Have you ever discarded a shirt because it looked wrong against your skin tone? Or felt “off” in a room where the aesthetics don’t appeal to your mood? The reason is COLOR! Color can effect our mood, thoughts and inspire memories. While one color can be powerful enough to elicit a strong response – color palettes are when all the real fun starts!
A color palette is a combination of specific colors. In the art world the use of color schemes dates back thousands of years. It forms the foundation of a work of art. It assists in visual consistency of many paintings. Look at that! We just had a little art history class 101. You’re so creative and smart!
Speaking of smart, want to feel like a color genius? I’m about to help you sound like you’re from Architectural Digest! First I’ll explain the six most common palettes. Then I’ll list 10 marvelous color ideas inspired from past art – sure to encourage your next masterpiece! Use this as a go-to guide for color creativity and challenge yourself to make art following the palettes listed below!
Different Types of Color Palettes
First is the well-known, super-consistent Monochromatic palette. (Mono stands for “Alone, Singular, One”, for anyone looking to expand their vocabulary for stimulating dinner party conversation.) Instead of using ALL the color, this palette uses an assortment of tones and shades of a single color. Don’t worry it’s not boring. This color scheme is gorgeous! I’ll show you how to color it below.
Second, the Analogous color scheme. It is made of three colors next to each other on the color wheel. This neighborly triad is super popular when you do not need contrast. Wait what was that? You don’t have the color wheel memorized? No Worries! I’ve included one below – because I appreciate YOU. (Side note: A color wheel is fabulously convenient when you’re working on home décor or visiting Sherwin Williams. So be sure to save it!)
Third is the Complimentary palette. This is made of colors in front or across from each other on the color wheel. In a way this is the opposite of the analogous palette. Complimentary colors are all about contrast! They stand out like that super tempting red button in cartoons. Color designers love using this scheme in their home projects.
Can I just stop here for a moment and say you are becoming a PRO color palette maker and I am super proud off your smartness. (Smartness is an actual word. I googled it.)
Fourth is the Split-Complementary palette. Similar to the complimentary palette, but it uses more colors. Take one color then TWO on the opposite side of the color wheel. For example take blue as your first color then yellow and red – BAM! You have a Split-complimentary palette.
Fifth is Triadic, which includes three color that are equidistant on the color wheel. (Side note, “equidistant” is one of my fave words and I am SUPER excited to use it in a sentence.) Usually, one color is the primary dominant color in this palette and the other two are the backup singers in the band (only these are accent colors).
Sixth and final palette is Tetradic. This has two sets of complimentary pairs (ooooh we’re getting complicated now!) So it includes four colors that will form a rectangle when connected on the color wheel.
10 Marvelous Color Palettes
Quick side note: these palettes were created using the Canva palette tool here. https://www.canva.com/colors/color-palettes/
- “Water Drops on a Young Columbine at Sunrise” by Harold Davis: This green color palette is refreshing and monochromatic! Green is symbolically associated with life and renewal. What an energizing color scheme! Remember you can always add much darker and lighter tones of green to create a sense of depth in your coloring masterpiece.
2. “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo Da Vinci: YUP! I’m telling you to tap your inner Leonardo! This painting is famously dogged by two questions since the day it was made: Who’s the subject and why is she smiling? But we will just take the colors and leave the rest to art historians. These earth tones are wholesome and comforting. A lovely autumn color palette! Maybe YOU’LL have a little Mona Lisa smile while you create art with these colors.
3. “Nocturne, Blue and Silver” by James Whistler: This palette is MOSTLY analogous. A couple complimentary colors are thrown in. But the title really tells it all (thanks for being straight with us Whistler!) A gorgeous blue color palette to soothe the soul. These pretty colors are calming and lovely!
4. “Girl with a Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer: If you’ve never Vermeered have you truly ever colored?! Technically speaking, this isn’t a portrait. It’s an example of the Dutch genre called a tronie—a headshot meant to be a still life of facial features instead of an attempt to capture a likeness. Look at that dark Cinder color! What a fantastic contrast to the light blue. Just proves that different colors can play together so well!
5. “Self Portrait” by Vincent van Gogh: Go take a look in the mirror (I’ll wait.) How many colors did you see? Van Gogh saw them all! But this particular painting really rocks a Complimentary color palette. Blue and orange are the best playmates in this art and will work marvelously in your next coloring! Speaking of faces, isn’t it amazing how a color palette for a painting can also work for makeup inspiration. Seriously, for your next eyeshadow palette try to sneak in a touch of orange and blue. Go bold! 😉
You are halfway through this new color palette list! Keep going!
6. “The Birth of Venus” by Botticelli: Did you know this was the first full-length, non-religious nude since antiquity?! This Venus was HATED by Savonarola, the Dominican monk who despised luxury in Florence. He wanted the painting burnt on a pyre (with other opulent objects). Somehow Venus was spared. But Botticelli, was so freaked out by the incident that he gave up painting for a while. Think about that when you use this palette – it was meant to be burnt on a pyre!! The color palette from this image is all about nature and has an earthly beauty.
7. “Regatta At Argenteuil” by Claude Monet: I can practically HEAR the water and rocking boats in this painting! It’s time for you to summon your inner Monet with this Split Complimentary color palette. OOhhh! Now you can sound a color BOSS when you show off your super fancy coloring masterpiece inspired by Monet AND a complicated color palette. Bam! We just turned your coloring into some stunning DIY home décor to make Monet proud.
8. “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt: This painting was a highpoint of the Klimt’s Golden Phase when he often used gold leaf (and you thought YOUR coloring supplies were expensive). Gold leaf was inspired by a 1903 trip to the Basilica di San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. While there he saw the church’s famed Byzantine mosaics. Which proves that you can find inspiration from many different forms of art, cultures and times! Use this perfect color palette today.
9. “Koi” by Sarah Ann Smith – I am loving this Triadic color palette! Her supporting blue and greens are great support for the orange. Remember! One color is the headliner in this palette show – so let that orange sing! A creative color scheme is also fabulous home décor, so go ahead and hand your colored masterpiece on the wall when you’re done.
10. “Green Stripe” by Matisse: You’re not seeing things, she legit has a green stripe down her face. Shout out to Matisse for making this vibrant, exciting Tetradic color palette! Why the green stripe? Matisse wanted to create a sense of light, shadow, and volume without using traditional shading. Fun fact, this was the artist’s wife. Who knew art history paintings could be such a treasure trove of color ideas?!
And here’s an image of the color wheel I promised you:
Also, if you are super serious about creating your own palettes and mixing colors, you absolutely should have a color wheel at the ready! Remember this wheel also comes in handy for all your interior design and DIY home projects. I suggest this one here. This package includes one Color Wheel and one Creative Color Wheel. The easy-to-use color mixing guide visually illustrates relationships between colors and demonstrates the results. Now you can create ALL the colorful schemes!
Time for a happy colorist happy dance! You now have 10 marvelous new color schemes!
These color palettes above are meant to inspire and challenge you! Choose one or all of them to try during your next coloring adventure. Do you have any favorite photos or works of art that you want to use for your next palette? Check out the crazy-easy color palette tool on Canva here.
Do you have a new project or coloring page ready for your new color palettes? No? No problem! Check out the digital coloring books, pages and more in my Coloring Shop HERE. Download and start coloring today!
Have you tried any of these color schemes yet? Tell me! Show me! For real, I love seeing coloring masterpieces. Comment here OR find me on social media and share! Below are my social links where you can find me and brighten up my day with YOUR creativity!
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