In art, a color bar is a strip or chart that displays a range of colors. It is used by artists to help them select and mix colors for their artwork, as well as to create a harmonious color scheme. A color bar typically consists of a series of squares or rectangles that show different shades of a particular color, arranged in a linear or graduated fashion.

Some color bars may include a wider range of colors, such as primary and secondary colors, and may also include tints and shades of those colors. The purpose of a color bar is to provide a visual reference for artists to use as they work, helping them to achieve the desired color palette for their artwork.

Use the color bars in your coloring book to experiment with styles and color schemes.

The following examples are of countryside scenes in different styles.

Impressionism

Soft, pastel colors with a lot of light and shade. Colors might include shades of pink, blue, green, yellow, and purple. Take inspiration from Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas.

Expressionism

Bold, vibrant colors with high contrast. Colors might include red, yellow, blue, green, and black. Consider the works of Edvard Munch, Wassily Kandinsky, and Franz Marc.

Cubism

Geometric shapes and a limited color palette. Colors might include black, white, gray, and muted shades of blue, green, and brown. Research the great works of Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Juan Gris.

Surrealism

Dreamlike colors and unusual combinations. Colors will include pink, blue, yellow, purple, and green. Salvador Dali of course, but don’t forget Rene Magritte, and Max Ernst.

Pop Art

Bright, bold, and saturated primary colors (red, blue, yellow), as well as neon shades and pastels. Andy Warhol naturally springs to mind, but also look for works by Roy Lichtenstein, and Claes Oldenburg.

Realism

Artists such as Edward Hopper, Gustave Courbet, and Winslow Homer worked in these naturalistic and subdued colors which include earth tones such as brown, green, and beige, as well as muted shades of blue and gray.

Abstract Expressionism

Large areas of color and spontaneous brushstrokes from the likes of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning. Colors might include bright red, yellow, blue, green, and black.

Minimalism

A limited color palette with a focus on neutrals where Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Agnes Martin excelled. Colors tend to be limited to white, black, gray, and beige.

Baroque

The greats like Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini used rich and luxurious colors with a lot of contrast including gold, red, purple, green, and blue.

Fauvism

Bold and expressive colors of bright red, orange, yellow, green, and blue (with a lot of contrast) attracted Henri Matisse, Andre Derain, and Maurice de Vlaminck to this early 20th-century style.

Art Deco

A lot of metallics and jewel tones. Gold, silver, bronze, deep green, red, and blue were the 1920s and 1930s colors for Tamara de Lempicka, Erté, and Paul Poiret.

Pointillism

A technique that involves using small dots of color to create a larger image. Colors might include a range of bright and muted shades, including red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and pink.

Renaissance

The warm colors of deep red, brown, green, gold, and blue spanned an artistic movement of such a grand scale it had to be divided into 3 periods. The “rebirth” includes works such as the Mona Lisa and the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Look to Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Sandro Botticelli (among many others) for inspiration.

Post-Impressionism

Developing a style from another style created a wide range of bright and muted colors, often with bold outlines, including shades of green, yellow, blue, purple, and orange. Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Georges Seurat? Enough said.

Constructivism

Emerging from the Russian Revolution in the early 20th century, artists such as Alexander Rodchenko, Vladimir Tatlin, and El Lissitzky created bold, geometric shapes with a limited color palette of black, white, red, and shades of gray.

Art Nouveau

Reaching a peak at the turn of the 20th century, Alphonse Mucha, Gustav Klimt, and René Lalique created a lasting impact on modern art and design. Flowing, organic shapes and muted pastel green, pink, purple, blue, and yellow stand the test of time.

Romanticism

Using a lot of dramatic, contrasting colors such as dark blue, deep red, green, purple, and black romantic painters sought to create works that were highly emotional and expressive, often depicting scenes of heroism, tragedy, or sublime beauty. Caspar David Friedrich, William Turner, and Eugène Delacroix left a significant impact on the development of modern art, and its influence can still be seen in contemporary art today.

Conceptual Art

Conceptual art can involve a wide range of styles and color schemes, but often focuses on simple, muted colors to convey a message or idea. Gray, black, white, and muted pastels are used to great effect by Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Kosuth, and Yoko Ono.

Postmodernism

Postmodern art often involves a mix of styles and colors and can be difficult to define. However, it often involves bright, contrasting colors and bold shapes. The palette expands to neon shades, primary colors, and muted pastels. Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Cindy Sherman should inspire your color selections.

Op Art

Op Art, short for Optical Art, is a style of abstract art that relies on optical illusions to create the impression of movement and depth. The artists working in this style often use geometric shapes and contrasting colors to create visual effects that seem to pulsate, shimmer, or vibrate.

The colors used in Op Art tend to be bold and bright, often in high contrast to each other. Black and white, or black and another color, are also frequently used to create stark contrasts that enhance the illusion of movement. Search for works by Victor Vasarely, Bridget Riley, and Yaacov Agam.

Fluxus

Fluxus is a multidisciplinary art movement that emerged in the 1960s and is characterized by a focus on experimental and often interactive art.

Fluxus works tend to be bold and bright, often using primary colors and contrasting hues to create visual impact. However, some Fluxus artists also use black and white or muted colors to create a sense of simplicity and minimalism.

Famous Fluxus artists include Yoko Ono, Nam June Paik, and George Brecht.

Biomorphism is an art movement that emerged in the 20th century and is characterized by the use of organic and natural forms as well as abstract shapes and patterns.

The color schemes in Biomorphism tend to be earthy and muted, including shades of brown, green, and red.

Famous artists who have worked in the Biomorphism style include Jean Arp, Joan Miro, and Henry Moore.

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