How to Make A Color Chart

Sample of a Color Chart (133kb)

One of the first assignments in my beginning painting class was to make this color chart. As I developed my own palette, I changed these colors and made new charts to correspond to the new colors. I have always found that this chart helps prevent me from getting into a rut and always choosing the same color combinations.

Print out the sample chart that I have supplied in the above link. (The page is actually supposed to go horizontally to be read correctly). Notice that there is a dark black line going stepwise down the page. Above the line are pure colors, below the line, are the pure colors plus white.

If you look carefully at the chart, you will see that there are many different kinds of grey, any of which can be used. You don't have to limit yourself to just one. The same is also true of the very dark colors. You can try ultramarine blue and burnt umber, thalo green and permanent rose (or alizarin crimson if that's what you have. Experiment a little. Don't just grab the colors you've always used.)

I recommend that you paint your own chart using your own colors. This way, you can make the chart using the colors you like, the colors you make will be 100% accurate (which, of course, my color chart isn't due to limitations in scanning, printing, etc.) And finally, you can only learn about color by actually mixing the paint yourself.

This table shows small sample of how these colors would be combined. It is a portion of the above color table. The part in yellow represents the portion of the color table that is above the black line and is therefore pure color.

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Last Modified October 10, 2000