"Color Theory Tutorials: Why Didn't I Learn This Earlier?" Topic

"You know, I love those moments when I really learn something I've always wanted to learn but say to myself "How in the world did I get from from where I started to here?" I'm sure this happens often to most of us. We sit down at our computers expecting to do a little hobby research on a topic but soon find ourselves veering off into something totally different because it catches our interest. Last night was no different for me. What started out as an expedition into making and using washes to paint faces on 15mm figures quickly turned into several lessons on color theory. Amazing.

In the past, I've tried to understand color theory but have had a difficult time with it. Sure, I understand all about primary colors, mixing them to make secondary colors, and then putting them on a basic color wheel, but I've never really been able to grasp much beyond that. I've read in How to Paint Citadel Miniatures the book's sparse section on color theory, but never quite understood the bits on complimentary colors, harmonies, discord, and so on. I've never understood how it relates to painting miniatures. Perhaps I'm just a bit dense when it comes to this subject. I don't know…"

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Armand

Wow that blog post is from 2012, but still relevant.

One of the reasons I switched to artist paints some years ago was to limit my selection of colors, so I would have to learn color theory and basic mixing.

I won't say I've grown into a practicing master of color theory. I need more than the three primaries and black and white. But I've stopped running to the hobby store every time I'm one shade short of a triad.

I think color theory is lost on your typical historical gamer. It has to be the right Dunkelgelb or you're just an idiot. Then you have the fact that Apple Barrel "sunset gold" is already a perfect match!

Army Painter speedpaints may have rendered this obsolete. JK, but they do work extremely well for many colors.

Thanks.

Armand

Speed paints – this is not a new idea as Duke Siegfried in the 80's produced paint that would create shadows, midtones, and highlights on the primed figures. They did speed painting competitions at some of the hobby shops around Chicago, and at the CWA convention that year, which I had the honor of being the lead judge at that event.
I have painted my wargame figures, since the early 80's based on the color wheel. Most likely a carryover from painting 75mm & 90mm display figures prior to that.