The Real Secret to a Stunning Color Palette

When you think about creating a beautiful painting, your mind probably goes straight to color. But what if I told you that the real secret to a strong, eye-catching color palette isn’t about color at all? … It’s about value.

Why Value Matters More Than Color

Value is the lightness or darkness of a color, and it’s the first thing our eyes recognize before hue (the actual color) or saturation (its intensity). If you get your values right, your painting will have depth, contrast, and visual impact—even if your color choices are bold, unexpected, or completely unconventional.

Think of a black-and-white photograph. Even without color, you can still see depth, light, and shadow. That’s because the values are doing the heavy lifting. The same principle applies to painting—if your values are correct, your colors will work no matter what!

Breaking Down the 3 Key Aspects of Color

While value is king, there are two other aspects of color that work together to create harmony and interest in your painting: hue and saturation.

1. Value – The Foundation of a Strong Painting

• Value refers to how light or dark a color is.
• To test your values, try taking a photo of your painting and converting it to black and white. If it still looks balanced and readable, your values are on point!
• A well-structured value range ensures that your painting has depth and clarity, even if you experiment with vibrant or unusual colors.

2. Hue – The Actual Color You See

• Hue is what we typically think of as “color”—red, blue, yellow, etc.
• While hue is important, it’s often less critical than getting your values right.
• You can play with unexpected hues (like a blue tree or a pink sky), and as long as the values work, your painting will still feel natural and cohesive.

3. Saturation – The Intensity or Dullness of a Color

• Saturation refers to how pure or muted a color appears.
• A high-saturation color is bright and vivid, while a desaturated color appears duller and more neutral.
• Artists use saturation strategically to draw attention to focal points or to create a sense of depth—more muted colors tend to recede, while bright colors come forward.

How to Use This Knowledge in Your Own Art

• Start by checking your values before focusing on hue.
• Experiment with playing with saturation—use bold, high-saturation colors for impact and muted tones for depth.
• Don’t stress about picking the “perfect” color—if your values are strong, your painting will work!

By understanding and applying these three aspects of color, you’ll gain the confidence to create striking, intentional color palettes in your art.Want to take the guesswork out of color mixing and painting fundamentals? Acrylics 101 is the perfect place to start! Learn how to control value, hue, and saturation so that you can paint with confidence—no more muddy colors or second-guessing your choices.