Train Your Brain for Better Colors

Brian Lee, April 30, 2025

Is it really possible to learn to see color? I believe it is.

I nearly gave up painting because I struggled to “see” color properly. Some paintings screamed with bright hues while others sank under layers of “mud” on the canvas. Painting wet-on-wet felt like sliding into a messy pile. I wasn’t happy with my work.

Color theory frustrated me. I tossed my hands up in exasperation. Why is red the complement of green? Who decided that?

Then one day, I struck gold on YouTube. I watched a 5‑minute video included in this article. The video explained that we imagine most colors. Our brains create them using red, green, and blue lights detected by the cones in our eyes. In short, you can train your brain to improve your colors!

Since then, I forged a system that lets me systematically experiment with color. I arrange my palette into three sections.

• Section 1: High‑chroma colors or “spices.” A little sprinkle goes a long way.
• Section 2: Earth colors. I use low‑chroma hues until I must borrow from section 1.
• Section 3: White and black — my levers for value and gray.

This approach turns my palette knives and brushes into magic wands for fine‑tuning color. I’ve learned that mixing plenty of paint helps tame colors with high tinting strength. For example, cadmium red is like wildfire — capable of overpowering a mix. However, a small dab of cadmium red blended into a large pile will turn cheeks rosy. Jackpot!

I am grateful for these discoveries and hope you find your way out of the color mixing forest too.