Color is simultaneously a physical phenomenon and a psychological experience. Understanding color theory means grasping both the objective facts of wavelengths and the subjective responses colors trigger in human perception.
Hue is the name of the color—red, blue, yellow, and all mixtures between them. The color wheel arranges hues in a circle showing relationships. Complementary colors sit opposite on the wheel (red and cyan, yellow and purple). When placed beside each other, they vibrate with maximum contrast. Analogous colors sit adjacent on the wheel, creating harmony and unity.
Value is the lightness or darkness of color, independent of hue. High-value colors are light, low-value colors are dark. Value contrast creates visual separation and hierarchy far more powerfully than hue contrast. A painting with strong value structure reads clearly from across a room; a painting with weak value structure feels muddled even up close. This is why studying in grayscale is foundational—it forces you to understand value.
Saturation is the intensity or purity of color. Fully saturated colors are vivid and pure. Desaturated colors are muted and grayed. Mixing a color with its complement reduces saturation. Most natural environments feature relatively desaturated colors—that's why paintings filled with full saturation can feel artificial, while subtle color gradations feel rich and sophisticated.
Temperature is a powerful psychological dimension. Warm colors (reds, oranges, yellows) advance toward the viewer and feel energetic or aggressive. Cool colors (blues, greens, purples) recede and feel calm or melancholic. Mixing warm and cool within a composition creates spatial depth and emotional complexity. A predominantly cool painting with a single warm accent draws the eye and suggests meaning.
Color psychology is culturally learned but also somewhat universal. Red signals danger and passion. Blue suggests stability and sadness. Yellow radiates joy but can feel chaotic. Green suggests life and healing. Understanding these associations, while remembering that context matters more than inherent meaning, helps you wield color intentionally.