How to Apply Colour Theory in Painting

A brief introduction to colour theory and how I apply that thinking when choosing a palette in pastel.
Check out Patreon channel for more tutorials at www.patreon.com/emmacolbertart.

[@markjayne935]

Hi Emma Mark here, just would like to thank you for these four videos on colour theory. These videos have really helped me. My education back in my school days on the subject of art was lacking and I don't recall ever being taught about the colour wheel. I have just shared this video in the Unison group on Facebook, it's such an important part of art to learn about. Many thanks - Mark.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Really appreciate your comments and you sharing videos Mark and Jayne. I also did not learn about colour theory and I studied art on to further education. I was shown the colour wheel many times but never how to use the stupid thing! That's why I tried hard to make these videos after figuring out what I could from my own studies.

[@rudylorenzo9722]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge, Emma. Also, for the recommendations on books. You are such a great artist and teacher!

[@Starlightv74]

Thank you. Finally a clear introduction on how to apply colour theory. Just the right length too.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thank you! I have a small series of colour theory videos growing. Please do check out the others :-)

[@katrikinnunen8969]

Learning these colors are "invisible" to some, like these tints are found by simply change the colors to the max on some photo manipulation software that you probably have. Doing this you can see that blond hair isn't just white and yellow stripes, nowhere even close. Realism hides out of sight, just teasing the shadows and tinting the color just a little bit. :D When you're able to see those colors yourself you can manipulate things you've learned using the color wheel. Nature is the best color theory teacher Emma Colbert being the second! :D

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thank you! No one does colour harmony like nature :-)

[@Drhostetler1]

I have always had a natural sense about colors that go well together, but I learned SO much from your video! I am excited to put this all into my next painting. Thank you!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

That's great to hear! Having a natural feel for it is a great starting point!

[@betsyconway6302]

Very helpful Emma. Would never have thought there was brown in the water. Love the Patreon channel, Betsy

[@dianerussell9100]

I had a vague idea before I watched this video, but you made it so straightforward and simple. I can't wait to put it into practice. Combined with your 7 tips video I am feeling more inspired. Thank you

[@tinabaker09]

Very helpful! Than you! I particularly appreciated how you described your colour choices for the dog painting.

[@lilacfla]

Very easy to understand and concise. Thank u

[@panchoverde5078]

I learned to use magenta and cyan instead of red and blue. Makes a lot more sense. I love your work.

[@karenbaumanis5750]

I have watched this twice now. The second time around made more sense .I was having trouble picking the right colours for my art piece and so printed myself a colour wheel and set about learning some colour theory then remembered your video and watched again. Thank you for sharing you knowledge. So helpful I can apply this to all my work now.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Brilliant Karen! The colour wheel is something I learned about in school but it's not until I really studied it and started putting it into practise later that it made sense! Glad this has helped you.

[@virginia-marieparker6325]

Very, specific, concise and informative!!! Thank you so much👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@flarose97]

Thank you for your effort in making this video. Probably the most helpful video I’ve seen on the topic. I hope to see your completed work once it’s done. You’ve encouraged this newbie. Thank you Emma. 🌹🌹

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thanks for the feedback Bella! I'm glad it's helpful and I have since finished the piece. Next month's 'How To' video shows how I scan the work using this piece. You can also see it on my Facebook or Instagram :-)

[@mjpete27]

Such a wonderful explanation for a very complex theory, I will have to look for the next segment of the creation of this picture! Lovely video, thanks so much!

[@dorothymitchell3591]

Great Emma makes it all easy to remember

[@peggyhenderson3695]

Extremely help explanation. You finally made it make sense! Thanks so much Emma!

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thanks Peggy! Glad to help, it's something I struggled to grasp for a while!

[@soulreaver2727]

A great video. One of the biggest problems I have are trying to figure out the color's of a drawing.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

That's the same for everyone! Glad you found this helpful :-)

[@louisedubois7375]

Thanks for this video Emma - very informative indeed and explained in a way that's easy to understand.

[@SheilaghRiordan]

Fantastic help. Thank you!

[@iheartwu13]

Simple and understandable thank you

[@melissakenihan7447]

Absolutely loved this Emma, thank you!

[@cathleenvance4441]

Outstanding, thank you so much, Very helpful.

[@karenmccoy6991]

EXCELLENT! So helpful. Thank you!

[@lynnrushton7458]

Great explanation & advice! As always.....thanks Emma 👍x

[@crystalthursby2808]

Thank you! You are a fantastic teacher!

[@bellakatou]

Thanks Emma, very well explained!!

[@juligamez8315]

This helped thanks so much

[@tinalandrey5104]

edgack here.. this video made me better

[@jamesholder13]

Awesome tutorial!

[@wonderingpilgrim]

This is one of the most helpful and analytical videos I've seen on how to apply color to a painting. One of the issues I'm still working through is color harmony and how that translates into pastels. In other mediums like oils, teachers say to use a mother color and mix a little bit into all the other colors to achieve color harmony, but I'm not sure how to do this with pastels. Do you have any thoughts on this? On a different subject, I love your accent and could listen to it all day, but I can't tell for certain whether or not it's Scottish or Irish. It sounds more Scottish, but I don't get to hear enough of both side by side! Thanks so much for this video and the book reference.

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thanks Mish! I'm actually from Northern Ireland so there is a bit of a mixture as the Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland can sound quite Scottish. Other people finding my accent appealing is a constant source of surprise so thank you :-) It sounds like it's quite similar in oils as with pastel. What I tend to do to achieve colour harmony is to keep my palette consistent throughout the painting. So colours I've used as shadow or highlight etc in the background get used throughout the main subject. Keep the palette throughout the painting and it will have more harmony. I look in particular for reflected colours on the subject to tie it in with the surroundings. Great idea about using a mother colour in oils! Different there as you're mixing of course.

[@wonderingpilgrim]

@@EmmaColbertArt Thank you, Emma. That makes a lot of sense. I didn't know that about the Ulster Scots. It definitely explains the difference between your accent and some of the other Irish accents I've heard. It's lovely either way!

[@viviananunez7680]

Amazing!!! The best i've ever seen

[@susankeller3198]

Thanks so much! Very helpful!

[@AirArtStudiosOfficial]

Great video

[@dreamreader8738]

Hi Emma! I was just wondering if you wore a mask and gloves or go through any other type of safety procedures when using pastels. I recently got some unison pastels myself and didn't realise they used cadmium and cobalt or that it was potentially unsafe to use them without a mask. Is this a personal concern for yourself? Kind Regards

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Hi, this is true. A lot of art materials unfortunately have some ingredients in there that are harmful. I don't wear gloves but do know a few who do. The amounts of the substances is tiny but they do have to state it on their packaging. I work in a well ventilated space, but my style of working actually doesn't produce much dust in the air. I would always advise taking precautions where you can though, especially if working on the rougher paper which can kick up more dust. Some pastel artists wear gloves, some have extractor fans in their studios. It's definitely something to consider!

[@kamaljajoriyaart3153]

Hello mam , why is your red looking like orange and orange like chrome yellow?

[@mahamharoon6405]

What are those artist that use advanced colour theory knowledge

Teşekkürler

[@madzmetaazz]

Did you paint that PAINTING WITH THE BUNNNIES INNTHE BEGINNING??

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Yes that's called 'Going Home'. It shows Belfast city in Northern Ireland.

[@josias2171]

ótimo vídeo Emma!!!

[@PHeMoX]

Excellent video :)

[@spiritualstars]

Interesting x

[@starrmoore2848]

Hello Emma, I have been watching your videos for sometime and I really want to use unison pastels. There are so many good earth tones to chose from and I know that light reflection to effect a portrait heavily, however to pick a few good base tones for fair to darker skin what would be best to start?

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Hi there, Unisons are great for getting started in portraits. The first set I owned was one I won and it was their portrait set. Check out on their website www.unisoncolour.com they have all their sets listed. I would definitely recommend some of the good base tones in their set for portraits.

[@CCLinGameOnABC]

“Complementary” colors

[@EmmaColbertArt]

Thanks, I keep forgetting that! I can just imagine the colours giving each other compliments haha! I changed the thumbnail but alas what is in the video is there to stay :-)