Colour is one of the most powerful tools in painting. It sets the mood, guides the eye, and shapes how a piece feels long before we notice technique or detail. Whether you’re painting freely or working with a paint by numbers kit, understanding a few basics of colour theory can completely change how confident and intuitive the process feels.

This guide breaks down colour theory in a simple, approachable way. We’ll explore how colours work together, how they influence emotion, and how you can start mixing with intention rather than guesswork. No rules to memorise, just principles you can return to whenever you pick up a brush.

If you’re new to painting or returning to it after a long break, this pairs well with our guide to 10 tips that can transform your painting skills.

The Basics of Colour Theory (Without the Overwhelm)

At its core, coloir theory is simply about understanding how colors relate to one another. Most coloir systems start with three main groups: primary, secondary, and tertiary coloirs.

Primary colours (red, blue, and yellow) are the foundation. They can’t be created by mixing other colours, and everything else grows from them.

Secondary colours are what you get when you mix two primaries together. Blue and yellow create green, red and yellow make orange, and red and blue become purple. These combinations form the next layer of your palette.

Tertiary colours sit between primary and secondary colours. Mixing a primary with a neighbouring secondary gives you tones like yellow-green, red-orange, or blue-violet. These colours are often what make a painting feel more nuanced and less flat.

You don’t need to memorise names or ratios. The goal is simply to recognise that colour exists on a spectrum, not in isolation.

Creating Colour Harmony (Why Some Paintings Feel Calm)

Colour harmony is about choosing colours that feel good together. When a painting feels balanced or soothing, it’s often because the colours are working in quiet agreement rather than competing for attention.

One of the simplest ways to create harmony is by using analogous colours eg. shades that sit next to each other on the colour wheel. Think blues flowing into greens, or soft transitions from peach to coral. These combinations are common in nature, which is why they often feel calming and familiar.

Another approach is using triadic colour schemes, where three colours are evenly spaced around the wheel. This creates contrast while still feeling cohesive. It’s bolder than analogous colour use, but still balanced when applied gently.

If you’ve ever felt drawn to a paint by numbers design because it “just feels nice,” chances are the colour harmony is doing a lot of the work for you. We explore this further in our article on why certain colour palettes feel so calming.

Using Contrast Without Creating Chaos

Contrast adds energy and focus to a painting, but too much can feel overwhelming. The key is knowing where to use it.

Complementary colours — those that sit opposite each other on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green — naturally create strong contrast. When used sparingly, they can draw attention to a focal point or add vibrancy to an otherwise soft palette.

A gentler option is split-complementary colour schemes, where you pair one main colour with the two colours on either side of its complement. This keeps the visual interest without the intensity.

In paint by numbers, contrast often shows up subtly: a pop of warmth in a cool background, or a darker outline that gives the image structure without shouting. Many painters find that fewer colours create stronger results, a principle we explore further in our article on minimalism in painting.

How Colour Influences Emotion and Mood

Colour has the power to change how a painting feels and not just how it looks. This approach is especially useful when painting abstract art, where colour often leads the composition more than form.

Warm colours like reds, oranges, and yellows tend to feel energising, expressive, and emotional. They’re often used to convey warmth, movement, or intensity.

Cool colours such as blues, greens, and purples usually feel calmer and more reflective. They’re associated with rest, balance, and mental clarity, which is why they appear so often in landscapes and meditative scenes.

Neutral tones such as greys, browns, blacks, and whites are the quiet stabilisers. They give the eye somewhere to rest and help other colours stand out without overpowering the composition.

Simple Colour Exercises That Actually Help

You don’t need complex studies or hours of practice to get better with colour. Small, intentional exercises go a long way.

Try creating a basic colour wheel using just red, blue, and yellow. Mixing your own secondary and tertiary colours helps you understand relationships far more intuitively than memorising them.

Practising light and dark values by adding white or black to a colour can teach you how depth is created. This is especially useful when painting shadows or softer transitions.

Limiting yourself to just two complementary colours for a small painting is another powerful exercise. It shows how contrast works and how subtle shifts in tone can create balance.

You can also experiment emotionally. Choose a feeling like calm, joy or tension and create a small colour palette that represents it. This exercise connects colour theory directly to expression, rather than rules.

By regularly practicing these exercises, you will develop a deeper understanding of colour theory and how to use it effectively in your paintings.

Colour Theory as a Tool, Not a Rulebook

Colour theory isn’t about getting it “right.” It’s about understanding enough to trust your choices.

Whether you’re painting freely or following a paint by numbers design, colour theory gives you language for what you already feel instinctively. It helps you recognise why certain combinations soothe you, energise you, or draw you in.

At Kiki’s Club, we believe painting should feel supportive, not intimidating. Colour theory, when approached gently, becomes another way to slow down, experiment, and enjoy the process and not something to perfect. So, grab your brushes and start experimenting with colours to bring your paintings to life!

If you’re ready to keep exploring, you might also enjoy:

• 10 Tips That Can Transform Your Painting Skills
• How to Make Your Painting Look Better
• 8 Tips for Grown Ups to Master Paint by Numbers