From Color to Art: How Monica Rotgans' Book Changed My Perspective on Color

⏱️ 9 minute read

There are very few good color books in Dutch. Most standard works on color theory are translated from English or German, and therefore lack some of the directness with which they speak to you. Van kleur naar kunst (From Color to Art) by Monica Rotgans is an exception. It is a Dutch book about color that takes its promise seriously: connecting color theory to the practice of making art.

I use it as a source of inspiration and a reference work, alongside Sanzo Wada's A Dictionary of Color Combinations. They complement each other in a way I explain below.

Who is Monica Rotgans?

Monica Rotgans is a Dutch artist and teacher who specializes in color and its use in visual arts. Van kleur naar kunst is written from the perspective of a maker, not from the theory of an academic. This is evident in the tone: accessible, direct, with much attention to how color works on canvas rather than on paper.

The book is relatively unknown in the Netherlands outside of art education circles, which makes it all the more interesting as a reference work. You will find information in it that you won't easily come across in conventional English-language literature, and certainly not in Dutch.

What's in the book?

Van kleur naar kunst covers color theory from multiple perspectives: the physics of light and color, the psychology of color perception, and the application of color in visual art. Rotgans discusses classic color models but consistently translates them into the painter's practice.

Topics covered include:

• Color contrasts and how they affect the eye
• The influence of ambient colors on the perception of a color
• Color temperature and how warm and cool light guide a composition
• Color harmony and when tension is more useful than harmony
• The psychological effect of colors and what that means for the viewer

What distinguishes this book from many other color theories is its focus on perception. Rotgans explains why colors look different depending on what surrounds them, how light changes color, and how, as a painter, you can consciously direct what the viewer experiences.

How I use the book in my work

I don't use Van kleur naar kunst as a step-by-step guide but as a reference work. If I encounter a color problem in a painting—a combination that doesn't work, a composition that lacks serenity—I consult the book to understand what's happening.

This is a different way of working than with Wada. I use Wada before painting, as a starting point for a palette. I use Rotgans during or after painting, when I want to understand why something works or doesn't work. The two books therefore complement each other well.

Color theory visible in my paintings

The insights from Van kleur naar kunst are directly reflected in my work. Three paintings that illustrate this well:

Soho | Original — a painting in which color temperature guides the composition. Warm and cool tones alternate in a way that creates tension without a dominant color. Exactly the kind of balance Rotgans describes when discussing thermal contrast.

Pale Divide | Original — based on palette #134 from Wada, but the proportions are determined based on color theory. The muted salmon pink works as an accent precisely because the surroundings are so neutral—a principle Rotgans discusses extensively.

Arc | Original — a painting where form and color work together. The curved line enhances the color transition; the color enhances the movement of the form. This interplay between composition and color is one of the central themes in the book.

The difference from other color books

There are many books on color theory. The most well-known are probably Josef Albers' Interaction of Color and Johannes Itten's The Art of Color. Both are classics, but also dense and abstract. They are written for an academic audience and require time and concentration to fully grasp.

Rotgans is more accessible. The book is in Dutch, the examples are concrete, and the theory is consistently translated into the practice of making. For an independent artist who has not attended art academy, that makes a big difference.

That doesn't mean Rotgans is superficial. The theory is solid and the insights are nuanced. But the barrier to entry is lower, which makes the book more useful as a daily reference work.

Color theory in practice: what I specifically do with it

In my work, I use many muted, broken colors—colors that already contain some gray or white. This is a conscious choice, but it also carries a risk: muted colors can quickly feel lifeless if the proportions aren't right.

Rotgans explains how color contrast works at low saturation: small differences in tone or temperature are perceived as larger when the environment is neutral. This insight has helped me to work more consciously with the proportions in my palettes—not adding more color, but managing what's already there more cleverly.

This is the kind of insight you won't find in an inspirational book like Wada. It requires theory, and Rotgans provides it in a way I can directly apply.

Who is this book for?

Van kleur naar kunst is suitable for anyone who works seriously with color and wants to understand the theory behind it. This could be a beginner painter who wants to grasp color harmony, or an experienced artist who wants to substantiate their intuition with knowledge.

The book is in Dutch, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. The theory is not too heavy, the examples are concrete, and the format is clear. It's not a book you read cover to cover, but a reference work you pick up again and again when you have a specific question.

Van kleur naar kunst and A Dictionary of Color Combinations: stronger together

If you want to read more about how I use Wada in my work, also read:

• Sanzo Wada's Dictionary of Color Combinations: the color book that has inspired artists for 90 years
• A Dictionary of Color Combinations: the complete guide for artists

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I buy Monica Rotgans' Van kleur naar kunst?
The book is available through Dutch bookstores and online. Search by title and author's name.

Is the book suitable for beginners?
Yes. The theory is accessibly written, and the examples are concrete. You don't need prior knowledge to benefit from it.

Do you use the book for every painting?
Not for every painting. I consult it when I want to understand a color problem or when I want to test my intuition against theory.

What is the difference with Sanzo Wada?
Wada is an inspirational book: ready-made color combinations as a starting point. Rotgans is a theoretical reference work: an explanation of why colors work the way they do. They complement each other.

Related articles

• A Dictionary of Color Combinations: the complete guide for artists
• Sanzo Wada's Dictionary of Color Combinations: the color book that has inspired artists for 90 years
• From Book to Canvas: how I use A Dictionary of Color Combinations in my work