The Feel of Color: A Simple Chat on Color Theory

This last weekend, our neighborhood hosted its annual Oktoberfest party right in our cul-de-sac. It was one of those perfect fall days — filled with food, laughter, and clinking glasses. Somewhere between the bratwurst and the pumpkin beer, I had one of the most delightful conversations of the evening — not with an adult, but with a bright, curious three-and-a-half-year-old.

Her parents, who met in our neighborhood, were visiting for the weekend. When her mom mentioned that I paint, the little girl’s eyes lit up. Naturally, I asked if she liked painting too. She nodded enthusiastically, and before long, we were deep in a conversation about color.

Her favorite color? Blue.

Mine? Turquoise.

Then I told her that I love the way purple and yellow feel when they’re next to each other. She paused — really thinking about that — and after a long moment said, “I like how blue and green feel together.”

Don’t you just love it when someone knows exactly what they like?

Reflecting on that moment later in my journal, I realized we had just shared a very sophisticated art conversation. I was describing the emotional charge of complementary colors — opposites on the color wheel that create energy and contrast. She was describing the calm harmony of analogous colors — those that sit side by side, like blue and green, which often form the peaceful backdrop of landscapes and nature itself.

That short exchange got me thinking about how simple — and powerful — color theory can be. So let’s talk about it, just a little.

A Quick and Friendly Guide to Color Theory

At its core, color theory is about relationships — how colors interact, balance, and affect how we feel. Here are a few of the main types of color combinations painters often use:

🎨 Complementary Colors

These are colors opposite each other on the color wheel, like purple and yellow, blue and orange, or red and green. When placed side by side, they vibrate with energy — each makes the other appear more intense. Painters use complements when they want contrast, excitement, or visual tension. Think of a golden sunset against a violet mountain — that’s complementary magic.

🌿 Analogous Colors

Analogous colors sit next to each other on the wheel — blue, blue-green, and green, for example. These colors blend smoothly, creating harmony and calm. Nature loves analogous palettes — oceans, forests, and even sunsets use them. Artists reach for these combinations when they want a peaceful, unified mood.

🌈 Tertiary Colors

Tertiary colors are the “in-betweens” — made by mixing a primary (red, yellow, blue) with a secondary (orange, green, violet). Think of yellow-orange, red-violet, or blue-green. They’re complex, subtle, and often feel more natural than pure hues. Using tertiary colors helps a painting feel nuanced, grounded, and rich.

💫 Why Painters Choose Certain Color Schemes

Every artist has an emotional reason behind their palette. Warm tones — reds, oranges, and yellows — often evoke energy, joy, or passion. Cool tones — blues, greens, and violets — suggest calm, reflection, or melancholy. A skilled painter can guide the viewer’s mood just by shifting the balance of warm and cool.

When we talk about the feeling of color, we’re really talking about connection — that invisible bridge between what we see and what we feel.

As I thought about that conversation with my young friend, I smiled at the simplicity of it all. She didn’t need to know the terms or the science. She already understood what so many artists strive to rediscover — that art is, at its heart, about what feels right.