4 November 2025

17) Color and Artistic Communication in Watercolor

Today, we’ll take a look at color and its power to communicate in paintings. Color is interesting and important to those who view art and to those who make art. Watercolor is more than just a technical skill—it is a form of communication or storytelling, where the artist conveys ideas, feelings or emotions through the combination of paint, water and paper. Color functions not just as a visual element, but as an incredibly powerful tool for artistic storytelling and connection.

These paintings use color to convey distinct meaning to each painting.

Think of color as a language. Just like words evoke specific meanings and emotions, so too do the hues, values, and intensities of watercolor paint. Understanding the language of color allows one to go beyond simply depicting what the eye sees and instead begin to communicate stories from the heart!

Artistic communication, sometimes known as storytelling, enables watercolor paintings to “speak” to viewers, evoking personal memories, ideas and making connections. Connection is perhaps the highest calling for an artist. Focusing on their story, artists can make intentional decisions about composition, technique and color, enabling artistic communication for every painting.

Color is a tremendously strong element for painting. It’s said that art is more than a mirror; it’s a bridge between an artist’s inner feeling and the viewer’s imagination and experiences. Painting from the heart, not just the eyes, transforms artwork from being a mirror and changes it to authenticity—to true artistic communication. Color, with its many moods and messages enables a painting to be transformed from a monologue to a dialogue.

Artistic communication isn’t about perfection. It’s about connection. Using color for what a painter’s heart feels invites viewers to experience the world through the lens of the painting, connecting viewers with shared experiences, feelings and emotions.

These paintings each use color to communicate individual messages.

For painters, artistic communication with color can be transformative. The unique experiences, memories and emotions contained in a painting are what make it one-of-a-kind. Artistic communication takes place when a painter decides to reveal not just what they see, but how they authentically connect with their painting. Color powerfully enables this communication to be seen and understood by viewers.

Artistic communication using color helps to create rich, layered stories in paint, inviting viewers to engage in artwork on a deeper, personal level. Color in watercolor can evoke emotions, convey atmosphere, and even guide the viewer’s eye through the painting in ways not otherwise possible.

Is color important for communication for you?