Color Theory That Actually Clicks: Behind My “Bases and Secrets of Color Theory” Course
Color theory shouldn’t feel overwhelming. Yet something about mixing colors, choosing a palette, or trying to express emotion through color becomes a barrier for many people. It stops them before they even start creating.
After teaching painting techniques for the past five years, I’ve learned that the main issue students face is exactly that: basic color theory. They struggle with real-time color choices, and that frustration grows quickly.
How It Started
When I visited some friends and former teachers at the university, the topic came up again and again. At that time, I was teaching small workshops focused on oil techniques, old-school, yes, but with tips to paint faster and more enjoyably.
During one of those conversations, I learned something that genuinely surprised me: color theory was no longer being taught, even in Fine Arts degrees.
That explained so much. Students weren’t confused because I painted differently. They were confused because they had no foundation. Many even wanted to learn my color usage more than anything else in the workshop.
That’s when I began adjusting my classes. In every workshop, both online and in-person, I added 20–30% of the time to cover color theory basics, sometimes with a short study.
This made everything easier for everyone. The painting part became smoother, and I didn’t have to repeat basic concepts constantly. Workshops started filling up faster, and the approach worked well.
But even with the improvements, I always felt rushed. There was never enough time to explain everything I wanted, and color theory needs time. That’s when I decided to complement the workshops with a full color theory course that people could access anytime.
The Switch
Around that period, companies reached out, and I experimented with YouTube and different e-learning platforms. But I always felt limited by external conditions, video length, format, and platform rules. Nothing truly allowed me to teach the way I wanted.
I needed two things: time and flexibility. Time to explain color properly, and the flexibility to build the course as I envisioned it. That led me to create AlaiGanuza Academia. Delegating is great (my therapist keeps reminding me), but having full control of your work is another level.
By then, I had already collected years of questions from students. Luckily, I am one of those people that writes everything down, so I had a clear picture of the concepts people struggled with most. This became the foundation of the course.
What Makes This Course Different
Color First, Medium Second
Bases and Secrets of Color Theory is focused 100% on color, something that seems obvious but rarely happens. Most courses are tied to a medium: oils, watercolors, digital painting, etc.
But color is independent of the medium. You can learn color theory once, and apply it everywhere. I personally paint digitally using the same principles I use in oils, acrylics, and even markers. This course teaches exactly that.
Background in science
My second passion has always been science. I studied physics, and that shaped the way I understand light and color. In my work, I think a lot about how optics behave and how to capture more than what is visible at first glance.
I also apply a scientific method to painting:
Observation: what we’re painting
Question: What’s the objective? What feeling do I want to convey?
Hypothesis: how I will approach it: test palettes and swatches
Experimentation: studies, moodboards, and small tests that you repeat often, not just right before painting
Test: we paint (most people start here)
Report: we learn, adjust, and avoid overworking
In the course, I show how I apply each step to my own paintings. Once you make your decisions first, the painting part becomes more enjoyable and less stressful.
A Contemporary Approach to an Academic Topic
I studied with academic teachers for years, and while that knowledge is valuable, the format is often too rigid. On the other hand, overly “fun” courses can feel too simplistic and chaotic. We need a balance.
That’s exactly what this course aims to create: real, applicable knowledge without the pressure of strict rules. A long-term, stress-free way to understand the relationship between colors.
For Everyone
The course adapts to every experience level.
Experienced artists can benefit from the course by unlearning rigid habits and discovering faster, more expressive ways to interpret color.
This is also a color theory course for beginners; they get a clear foundation from the start, with exercises that help them apply color theory immediately.
Any medium works because the concepts are universal.
Private Community
AlaiGanuza Academia already has more than 2,000 students from different backgrounds. The community is bilingual (English and Spanish), and people share tips, tools, and experiences openly.
I offer 1-to-1 guidance, but the community itself adds extra support. Sometimes someone knows a specific brush brand or technique I don’t, and they share it generously. Their progress has been one of the best parts of this project.
Rainbow Friday: A One-Time Offer for the Color Theory Course
To celebrate our first Black Friday, or as I prefer to call it, Rainbow Friday, the Bases and Secrets of Color Theory course will have its biggest discount of the entire year.
The Color Course, on its own, comes with a $100 discount, and if we count all the extras that are included for free, the savings are closer to $200. It’s a special price that will only be available this week. Once Rainbow Friday ends, the course doors will be closed.
If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to join, this is genuinely the best one. I’m also preparing giveaways and extra surprises over the next weeks, but those will only be announced on Instagram and in the newsletter. If you don’t want to miss them, make sure to follow or subscribe!
You can find the Rainbow Friday offer in AlaiGanuza Academia, of course :)
