Wow! What a great video! Such clear explanations! I almost didn’t watch it because who wants another one of those incomprehensible color theory videos? Thank you!
A friend once told me the mark of an artist is being able to use as few colors to get whatever color you wanted. With this video I feel like I might just be able to get by with just cyan, magenta, and yellow! Thank you so much for this!! Will be so helpful when traveling with my paints to know I can carry just these 3 and still get the breadth of color that I need
Okay, okay, complete beginner to art at all let alone watercolor and I’ll have to watch the video a few more times and take notes but I finally see a GLIMMER of understanding it. Thank you!
I think the one thing that has kept me from beginning traditional painting for so long is fear around color mixing. You've broken it down perfectly! And so amazing what range these three colors have! A great way to save a bunch of money on paint too once you get the hang of it! Wish I'd known that before I ordered a big set lol
Thank you for this explanation of color theory. I have been trying to understand this concept and almost gave up trying. I am deeply grateful for you sharing your knowledge and experience. I am in my senior years, no classes or training and in the beginning stages of learning how to paint with watercolors. My granddaughter, a budding art student, is my inspiration🥰
Love this video. You did a great job of explaining a very perplexing subject. Usually when I hear words like Analogous for instance, my eyes begin to glaze over. Thank you so much
I gave up on watercolor 2 years ago but decided to give it another try and this video is what I was looking for. I want to use a limited palette and I like the 3 colors you use for primaries. I'm also experimenting with some other shades of Y, R, & B. Right now my whole focus is mastering the color wheel. THANK YOU!!!
This is great! I picked up color theory very quickly as a kid and I've never really had trouble with it. My problem is going to slow trying to mix the exact color I think I need. Watching your demonstration makes me want to be bolder, work faster, and not worry so much. Thanks!!
Part of the reason I wanted to start painting with water color was because I love color. Thank you for explaining color theory in an easy to understand way. It made my brain happy and I can’t wait to try this on my own. 🎨
Wonderful video. Thank you for breaking it down in such a simple to understand way. But I shouldn't be surprised because that is the way you teach and why I learn so much from you.
Hi Kristin. Thank you so very much. This is by far the best overview I have ever seen. I have struggled with colour theory for awhile. Thank you for breaking it down and making it easier to understand.
What a GREAT, simple to understand tutorial. I have been painting for the past year struggling with watercolors and this is hands down the best explanation around color mixing to date I’ve watched. Thank you!
That was a great colour blending tutorial Kristen thanks for breaking it down to show the simplicity of the 3 primary colours first. I luv the earthy tones myself depending of course what you painting. Look forward to another one 🙌
I’ve been reading about the Quiller Color Wheel and your video follows Quiller’s layout, just for people that want to work with a more limited pallet. I typically paint with a more limited pallet when I’m out and about but like to have a more inclusive pallet when I’m painting at home. I just purchased a new ceramic pallet from Meeden/Amazon that is designed for the Quiller color wheel so I’ll deciding what colors to mix and which to buy this next week. Great video for anyone interested in mixing colors from a limited pallet.
I just found your channel and this lesson on color theory made it all click for me! Thank you for that gift! I can’t wait for your book to come and I’m looking forward to watch all your content. ❤
Thanks sooooooooooooo much! I can't tell you how many videos I have watched on color mixing, and I am like, "Whaa...t?" 🫤 You have a serious gift for teaching. ❤
I actually listened to your whole video! No easy feat for me because usually go on quickly to the next video about color theory. THANK YOU so much for sharing g this with us.
Thank you so much for taking your valuable time and knowledge and sharing it. I to have had such a time trying to understand this concept. You have absolutely done it for me, well done.
This. Was. So. Helpful!! I’ve been so intimidated by watercolor and other tutorials because color theory has been completely lost on me, but you explained it so clearly and so simply. I feel empowered! Thank you.
I think a lot of people get hung up on RGB because it’s so drilled into us that they are primaries. And they are, but RGB primaries are based on the visible light spectrum. CMY(K) is the pigment primary spectrum, and since light and pigment behave very differently, CMY(K) makes for a “cleaner” spectrum of paint colors.
I watched this after watching your most recent (1/4/2025) video on "5 things I wish I knew before I started watercolor". I have been avoiding color theory because ... it seemed more complex than I wanted to deal with and now I understand that I probably should have started with color theory ... especially as explained in this video which makes so much sense and easy to follow. Thank you Kristin!
First of all : funny ... I live in "Leuven/Belgium" 🙂. Next to that : what is an alternative for Quin Magenta ? Cannot seem to find it in the White Nights line :-). Thanks and very nice inspirational video!
Warning!!! As a beginner, I too love quin magenta, so I bought it in different brands!!! I also love Phthalo Green ... same thing ... Phthalo blues... yep... I suggest you use Google because there are many colors that are similar - with different names and pigment numbers!!! Happy painting 🎉
They have now discontinued the regular Q. magenta and each brand can look very different & now using almost a florescent “dye”! Can’t say it’s not just gorgeous but mixing with PR122 “very strong”.
Some blues have red in their pigment mixture some have yellow. Some reds have blue in their pigment mixture some have yellow. If you mix a blue with a red base with red, you'll get a vibrant purple, blue with a yellow base plus yellow equals vibrant green. It just means you need two reds, two blues, and a good yellow if you want to use red- yellow- blue primary colors.
I just discovered your channel - Diane Antone referred to your book "Modern watercolours". Love your tutorials! I was intrigued by your name: I live in Belgium, about 5 km from Leuven. I am now retired, but worked in this city for 44 years (KU Leuven - University of Leuven). I was wondering if your name refers to the origins of your ancestors? I only recently started painting watercolors. Thank you for the clear explanation of the color theory! It was really helpful.
I have seen many videos talk about a split primary colours but I still think it's a bit....too much? So I am sticking with CYM and black. Your explanation is why I use this
This is a really dumb question, but how does color theory apply to digital watercolor? Can digital watercolor even "mix"? Sorry for the silly question. I love your videos. 🌞
I started searching why more ppl saying started seeing ppl saying to use the colors printers use 🤔. I assume if you want to use the CYM way try it but still use my warm/cool of primary colors & don’t always want “bright” vibrant colors that often but ty for video as must know some color theory!
Do you have tips for making value scales of the muddier colours? My problem is I never seem to make enough and so have to make it again and can never get the mix quite right again. But maybe I'm overthinking it!
Hi Kristin! I'm beginner and lucky enough to find you just in time! I love your color palete and I want to start with this, but could you please clarify which cerulian blue are you talking about? The plain or the red shaded? Cause the color of the plain seems in its photo seems very far from your etiquette on that tube, but you could never know with colors... Or is there a third cerulian? Thanks anyway, I'm learning a lot from you!
The reason why, in your second series, you don't get a "proper" purple isn't because of ultramarine. Ultramarine is, as a matter of fact, a good idea, as it contains a bit of red in it. The mistake is your cadmium red. It's the furthest red on the palette, very close to orange, which is *the complementary colour* of ultramarine. So what you're doing is darkening your ultramarine. Ultramarine is an ideal blue hue for purples - if you find it too dark, *it's watercolour: dilute it!* :) But replace your red by a magenta. Really, try it: ultramarine + magenta or carmine = you get all the most magnificent hues of purple. Try these combinations: - ultramarine + cadmium red = dark, muddy purple - ultramarine + magenta = splendid purple hues (of course use more magenta pigment than ultramarine pigment, as blue pigments usually stain more) - cerulean + cadmium red = muddy purple - cerulean + magenta = dark purple, almost black (cerulean is too cold, it's closer to a green than it is to a red) - it's the dark purple that you've got up there, and you can see it's your magenta that's doing the trick, not the kind of blue you're using. If anything, cerulean is making your mix more difficult than necessary.
Well I mean, kind of my point is that cad red creates the muddy mixtures and everyone should use magenta if they want brighter and clearer purples, so I agree with you! Ultramarine and magenta make great purples, it just depends on the look you’re going for. Cerulean and magenta do not make black purples in my experience, and as you can see here in my video, but maybe my cerulean doesn’t lean green like yours does. My whole point to the video is not to violative any color, but to help everyone understand that your primary colors matter and you get to choose what you want to get the colors that you want. I’m glad you love ultramarine and it works for you!
I'm the only person who remains confused, l guess. I feel I'm not understanding the physics of light, why cyan is difficult to see on the colour spectrum, and why cyan and magenta aren't included in a standard set of pan watercolor boxes if they are so important. I don't believe I've seen cyan sold in tubes, either. Sigh.
Wow! What a great video! Such clear explanations! I almost didn’t watch it because who wants another one of those incomprehensible color theory videos? Thank you!
Haha thank you for this comment! I was worried it would get skipped over for that reason but I’m so glad you liked it
I went through 4 years of art school and did not understand what you broke down in 11 min, THANKS Kristin!
Wow I think this is the best compliment ever. Thank you! Glad it helped!
A friend once told me the mark of an artist is being able to use as few colors to get whatever color you wanted. With this video I feel like I might just be able to get by with just cyan, magenta, and yellow! Thank you so much for this!! Will be so helpful when traveling with my paints to know I can carry just these 3 and still get the breadth of color that I need
Okay, okay, complete beginner to art at all let alone watercolor and I’ll have to watch the video a few more times and take notes but I finally see a GLIMMER of understanding it. Thank you!
This makes me so happy!!! Glad it’s helping
Me toooo! It gave me hope! I was about to skip lol
Me too 😊
I think the one thing that has kept me from beginning traditional painting for so long is fear around color mixing. You've broken it down perfectly! And so amazing what range these three colors have! A great way to save a bunch of money on paint too once you get the hang of it! Wish I'd known that before I ordered a big set lol
Thank you for this explanation of color theory. I have been trying to understand this concept and almost gave up trying. I am deeply grateful for you sharing your knowledge and experience. I am in my senior years, no classes or training and in the beginning stages of learning how to paint with watercolors. My granddaughter, a budding art student, is my inspiration🥰
This video 109% delivered what was promised. Thank you for explaining color theory and how to use it so clearly!
This is such a great compliment. Thank you so much!
I generally zone out when artists explain color theory. You broke this down so well, that even an amateur like me can understand. Thanks so much.
Love this video. You did a great job of explaining a very perplexing subject. Usually when I hear words like Analogous for instance, my eyes begin to glaze over. Thank you so much
I gave up on watercolor 2 years ago but decided to give it another try and this video is what I was looking for. I want to use a limited palette and I like the 3 colors you use for primaries. I'm also experimenting with some other shades of Y, R, & B. Right now my whole focus is mastering the color wheel. THANK YOU!!!
FINALLY! A simple, clear explanation of color theory. Thank you! I finally understand it. I am giddy with joy.
This is great! I picked up color theory very quickly as a kid and I've never really had trouble with it. My problem is going to slow trying to mix the exact color I think I need. Watching your demonstration makes me want to be bolder, work faster, and not worry so much. Thanks!!
Another simple, fun and inspiring tutorial to just make me want to mix some colours and play. Thank you
Part of the reason I wanted to start painting with water color was because I love color. Thank you for explaining color theory in an easy to understand way. It made my brain happy and I can’t wait to try this on my own. 🎨
Wonderful video. Thank you for breaking it down in such a simple to understand way. But I shouldn't be surprised because that is the way you teach and why I learn so much from you.
@@barbarabonner131 I can’t tell you how much this comment means to me! Thank you so much 💕
Hi Kristin. Thank you so very much. This is by far the best overview I have ever seen. I have struggled with colour theory for awhile. Thank you for breaking it down and making it easier to understand.
You are so kind! I'm really glad it helped you
Thank you Kristin! Such a valuable class.
Great insight. Looking forward to your channel growing even bigger. You have a brilliant way of teaching that makes it feel so easy.
Explained so well! Your explanations in all the videos are so simple and yet the cover the subject so well.
Thank you for making this so simple & understandable!!!!! God bless you
This got through to me. 😆🎉 Thank you very much for sharing this 🙏 🎉 I can feel the light of the Ah Ha clarity 😅
Expertly explained and carried out. Thank you for talking sense.
Totally agree with others comments you’ve made it so clear and simple thank you
What a GREAT, simple to understand tutorial. I have been painting for the past year struggling with watercolors and this is hands down the best explanation around color mixing to date I’ve watched. Thank you!
❤❤❤ Thank you!!!!!!!!! I’m so happy I found your page!!!
All of your videos are so helpful. Thank you so much for posting these.
That was a great colour blending tutorial Kristen thanks for breaking it down to show the simplicity of the 3 primary colours first. I luv the earthy tones myself depending of course what you painting. Look forward to another one 🙌
I’ve been reading about the Quiller Color Wheel and your video follows Quiller’s layout, just for people that want to work with a more limited pallet. I typically paint with a more limited pallet when I’m out and about but like to have a more inclusive pallet when I’m painting at home. I just purchased a new ceramic pallet from Meeden/Amazon that is designed for the Quiller color wheel so I’ll deciding what colors to mix and which to buy this next week. Great video for anyone interested in mixing colors from a limited pallet.
@@GaryScott-pdx that’s awesome! I agree with limited for travel and a few more for home
LOOOVED THIS VIDEO! You have no idea how much this is gonna help. ❤❤❤
This is the best explanation of a colour wheel I have ever seen. Clear, concise, thank you so much 🦋
I just found your channel and this lesson on color theory made it all click for me! Thank you for that gift! I can’t wait for your book to come and I’m looking forward to watch all your content. ❤
It was a wonderful video! Very helpful. Thank you. You are a great teacher.
Wow! So much easier than what I had learned! Thank You!
Thanks sooooooooooooo much! I can't tell you how many videos I have watched on color mixing, and I am like, "Whaa...t?" 🫤 You have a serious gift for teaching. ❤
I actually listened to your whole video! No easy feat for me because usually go on quickly to the next video about color theory. THANK YOU so much for sharing g this with us.
You’re welcome! Thank you for the kind feedback 💕
This was so helpful and so easy to understand and remember, thank you!
Thank you so much for taking your valuable time and knowledge and sharing it. I to have had such a time trying to understand this concept. You have absolutely done it for me, well done.
This. Was. So. Helpful!! I’ve been so intimidated by watercolor and other tutorials because color theory has been completely lost on me, but you explained it so clearly and so simply. I feel empowered! Thank you.
This is great! Best explanation I've seen.
Very helpful to understand color mixing! Thank you for making it so clear. 😊
You are so welcome!
Such a great video! I can’t wait to try this!
I think a lot of people get hung up on RGB because it’s so drilled into us that they are primaries. And they are, but RGB primaries are based on the visible light spectrum. CMY(K) is the pigment primary spectrum, and since light and pigment behave very differently, CMY(K) makes for a “cleaner” spectrum of paint colors.
@@silvertales exactly! It’s hard to make the brain shift with paint
So glad I found your channel! LOVING your videos. Did the strawberries today. Please keep uploading :)
Thank you! Your instruction is so pleasant and so valuable!
Fabulous demo. Thank you
Wow, very helpful and fun, thank you!
Oh my gosh…this was awesome! You did a fantastic job of teaching me more about color! You are amazing! Thank you👏👏❤️
You are so welcome!
I watched this after watching your most recent (1/4/2025) video on "5 things I wish I knew before I started watercolor". I have been avoiding color theory because ... it seemed more complex than I wanted to deal with and now I understand that I probably should have started with color theory ... especially as explained in this video which makes so much sense and easy to follow. Thank you Kristin!
I am so happy to hear this! It means so much to me that this video was helpful for you
Your explanation on color theory was great!! I understand it but you showed a few things that I didn’t really realize. Thank you!
What a great video! Informative and to the point. ❤ Thank you.
Girl, you are fab!
Love your advice and reasoning.These have been the most helpful of the 100s of videos I’ve watched !
Thank you so much!
Thank you! So helpful for me😊
thank you!!!! this was so much fun and VERY insightful
Great tips, I am going to make a colour wheel if Both cmyk and ryb.
Thanks for the video 👍
could you make a video of a lake with background mountains and rocks on the edge? and more Italian landscapes love them
It was very useful. Thank you very much! 🌷
Masterful ... 🤩 Thank you so much !
This is such a helpful video !
Thank you so much for the awesome explaination!♡♡♡
Amazing! THANK YOU!
Fantastic video. Awesome! Thank you so much. ❤
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!❤
Thanks so much. I finally get it 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Glad it helped!
Very helpful!
This is so helpful. Thank you.
You’re very welcome 💕
Thank you. Good info
First of all : funny ... I live in "Leuven/Belgium" 🙂. Next to that : what is an alternative for Quin Magenta ? Cannot seem to find it in the White Nights line :-). Thanks and very nice inspirational video!
Warning!!! As a beginner, I too love quin magenta, so I bought it in different brands!!! I also love Phthalo Green ... same thing ... Phthalo blues... yep... I suggest you use Google because there are many colors that are similar - with different names and pigment numbers!!! Happy painting 🎉
They have now discontinued the regular Q. magenta and each brand can look very different & now using almost a florescent “dye”!
Can’t say it’s not just gorgeous but mixing with PR122 “very strong”.
Some blues have red in their pigment mixture some have yellow. Some reds have blue in their pigment mixture some have yellow. If you mix a blue with a red base with red, you'll get a vibrant purple, blue with a yellow base plus yellow equals vibrant green. It just means you need two reds, two blues, and a good yellow if you want to use red- yellow- blue primary colors.
Beautiful ❤
Very good video on color theory
Thank you!!!! 🤗
It is amazing video...thanks
I just discovered your channel - Diane Antone referred to your book "Modern watercolours". Love your tutorials!
I was intrigued by your name: I live in Belgium, about 5 km from Leuven. I am now retired, but worked in this city for 44 years (KU Leuven - University of Leuven). I was wondering if your name refers to the origins of your ancestors?
I only recently started painting watercolors. Thank you for the clear explanation of the color theory! It was really helpful.
Wow, this was so clear and easy to follow; my concern would be to figure out much paint to add to the brush...is it about what looks right to you?
I have seen many videos talk about a split primary colours but I still think it's a bit....too much? So I am sticking with CYM and black. Your explanation is why I use this
@@Panda-24 I agree! Split is an easier way to get colors without mixing but everything gets muddy fast
Thank you so much mam....
Great video!
(All this painting is totally distracting me from your nail designs tho!)😉 😄
New subscriber, thank you! 🤍
This is a really dumb question, but how does color theory apply to digital watercolor? Can digital watercolor even "mix"? Sorry for the silly question. I love your videos. 🌞
Not a dumb question but I have no idea, sorry!
I started searching why more ppl saying started seeing ppl saying to use the colors printers use 🤔.
I assume if you want to use the CYM way try it but still use my warm/cool of primary colors & don’t always want “bright” vibrant colors that often but ty for video as must know some color theory!
Do you have tips for making value scales of the muddier colours? My problem is I never seem to make enough and so have to make it again and can never get the mix quite right again. But maybe I'm overthinking it!
🤯. Newbie here thank you😊
How we make majanta colour
This is an area I really struggle with, but I’ve yet to find a tutorial that goes more slowly so I can keep up
Hi Kristin! I'm beginner and lucky enough to find you just in time! I love your color palete and I want to start with this, but could you please clarify which cerulian blue are you talking about? The plain or the red shaded? Cause the color of the plain seems in its photo seems very far from your etiquette on that tube, but you could never know with colors... Or is there a third cerulian? Thanks anyway, I'm learning a lot from you!
The reason why, in your second series, you don't get a "proper" purple isn't because of ultramarine. Ultramarine is, as a matter of fact, a good idea, as it contains a bit of red in it.
The mistake is your cadmium red. It's the furthest red on the palette, very close to orange, which is *the complementary colour* of ultramarine. So what you're doing is darkening your ultramarine.
Ultramarine is an ideal blue hue for purples - if you find it too dark, *it's watercolour: dilute it!* :)
But replace your red by a magenta.
Really, try it: ultramarine + magenta or carmine = you get all the most magnificent hues of purple.
Try these combinations:
- ultramarine + cadmium red = dark, muddy purple
- ultramarine + magenta = splendid purple hues (of course use more magenta pigment than ultramarine pigment, as blue pigments usually stain more)
- cerulean + cadmium red = muddy purple
- cerulean + magenta = dark purple, almost black (cerulean is too cold, it's closer to a green than it is to a red) - it's the dark purple that you've got up there, and you can see it's your magenta that's doing the trick, not the kind of blue you're using. If anything, cerulean is making your mix more difficult than necessary.
Well I mean, kind of my point is that cad red creates the muddy mixtures and everyone should use magenta if they want brighter and clearer purples, so I agree with you! Ultramarine and magenta make great purples, it just depends on the look you’re going for. Cerulean and magenta do not make black purples in my experience, and as you can see here in my video, but maybe my cerulean doesn’t lean green like yours does. My whole point to the video is not to violative any color, but to help everyone understand that your primary colors matter and you get to choose what you want to get the colors that you want. I’m glad you love ultramarine and it works for you!
Sometimes you need a dirt path.
I heard that as if you were speaking metaphorically. Then I realized, no, she really means you need a dirt path.
@@SueUTube haha sometimes it’s all you need in life and in paintings 😂
I'm the only person who remains confused, l guess. I feel I'm not understanding the physics of light, why cyan is difficult to see on the colour spectrum, and why cyan and magenta aren't included in a standard set of pan watercolor boxes if they are so important. I don't believe I've seen cyan sold in tubes, either. Sigh.
In watercolors
Yellow = lemon yellow
Cyan = Cerulean
Magenta = Quinmagenta
I'll have to listen again. Im clueless about what she is saying
Pause as much as you need to, you'll get it! It's a tricky topic for sure
This was very helpful, thanks a lot 🤍💫
Amazing! THANK YOU!
Very helpful!