How to choose colors for your artwork (Patreon)

I thought I could make a little video on "How to make color palettes in Procreate" so this will come up here a little bit later.

But for now, let us start with

"How to choose colors for your artwork"

As this is kinda a biiiiiig topic I will try to talk about the basics in this article and if you want me to make another article about color, like a more specific one where we dive deeper into this, then let me know in the comments what you would be interested in regarding colors.

Sooo choosing colors for your artwork can be a daunting task, I myself had sooo much trouble with it when I started digital illustration. 

I was more into faded colors and on-screen they looked good, but printed horribly it took me over a year to find out what is wrong 😂 And I had just no idea what looked good so I just picked colors from lots of other artists' work or from photos in my beginnings, which wasn´t a good idea as I wasn´t able to create my very own color palette this way, but at least I learned a lot about color this way. I also still have a Pinterest Board that is named "colors" where I collect images where I like the color combinations a lot.

So let me show you how you can make the process of finding the right colors easier!

1. Consider the mood you want to convey or the aesthetic you want to achieve

The colors you choose can have a big impact on the mood and aesthetic of your illustrations.

Do you want to use warm colors to achieve a cozy feeling? Or maybe cool colors and dark ones for a specific aesthetic? Is there something important in the illustration that you want to be popping out?

So think about the mood you want to achieve and choose colors that support that emotion. 

I myself now prefer bright and warm colors for my work. I want my art to bring the viewer joy and coziness. And as I´m drawing nature and foxes a lot I use a lot of orange and green, paired with yellow which makes everything more cohesive and because I love that color. But I also like to add some new colors now and then like blue. 

2. Think about color theory

There are certain colors that work veeery well together and create a pleasing visual experience.

You can choose between complementary colors (colors opposite each other on the color wheel), analogous colors (colors that are next to each other on the color wheel), monochromatic colors (different shades of the same color), and so on.

Experiment with different color harmonies to see which ones work best for your artwork and the mood that you want to create.

This topic is actually a very big one. I also have a whole book only about color theory and I really recommend every artist to buy a book about it and really study color theory.

3. Consider the background

The colors of your background have a big impact on how your characters or items in the front appear to the viewer.

Do you want your main viewing point to pop out or should it like flow into the background?

As I always use very light colors in my background I made a whole color palette on Procreate just for background colors to choose from.

When it´s hard for you to pick colors for your background and character then start drawing without backgrounds! I also did this in the beginning. I think I only started last year to draw more and more backgrounds.

I myself always have big trouble picking colors when I use a dark background, I don´t know why as I would really love to use darker shades but it just always looks weird. So if anyone has any tips on that, let me know in the comments!

4. Use a limited color palette

Sometimes less is more when it comes to color.

Using a limited color palette can help create a cohesive look and is easier to start with when you find it hard to pick colors.Choose a few colors that work well together and stick with them throughout your piece.

I did this a lot at the beginning of my art career! It was the easiest for me to achieve a cohesive drawing.

5. Experiment!

At the end of the day, choosing colors for your illustrations is just based on your preferences!

So don't be afraid to experiment and try new things!

With practice, you'll develop an "eye" for color and be able to choose the perfect palette for each of your artworks and also create a palette that you are happy to use in all of your artworks to make them look cohesive.

For me, it took ages to find the colors I really like using. I think last year it started to feel right for me when picking colors, I also was unhappy very often about my decisions before.

And I still play around and change a lot in my own color palettes. There are always colors that stay but with every season I either pick some new ones or don´t use some of the other ones anymore.

I know that a lot of artists always stick to their color palette but my mood really changes throughout the seasons so I like my colors to change a bit with that!

Happy creating!

🧡🧡🧡