Contemporary Color Theory: Watercolor Flowers

The Magical World of Color

(I promise—less theory, more fun!)

When I was first getting started as an artist, color was one of my most challenging subjects (a close second to composition!). That may be good news for you, because I’ve spent a considerable amount of time experimenting with colors to demystify how they sometimes work effortlessly, and other times not so much.

As I became more intimate with the nuances of colors and applied the knowledge to refine my work, I started keeping a color journal, where I’d quickly articulate my reasons for color choices in a piece. Over the following pages, I’ll offer that information in an easy-to-understand manner.

Here’s something really interesting about color—it is essentially a property of light. ...