The saturation of colors found on the color wheel can be muted by mixing with colors on the other side of the color wheel or by mixing with black, gray, and/or brown.

Muted colors might add a somber feeling to a work of art if the colors are darker in value, or they might offer a serene feeling if they are lighter in value.

With the attention to color minimized, the artist can direct the viewer’s attention more to the forms and shapes depicted.

Featured: Madame Vuillard Sewing by Édouard Vuillard