Color theory is complex and filmed with all sorts of tricks and rules. No one has it completely nailed down. This post is compiled of different sites to try and help you through it no matter your skill sets in the arts. Whether you paint , do digital art, or just want to paint your wall a new color, these sites will definitely be beneficial to you.
Vocab, Color mixing, examples, and more
1.
Color Theory 101: A Complete Color Guide (2024) • Colors Explained
This site above is the perfect beginners rundown of what color theory is! Including some vocab you may hear when learning about color. It provides a simple explanation of everything while also providing a lot of visual examples and diagrams. This is fundamental knowledge on color theory is why its such a great site to use. Which is why I consider this the best site to use for color theory.
2.
Color Models Explained (2024) • Colors Explained
Color theory can slightly differ if your making art on a screen or printing it out. This site does a good job at explaining different color models and which ones you should use depending on the art piece or how you're making it! This is the second best site to use because Its super important to apply a color scheme or model when delving into color theory and actually making art.
How we see color and the science behind it
3.
Color Psychology: Does It Affect How You Feel? (verywellmind.com)
Color theory is more about how we use them. This site explains the relationship we have with colors and how certain colors make us feel or react. You may want to keep this in mind when choosing a color scheme in your art piece, especially if you are trying to convey a specific emotion. This is the third best site to use because it expands beyond the technical aspects of color and goes more into the emotional side.
4.
But what about the scientific and philological effects of color? Maybe your more interested in how we see color in the first place? How does light effect color, and does it do so? This informational site from the Smithsonian library explains just that! This is the fourth best site to utilize because understanding the scientific aspect of color can help you mix and see color depending on why you are doing so. For example, how and why a color may look different when painting a wall.
The history of color theory and its origins
5.
A History of Color (caltechletters.org)
Although the science of color also talks slightly of its history, this site goes much more in depth with lots and lots of details. This site may be perfect for you if you need background information to fully grasp a concept. This is the fifth and last site because although it is very interesting and can help a lot of people, it is not necessary for using color theory in day to day practice.