what I know now...

-primary colors: red, yellow & blue
-secondary colors: orange, green & purple
-you create secondary colors by mixing two of the primary colors
-complimentary colors are the colors that sit across from the another color on the color wheel.
-you can emphasize someting in a painting, by using composition to lead the viewers eye to the object. You cn use contrast in color (complimentary colors) or tone. You can use shadows and detail to make the object stand out from the rest.
-You can add complimentary color to the current color of the object creating a darker hue of it.
-to show light you can use the lighter colors, with more white creating a shine on the object.
-use darker colors in contrast to the lighter colors of the objects closer up to set the object farther back in the layout. Or you can make the object smaller than the objects closer or in the foreground.
-I would sketch or lightly layout the painting, create the disired composision. Then paint what i see giving equal value to the objects as i give to the space that lays between them, resulting in a complete and rich piece.