The theory of colour - part 1

The Theory of Colour - Part 1

With an understanding of the history of colour and the components within paint, we can begin to explore how this impacts our use of colour today.

The Twelve Pigments Palette

Let's revisit the palette of what I consider to be the essential pigments that underpin the grammar of colour.

Earth pigments

• Yellow Ochre
• Red Ochre
• Raw Umber
• Raw Sienna
• Burnt Umber

Mineral pigments

• Violet
• Prussian Blue
• Ultramarine
• Chromium Green
• Lemon Yellow
• Lamp Black
• Titanium White

The Strength of Colours

In my experience, every paint that I have ever needed in a room scheme comes from these twelve pigments. Pigment only makes up 5-10% of a paint, and you'd be surprised at the variation you can achieve with this palette by changing the strength of the pigment. You may have noticed the absence of strong, bold pigments - such as a strong red for example. The reason for this is that I simply don't think that these shades should be applied to a wall.

The main job of a wall colour is to know its place, and to be a backdrop to the other elements within a room. What you put on the wall in terms of art, and what you put in front of it in terms of furniture is what matters - your wall colour should be a supportive element to these.