Black, orange, blue, green, yellow and red are just some of the colors that can be found in Jean Claude Kabongo’s paintings. His choice of colors is not a mere gimmick. It is a reflection of his personal passion for painting. His paintings are a visual expression of his feelings and thoughts.
Here are some interesting facts about how painter Jean Claude Kabongo uses different colors in his paintings.

Black is the darkest color
Black is the color that Jean Claude Kabongo uses to give a character to his paintings. It is not a pure black, but a black with grey undertones. The black that Kabongo uses in paintings is called ‘ombre’ in French. This is a medium shade that he uses to give the painting an effect of depth and three-dimensionality.
Kabongo uses pure black as a background to set off the other colors in the painting. This painter often combines black with grey, brown, green and red to form monochromatic paintings. Kabongo also uses black as a symbol of evil, destruction, or death.
Blue is the most favorite color
Blue is the favorite color of Jean Claude Kabongo. He uses it in striking and beautiful ways in almost all of his paintings.
“People often associate blue with water, sky, nature, and peace. It is also known as the color of the intellect and is believed to bring wisdom and calm. It is a very safe color to use in art. It can make an artwork look juvenile or childish but if paired with the right colors, it can also make an artwork look mature and elegant,” says Jean Claude Kabongo.
Red is the color of emotions
Red is the color of love, passion, anger, and aggression. Jean Claude Kabongo uses this color to portray emotions in paintings.
“It is easy to associate red with paintings because it is the color of strawberries and apples. Red is a very bold and powerful color that can stand out against a white background or canvas. Red can also be used as a symbol to show strength or determination. It can also be used to highlight the eyes or the lips of the subject, which can be a very creative and artistic choice,” says Jean Claude Kabongo.
Yellow is the lightest color
“Yellow is the color that gives the sun its brightness,” indicates Jean Claude Kabongo. “It is also the color of golden flowers and is the most commonly used light color in paintings. Yellow is a happy color and can be used to put a smile on the face of anyone who sees it. It can also be combined with other colors to create an interesting artwork and is often used as a decoration in paintings”.
Green is the color of nature
“Green is the color of nature and is often used in paintings depicting landscapes and plants. Green is the color of hope, freshness, and growth. Green is a very neutral color that can be paired with almost any other color. Green can be combined with blue to create an interesting artwork that can give out a very peaceful look. It is also a good choice for creating a background for another color, for example a monochromatic painting with a green as the background,” points out Jean Claude Kabongo.
What Colors Does Jean Claude Kabongo Use?
When it comes to using color in his paintings, Jean Claude Kabongo tends to use the before mentioned five colors. These are black, blue, red, yellow, and green. He also sometimes uses orange when painting flowers. When painting people, Kabongo mostly uses black, blue, red, and yellow to depict their skin color. He also uses green to give the subject a plant-like look. When painting landscapes, he uses black, blue, and green to portray the natural landscapes.