of what the subject matter color is when I have it all laid out on the page already nicely lined. It’s frustrating I want to master this but it can be hard and confusing at times

[@queldar27]

In oils, I get precious about my initial colors, because I am afraid I won't be able to mix them again. It's definitely a challenge to trust the process and to keep working the painting until it's "done".

[@sarahanderson4498]

Thank you for your insights. You explain things so well. I’d love to see more videos on color.

[@angrymikko]

Thank you! Will do! I’ll just consider this as foundational content for the future. This is definitely the video I will refer to beginners in the future. For me this was a great reminder of fundamentals as well and I was able to solve a few paintings I was working on by just applying these 2 rules to them paintings I had trouble with.

[@icefireobsidian7490]

As a watercolour artist I have to pre plan a lot so my layers don’t turn muddy. I like this view pint on this subject. I never truly analyzed what I was doing when building layers. I will save this video as a ref when I’m not 100% happy of a piece I’m working on. Thank you 😊

[@angrymikko]

Glad it was helpful! Watercolours do indeed need planning from the start and all papers have a maximum limit to how much you can wash off in case things go wrong. 🐾

[@OlivesD]

Thank you for this video! I hope you'll make more videos to expand on this subject. You truly have a way of teaching that breaks down complex topics and makes them digestible and enjoyable!

[@Mess.3-Jess]

Would really love a more in depth video regarding colour theory with the different harmonies please.. it would help me a lot

[@angrymikko]

The second part with the colour exercise and free downloads to do it is already here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/roGTkHd-j7qeebssi=Po3aheS8qJiuPLdh

[@pambweeddurant2061]

As someone who just started to get to know digital art, this is very helpful. I am so glad that I came across your videos first. Its very informative, straightforward and clear. Will watch for more. Thank you so much and looking for more insights from you soon. 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@kasiako355]

What a gem! Thank you for the awesome teachings! 💖

[@angrymikko]

My pleasure 🐻 Teaching is always learning and this was a great opportunity to go over the fundamentals myself. These exercises are not only good for beginners, but they’re great for anyone doing a painting. Especially when you want to have a lot of visa impact in the end result.

[@nahbruh991]

this is one of the best videos about color theory, subscribed 🔥

[@angrymikko]

Awesome, thank you!

[@kendrachu]

I would love to see more videos on magnets and color harmony!

[@lirio2415]

That was the most useful video about coloring I've seen ever

[@RayGalactic]

Thank you so much! This is one of the best tutorials I have seen!

[@letajicicmelacek983]

Thank you so much for this video i wanted to learn color theory for ages

[@angrymikko]

Glad it was helpful! It’s not that complicated when you focus on these 2 core principles. Whatever the harmony you’re using in your piece is really just a flavour that shouldn’t override the message of your piece. I’d be happy to make more videos on this if that’s something people want to see.

[@Nhatlan93]

Best art lesson I've ever learned. Great explaination. Thanks a lot for your effort.

[@marinabarbosa227]

As always, your content is amazing!! Thank you!! And I'd love to see the video about the colour harmonies in more depth

[@celuthien]

WHOA these tips are incredible and opened my eyes so much, thank you for this!!

[@wcvideo1]

Hi, I have been watching your channel for a while now and it inspired me to do Digital art. I have one question how can we paint buildings in Procreate like the Medieval villages. (added) Revisiting 2024 I am still doing digital art and I have learned a lot when it comes to digital art at the beginning I used to just color and see what happens. Most of the time it works but understanding the key point of the painting brings the painting more to life. Having the key elements of color and an understanding of perspective helps with giving more character to the painting. I enjoy watching your videos while painting my own artwork. Have a great 2024!

[@mpwlsn]

Thank you so much for making these videos mikko! Your art is inspiring and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to watch and learn from you. Many thanks from Canada ❤

[@marks2708]

please make a video about color harmonies Mikko!

[@angrymikko]

Seems like few people are asking for this so I have to think about it. Yt is not meant for sequential content but this video really should be watched first before one. I guess I could always just link to this in the beginning and trust people to be adults about the viewing order tip. 🧐

[@Nominokoni]

This is really good man, I wanna live in that world. Hits the spot for the real definition of fantasy 🔥

[@JackJenkins]

So helpful; thank you, Mikko. Your way of presenting this material is extremely interesting and helpful. And, yes, more please!

[@theheartofnelly]

This is really so helpful Mikko ❤ Thank you so much! I would love more videos with this topic! And now I’ll try your suggestions 😊

[@ThedGrill]

Oh man I always love to learn from you! Big inspiration!

[@sukhadavk30]

Ur art always inspire me..I would love to know more about colors..do make videos on this topic

[@angrymikko]

The next video I’m currently working on is a follow up to this on how to learn colour.

[@kindbutangry]

Oooh, so cute doggo in the end!! 😍paljon rapsutuksia!

[@angrymikko]

Rapsutukset meni perille 🐕💖

[@LBofcourse]

Loaded with useful information. Thank you!

[@FPChris]

I see a lot of artists on Threads that “render” full detail from one corner to another. It is so limiting. You are committed that 5% in the top corner you started with.

[@PaulaBean]

This was very enlightening, thanks for this video!

[@angrymikko]

Feels great to have this information finally out on this channel because I often run into situations during feedback sessions where it would have been helpful to have this to link to.

[@Key-ze4fq]

This inspired me so much, thank you. I look forward to more videos.

[@concettooniro-artsandtales3673]

Thank you Mikko! Always inspiring and useful information !

[@rosita061]

Wow, I’m inspired! Thank you!

[@ZzZaez-u1z]

Best and easiest vid ever about color theory 🎉❤

[@ricardoordonezmartinez3413]

Very interesting! Absolutely, I will wait for your colour theory video, hope you can spare some time for it 😃

[@elinhogalvao1711]

Wow, some amazing tips on this video! Thanks very much!

[@spoockybro]

Awesome guide and art piece!

[@kevinsmithfox4614]

Very helpful video! Thank you so much!

[@Knowledge-College]

Yes more on color theory please!

[@High_o_pie]

Hi. This is an awesome Video. I really think i learned a valuable lesson that i have never heard before. Thanks very much :)

[@VerenesCreativeGirlcave]

I love this, thanks Mikko! Please make more videos on color theory.

[@dgreeky]

I love using color and ive been trying to use minimum colors. But damn… color theory is hard!!! 😩

[@carpyet9507]

More of these types of videos please!!

[@veronika4870]

This really helped, thank you!!!

[@phillipasuckling4261]

Wow, this is such a great video! Thanks ❤️

[@Nisaaaaaaa23]

Thank you very much for your insight sir !!! This is very helpful for me ❤

[@megandd1797]

Excellent! Very helpful. Thank you!

[@letterzlavion]

Great Video ✨ I learn a lot from your videos, thank you so much!

[@paramparekh6278]

Thanks,pls more video on color harmony

[@lwa6115]

Very enlightening! Thank you❤

[@zpurplex]

Could you share more about the editing process in the end?

[@angrymikko]

The livestream already covers that entire editing process in real time with hot key prompts and everything from start to finish so I don’t know what else to add that hasn’t already been presented in a better format. If anyone has good ideas for videos on editing I’d be happy to make one. I did ask on a poll if people would like to see that process in a live and the vote overwhelmingly was saying “no” so for that reason I made it as a membership exclusive. Knowingly making content that people don’t want to see here would hurt the channel so I that’s one consideration that I can’t just ignore. Keeping the channel alive makes free videos like these possible. I hope you understand.

[@zpurplex]

@@angrymikko of course! I love your channel and appreciate all your thoughts on painting. It's much more intuitive than most art channels and more in line with how I enjoy working. I'm surprised people voted no to seeing the editing process but that's fair.

[@CaptainNingle]

Amazing video. I would love to see a more in-depth version!

[@elliart7432]

what's frustrating about every single color theory video I see is that I can't figure out how to incorporate pre-decided designs. Ok, so according to color theory my character should skew warm if i want him to be the focal point in a blue, rainy scene... but he's not. His clothes are blue. His undertones are cool. I can't just... _change my character designs_ to fit every situation they can possibly be in. And even if I wanted to completely change the story just to set certain scenes in an enviornment that would work for that character design, what about everyone else? Make that rainy scene warmer, well ok what about the other guy in the scene who's a ginger with pink clothes? I feel like I can't use color theory without having everything from the character design to the literal writing revolve around it and that's really stifling

[@angrymikko]

Complementary colour contrast is the only thing you are referring to here but there are all these other tools you can use to highlight a blue colour. I think your comment is a good starting point for the first part of the exercises mentioned in this video. When you have enough control over the perception of colour relativity you can paint blue with only orange. In fact there’s a video I made ages ago “how to use grey” where I did just that. I hope my next video on this can help with that issue you have. Don’t lose hope. There are no visual dead ends in design of a piece. There’s always multiple ways how things can be resolved. Even if it might seem frustrating in the moment.

[@elliart7432]

@@angrymikko oh that sounds interesting, I'll definitely check that out

[@travisk6553]

Great video Mikko! Helpful as always, and I adore your painting. 😍 I have been watching your editing livestream for members over the last few days and it’s been really helpful watching you explain your process and techniques. It makes me wish I had photoshop (Adobe is so expensive!). But I’m glad procreate has curves as an editing tool at least.

[@yoshivist]

I KNEW I recognized a fellow Finn in your accent!!

[@badarttangent7786]

very useful information. Kiitos

[@rock_arts121]

very good lessonn

[@Cm-Lorenzo]

This video was very interesting but it's not really applicable to my case cause I draw in traditional with pens lineart and shadows and then I paint on Photoshop. I'm very happy with the results but I still wanted to know it there was a better way to work. To put it in prospective for me painting is like recoloring a black and white photo so if ypu have any tips on that I would really appreciate it

[@angrymikko]

The colour theory covered here and in my new video is in no way exclusive to any application digital or traditional art. It’s all 100% the same and these principles have not changed in hundreds of years so no matter what kind of art you are doing the same rules still apply. With or without line art too and that’s why I included those examples in the latter part of this tutorial too. 🐻

[@weekendtoon]

Great video, kiitos!

[@angrymikko]

🐻💖🇫🇮

[@hippopotamusbosch]

Are the primary colors in your color wheel RYB or CMY?

[@angrymikko]

Whenever teaching colour theory I stick to primary colours. Red Blue and Yellow. No matter what kind of colour menu one is using the same theory can be used. Personally I tend to use the hue cube in PS and Procreate because it just offers more space for smaller nudges when needed.

[@Aquarius.K.1]

Love the video, it was helpful. I don't get why his name is angry though lol, seems pretty laid back to me.

[@angrymikko]

You haven’t seen me on a bread-free diet ☝️🐻

[@Aquarius.K.1]

Do you have a video on painting skin in digital art? I keep getting a weird grayish green color when I start adding in highlights to portraits when there shouldn't be any color like that in there. I've tried so many things and nothing helps, even a pro skin tone color set.

[@angrymikko]

Skin is so desaturated and reflective that any colour set or palette really isn't going to help. It's better to build the skin hues based on the surroundings from a dark base and consider how much contrast there is on the skin in relation to other materials in your reference materials. Basic colour mixing exercises are a good start too since they can help you see and execute small nuances in hue better. I have one older video on skin but I really should do a new and better one.

[@sourwinee]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@angrymikko]

Glad it helped!

[@ClabeTickel]

I used subject color without realizing woah

[@omargallardoarc]

Thank you master

[@marcusaurelius647]

Wow amazing.