If you found this post interesting, please forward it onto other artists. Feel free to share using the buttons below. Most painters are drawn to the light, whether it is created by Mother Nature or interior light. It’s ethereal and a challenge to capture in paint. The problem we have to solve is trying to create this sensation while using human-made products. And, in essence, we are trying to paint air with solid materials. Terracotta and ochre are a colour combination made in heaven as they are both derived from natural clay pigments. The grounded nature of reddy-brown terracotta underpins the vibrancy of golden ochre, creating balance within a scheme.

You already know that yellow appears to be the brightest of the colors on the spectrum of light. And Spectrum Yellow is certainly bright. It’s sunny yet rich, making it one of the more powerful examples of a yellow shade on the list. Lemon curry is a dark brownish yellow created by the Pantone Textile Paper company. It is similar in color to some curry sauces used in Indian cuisine. As you delve through the seemingly infinite shades of yellow, you may notice that there are small degrees of difference between the many types of bright yellow. This one, which is somewhat confusingly called Rainbow Yellow, is a little darker than some. Its depth means that it offers a powerful statement, and the presence of red in it makes it look slightly golden, too.

Purples

If you enjoy cooking, this one is probably familiar. It’s just about exactly the color of turmeric, the brightly-colored spice that’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

While a cloth covering the entire table could be a bit overpowering for the space, runners allow the grain of a natural wood table to be seen and offer some texture to the room. 2. Charcoal This color is somewhat interestingly named. After all, without added shine, all colors tend to look matte on a computer screen. Matte Yellow is a subdued hue, and as a pigment, it’s commonly sold in powder form. If you paint with Matte Yellow, you can mix it with other colors to deepen them slightly. Lemon yellow is a light to medium shade of yellow similar in shade to the color of the rind of a lemon fruit. This soothing yellow shade somewhat resembles Cream, but the color is a little stronger. Relax Yellow looks a bit like ivory. It looks especially nice in a palette of cool colors, especially blues and greens. This color may have a somewhat dull name, but it’s a soft neutral that’s reminiscent of coffee. It’s similar to Vintage Yellow, but lighter.Olive Yellow might sound like a very unusual color name, but it’s essentially the same concept as olive green. It’s a deep olive color with some yellow added. This Olive Yellow is almost pastel-like, and it looks especially good alongside a variety of soft pastels. This appropriately-named yellow color looks more khaki than yellow. At first glance, you might want to call it a light tan. Muted Yellow is another great color to choose if you’re working with a neutral color scheme but want to make it just slightly warm. Indian Yellow is one of the most ancient yellow shades in the world. As a pigment, it was first developed in India in the 15th century, where it was used in art and to dye clothing. It’s an unusual shade that’s a bit reminiscent of red clay, and it looks especially beautiful alongside pale periwinkle blue. Lemon chiffon is a light, airy yellow shade slightly warmer in tone than light yellow. It is reminiscent of the color of lemon chiffon cake or that of spun sugar. It’s hard to tell which specific mineral this shade of yellow is named after, but it’s tinged with an earthy orangeness that gives it a rustic look. If you like earth-tone neutrals, Mineral Yellow is a color worth considering.

Yellow can certainly be a refreshing color. Think of a glass of lemonade on a hot day. Refresh Yellow isn’t quite the same color as lemonade, but its light nature can refresh just about any project. Solid” may seem like an odd descriptor for a color. But in this case, it fits. This yellow has a rich, almost sturdy appearance in contrast to translucent or pastel-like yellow shades. Solid Yellow is a bold color that looks striking alongside other strong solids.Vivid Yellow is a hotter shade of yellow than most. As you can see below, the presence of red/magenta helps make it especially assertive. Granted, I am not known for my landscape painting, but I thought I would go the next step and show another example of how to paint sunshine. See how those three aspen trees (oops! they are all the same size, which isn’t good design. LOL!) aspen light up a bit like light bulbs. It is because of the white. Painting with just yellows or even a variety of yellows, does not accomplish the same effect. Where else do I use this principle? Sometimes in my abstract paintings I like to have a spot or two that glow like sunshine. Here is my 20″x 20″abstract painting “Let the Caged Bird Sing.” Notice the use of white and yellow toward the lower left quadrant of the painting. It brings attention to the hidden bird. Another example is in this 24″ x 24″ abstract “Reaching in Rhythm.” Again I applied a bit of white next to my yellow-green to attract the viewer’s eye and to create a glow. You might be wondering where this interesting color got its name. It’s named after the color used for car headlamps and fog lamps. The “selective” in the name means that the lamps only let certain wavelengths of light through. The color itself is mango-like and cheerful, and it would be especially at home in tropical-inspired decor. When you first look at Earth Yellow, you might not consider it to be a yellow at all. Earth Yellow is similar to Indian Yellow, but it’s a bit more brown. If you need an earthy neutral that’s brighter than your traditional brown, Earth Yellow is a great place to look.