Learn what the work of three generations of extraordinary painters, the Wyeths, can teach you about art, mood, and color theory.

N.C., Andrew, and James Wyeth have left an amazing legacy. Called the first family of painting, this father, son, and nephew have given the world a firm example of how mood and color come together to create amazing results.

Let's first take a look at how the Wyeth family uses mood in their paintings. Take a look at N.C. Wyeth's The Morris House, Port Clyde . As you can see there is one basic feel to the work, light, airy, warm.

How did he achieve this?

See how everything in the painting is spaced apart? There is no crowding here. Also, he softened the sharp lines in his work by adding soft objects such as trees, bushes, and clouds.

One other thing that unifies this painting and gives it it's mood. Color.

To understand this, let's take a look at James Wyeth's The Church . Notice how this painting also has a very distinctive mood. It clearly displays the use of color for this purpose. Only cool colors were used to give the effect of crisp, bright light.

In contrast, take a look at Andrew Wyeth's Christina's World . Notice how all the colors used are from the warm, muted side of the color wheel. This invokes a sense of darkness to the woman's plight, but it also indicates the season portrayed in the painting.

I encourage you to take a look at more of the Wyeth art displayed at these web sites linked here and practice judging the mood and color theme of each painting. Doing this will give you a better feel for using mood and color in your own paintings.