Using Color Theory to Develop Your Composition and Style with Examples from Wes Anderson

by Andrew Adams

Visual art, which is composed of shapes and colors, is used to share ideas. Colors, which we see every day but often ignore, evoke emotion. Although you may not notice it at first, film directors and other visual storytellers use color theory to enhance stories. Color can heighten the emotions and characterizations for the audience, setting the story’s mood. Color signifies periods; it can be used in foreshadowing and symbolism and may remind the audience of events or experiences in their own lives. Therefore, colors and compositions affect how you may perceive or feel about a film.

Color Theory

In 1666, the color wheel, and color theory, was created by Sir Isaac Newton. His theory is based on human perceptions of colors, which are composed of wavelengths of light. He identified three groups of colors: primary, secondary, and tertiary; and three properties: hue (appearance), lighting (purity), and chroma (saturation).

In film, color theory is used to create visual effects or evoke emotions. Certain colors and color combinations set the scene and mood. For example, colors with less saturation may suggest a sad event is occurring, while bright, saturated colors suggest excitement and intensity. Violence is typically associated with red scenes.

Examples from Wes Anderson

Wes Anderson is a renowned film writer and director. He tells his stories from the perspective of a 12-year-old boy from the 1980s. His films also deal with issues from childhood that affect adults later in life, approached with whimsy and surreal scenes.

Anderson’s perspective has a significant impact on his use of color in his films, as at times, the color composition is at odds with the events in the scene. For example, he may use bright, light colors during sad moments, because a child will not have the same reaction to the event that an adult would. During a funeral such as the one shown in "The Darjeeling Limited," a child still sees the beauty and excitement of the world, whereas an adult may be overcome with sadness. In "The Royal Tenenbaums," Anderson uses bright, vibrant colors during a suicide scene.

Anderson focuses on primary colors, especially reds and yellows, and he uses vibrant hues no matter the subject or the action taking place in the film at the time. He adjusts the tone of the film by adjusting the vibrance of the colors. In addition, many of his characters are associated with a single color (e.g., Monsieur Gustave H. wears a deep, saturated purple). The characters he places in red costumes are often troubled due to childhood trauma, such as the death of Chaz’s mother in "The Royal Tenenbaums." Anderson’s use of color reminds the audience that although you may encounter struggles or dark times, the world is still a beautiful and dynamic place.

Developing Your Style

As you use color theory to develop digital, artistic, and video compositions, consider the emotions and experiences you want to convey. Your job is to identify what your customers or viewers want to see and the emotion you want them to feel. Then use hue, saturation, and lighting to evoke those emotions.

Use color dynamically. For example, a contrasting color draws attention to that object, which may have current or future importance. Striking or exciting compositions are often created using opposing colors on the color wheel, one primary and one secondary, such as red and green. Harmony is suggested when you use colors that are next to each other, such as blue and green.

Don’t be afraid to go against the grain, like Anderson, and use color to suggest a new perspective on the scene. Your use of color will eventually develop into your style.

Whether you like or dislike their style, important directors such as Wes Anderson rely on color to set the moods and themes of their movies. Learning about color theory and the way filmmakers employ it can give you new ideas and theories for using color in your productions.