
New pigments accompanied the development of art history’s greatest movements from Renaissance to Impressionism, as artists continually experimented with colors never seen before. Since then, the history of color has been one of ongoing discovery through both exploration and scientific advancement. The Basics of Color: History of the Color WheelĪrtists invented the first pigments – a combination of soil, animal fat, burnt charcoal, and chalk – as early as 40,000 years ago, creating the basic palette of 5 colors including red, yellow, brown, black and white.

Gain a better understanding of color and how to apply color that will take your design projects to the next level. Learn how to make wise color decisions for your future design projects.

The following is an excerpt from one of the newest HOWU courses: Color Theory for Designers led by Rachel Olson.
