Colours used in painting especially (6)
I believe the answer is:
tinges
'colours' is the definition.
(tinge is a kind of colour)
'in painting especially' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'TINGES' can be found hidden inside 'painting especially'.
'used' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for tinges that I've seen before include "Slight amounts of colour" , "Lightly dyes" .)