When small dots of pure color are applied close together, the viewer's eyes mix the colors. Notice that each dot of pure color the artist has used looks bright, but when your eye mixes them they are subdued, almost neutral.

When small dots of pure hue are applied close together, the viewer's eyes mix these hues. Notice the brightness of the pure hues the artist has used.

Some artists use color in an arbitrary way. Instead of imitating the natural colors of objects, they used colors for symbolic or expressive purposes. In this painting the artist selected colors that symbolized universal principles such as spiritual harmony with nature, not the colors he really saw.

In this painting the artist also selected colors for expressive purposes. Notice that all of the primary colors (red, blue and yellow) and secondary colors (green, orange and violet) have been used.

In this painting shapes merely suggest natural objects and colors are applied scientifically, the way notes form chords in musical compositions. Orange, green, and purple - the three secondary colors - form a "dominant chord" that produces, according to the artist's theories, a feeling of harmony in the viewer.

In this painting the artist has used colors simply for the way in which they react with one another. Notice the intense red semi-circle and how it advances toward the viewer. The less intense colors seem to recede. Here, color creates movement!