Hi, and welcome back to the Chrissie Murphy Designs Blog. Today, I want to share something I’ve grown to rely on — using the colour wheel in art as a support tool. When you’re creating an artwork, choosing colours often feels instinctive, but sometimes your palette might feel like it’s missing something. In this post, I’ll show you how to start with colours that feel natural and personal, and how the colour wheel can quietly guide you when you need a little extra confidence.
How to Choose Colours: Trust Your Intuition
Choosing colours for a new artwork is often one of the most enjoyable parts of creating. Many of us are drawn to colours instinctively — maybe inspired by a landscape, a favourite fabric, or the colours in a building. These palettes come from personal experiences, memories, and moods, and they feel natural to you.
Before diving into colour choices, I’ve found it really helpful to spend some quiet time contemplating what I want my artwork to say and feel. If you want to explore how thoughtful reflection can deepen your creative process, you might enjoy my post on The Importance of Contemplation Before Creating.
When Your Colour Palette Feels Incomplete
But what do you do when your intuitive palette feels like something’s missing?
This is exactly when the colour wheel can be a quiet but reliable support tool. It’s not there to tell you what to do but to help you fill in the gaps when your palette feels just a bit off.
Let’s say you’ve built a palette inspired by a walk on the beach — soft sandy neutrals, deep blues, and a touch of grassy green. You love it, but the piece still feels like it needs a little more contrast or energy. Here, a quick glance at your colour wheel might suggest adding a warm rust or coral — the complementary colour to blue-green — to bring vibrancy and tension to your palette.
Using the Colour Wheel to Guide Your Colour Choices
Using the colour wheel this way means you’re still leading with your intuition, but you get a helpful visual guide to see relationships between colours — like complementary, analogous, or triadic colours. It can help you find balance, contrast, or harmony without straying from your original vision.
It’s especially useful if you’re stuck and feel like your palette is flat. The colour wheel can show you if your colours are too similar in temperature or if they all sit on one side of the spectrum. Sometimes adding a cooler or warmer tone or shifting the value a little can breathe new life into your artwork.
💌 If you’re just starting or coming back to art, the colour wheel can be your best friend for building confidence with colour. For more practical tips like this, I’d love to invite you to join my newsletter. Subscribe here!
Why the Colour Wheel Isn’t a Rulebook for Artists
Remember, the colour wheel isn’t a set of rules you have to follow. Think of it as a trusted companion — something you turn to when you need a nudge, a fresh idea, or just some reassurance.
Many artists keep a colour wheel pinned to their wall or tucked in a sketchbook. Mine sits right beside my workspace, always at arm’s reach. Having it nearby can give you the freedom to explore colours confidently, knowing you have a tool to support you if you feel uncertain.
Where to Buy a Colour Wheel in Australia
If you’re looking to buy a colour wheel here in Australia, there are a few good options to get you started. Most art supply stores stock them, both in-store and online. Eckersley’s (www.eckersleys.com.au), Riot Art & Craft (www.riotart.com), and The Art Scene (www.artscene.com.au) all carry basic artist colour wheels at reasonable prices. You can also find them at Officeworks. Just so you know, I’m not affiliated with any of these shops and don’t receive anything for recommending them — I just want to help if you’re on the lookout for one!
Build Confidence with Colour in Your Art
Next time you’re building a colour palette — no matter what inspires you — start with what feels right to you. And if you ever need a little backup, the colour wheel will be there, quietly offering ideas to keep your creative flow moving. As you explore colour and experiment with your palettes, it’s also important to look after your art supplies so they last and perform their best. If you want tips on how to care for and steward your materials wisely, check out my post on Stewarding Your Art Supplies.
Let’s Grow Together
If you’re an artist (or want to be), and you’re looking for gentle, practical support to help you grow your creative practice, I’d love to invite you to join my email community.
Each month, I share art tips, personal reflections, creative prompts, and behind-the-scenes insights to help you stay inspired and connected to your work.
👉 Subscribe to my newsletter here: Chrissie’s Monthly Email Newsletter
And let’s keep growing, together.
Until my next blog post, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received”
Ephesians 4:1.
In peace always
Chrissie xx
