Colour mixing and theory for watercolour - made simple - mix clear or subdued colours at will
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- Опубликовано: 11 июл 2024
- Just done my weekly tips, tricks or techniques film on RUclips, all about colour mixing. And don't forget my RUclips giveaway too.... Here's the link: • Colour mixing and theo...
TAGS: colour theory, colour mixing, simplified, basic, beginners, simple, color theory, color mixing, complementary colours, complementary colors, secondary colours, secondary colors, colour wheel, color wheel, secrets, how to, how to mix watercolour like a pro, how to mix watercolor like a pro 
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I have 5 RUclips “tutors” whose knowledge and teaching skills I respect and trust. Four are Brits, and 3 of those are women. You, dear Liz, have turned on the light bulb for me after the others did the wiring. I heard what the others said, but it didn’t quite sink in until I saw this and heard your explanation. Finally, I’ve got the message! Thank you for all of these videos you have made. I am busily trying to catch up on them.
Wow, thank you! what a lovely thing to say. May you have many more lightbulbs 💡 PS Would love to know your list of accounts too, so I can check them out. the great thing is that there is always more to learn.
@@LizChadertonArt There is no problem passing on my list of admired “tutors,” which include, besides yourself, Anne Kerr, Michele Webber, and Oliver Pyle. I also try to keep up with Matthew White; Eric Yi Lin, whose channel is Cafe Watercolor; and Ian Roberts, who works in oil, which I do not, but who is an admirable teacher of composition regardless of your chosen medium. These 3 are all Americans. I am a beginner, 75 years young, and trying to make something good of this time I am “serving in isolation”😆 due to being immunocompromised. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate everyone’s generosity in these extraordinary times.
P.S. One more I find very interesting is Mind of Watercolor. I think the man’s name is Steve Mitchell. He has some videos on what he calls “spontaneous landscapes” and they are both fascinating and incredibly beautiful. You may find these very interesting.
Your tutorial came at a perfect time as I’d been struggling making a colour wheel. Thank for this video. It answered all my questions regarding my blah coloured wheel 🤗
I'm very new to watercolour, so new that when my colour mixing didn't give me the colours I wanted e.g. your "new" green green, I gave up. Now I have seen the explanation as to why I wasn't getting what I wanted, I'm going back. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
please don’t give up on watercolour. It’s a gorgeous medium
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I thought I had a good understanding of colour theory and therefore could not understand why I spent hours mixing to get the colours. I would sometimes just go to the art shop and spend a fortune buying all the tints tones and hues of the watercolour pencils. I have even made a grid to start swatching my watercolours because I couldn't see where I was going wrong. Thank you also for plain straightforward explainations without all the noise and buzzes and whistles. Art for so many is a calming thoughtful process so many videos that may have valuable information I swith off because of the noise. You have a new subscriber in me.
so glad it helped ☺️!
Just found your lesson. What a revelation! I now understand why so many of my colour mixes hace looked muddy! Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Aha! Finally it all makes sense! Thank you so much! I have been baffled for years, never knowing why "primaries" arent doing what i expected. I will be making my own color daisy first thing tomorrow morning!
yay!
By George Liz!
It’s finally clicking thanks to your video… well done!
This 70 year old is finally understanding the color bias!
It’s been a trip but I’m getting the gist of it thanks to you!
Thankyou!
Wow, thank you! You remind me of 'My Fair Lady' by George I think she's got it!!
Thank you for making me understand my bad combinations with colors that I didn't want. Thanks for making it so easy to understand. Now I have to find my colors.😍😍😍😍
Glad it was helpful!
This is masterful ! Brilliantly explained and demonstrated ... Thank you !
Glad it was helpful!
If one is wanting to better understand colour theory and how each pigment interacts with the other, This is a brilliant video to describe just that. Often folks don't visually understand why colours get flat or muted. This is a perfect example of understanding that each color has a warm and a cool value.
When you see it presented, it just makes sense, it creates that "A-Ha" moment for the viewer. Thank you for a cogent discussion and a visual on the process of colour mixing.
I know the visual impact it can have when you just see what happens in real time, with explanation of the "WHY".
Thank you for taking the time to explain.😉✨🧡
And thank you for such a thoughtful reply. I remember when it clicked, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t understood it before! People go on about using single pigment colours instead….
I feel exactly as Shelley has said. Absolutely love the clarity and simplicity. Now also catching up on all your tips. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Thank you!
After couple of years of trying to wrap my brains around the cool and warm, this makes so much more sense!
I mean people keep taking about muddy colors and then talk about temperature!! When all they really need to say is exactly what you just explained! 👍🏼👏🏼🙌🏼
so glad it helped. it was an aha moment when I realised
Even though I have painted for years and have my favorite mixes , I enjoy learning more . It's really interesting.
Great to hear!
This is a great explanation, thank you! and funny too ‘bloomin heck it works!’ 😂
Glad it was helpful!😀
OMG - really! The penny has just fallen with an almighty clang!!!! I am new to all this and have been playing with mixing colours & wondered what I was doing wrong??? I am going to go through my palette & look at it with new eyes. Thank you sooo much🙏
You are so welcome! it will all get easier with experience
Gosh! This explains sooooo much! I’ve just discovered you tonight and I’m absolutely giddy! Thank you so much for teaching all of this!
You are so welcome!
i am a senior and new to watercolor. I'm so glad to find your channel and really needing help mixing colors. Your art is beautiful.
Welcome! watercolour is such a beautiful medium
I've since found a watercolour chart which lists each colour by group( colour), colour name,temperature,opacoty,staining power ( not sure about that one) and comments.
very helpful reference tool. Thanks again for your concise guide
that sounds very useful
Great video! I've heard other people discussing this topic, but your explanation really made it click for me. Thank you!
that’s so good to hear 😊
Finally I understand. My brain just would not compute before!No confusing warm, cool, leaning more this than that. The way how you describe it is so clear because I can see the tints you are referring to in the colours you are about to mix. Thank you! X
That’s made my day! so glad it helped
Excellent, thank you. Seems so simple but never realised why!!
Everything is simple once you know it 😊😂😂
Thank you so much for this explanation. It's the first time i have seen this explanation of mixing that made sense to me 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you Liz, a great colour mixing tutorial😊
You’re welcome 😊
Finally a clear explanation of color theory! Thank you Liz!💕
Glad it was helpful!
Great video....helping us to understand mixing better. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow! you’re tutorial was so informative. This is most definitely going to help me going forward in my creativity.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the clearest explanation of colour mixing . I’ve painted along with you to make my colour Daisy and Bingo! It works! I’ve had so much trouble especially with green and now I know why. I’m a follower and look forward to learning more with you.
You are so welcome!
I love your channel. Such a wonderful teacher!
Thank you so much!
What a beautiful eye opening exercise! You showed us the 'true colours' in colour mixing! (Excuse my silly pun) 😅
😁 love a pun!
Click! Did you hear that? It was my brain finally grasping this concept! Thank you for this clear explanation!!
Excellent! I love the sound of that cluck!
Liz I cannot thank you enough for this video! I am sending a huge virtual hug! You explained things so brilliantly that I now completely understand what to do and not to do when mixing! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
You are so welcome! and you’ve made me smile!
I’m just thrilled one of your videos popped up today!!
You are absolutely genius and gifted instructor!! while apparently a extremely talented artist!!! Love, I mean LOVE your giraffe painting!!Hazel Soan also uses those 3 colors her elephants “Ellie’s” as well as other animals. You two are the only ones that have mentioned and shown this!
Yahoo!! everything you explain (my 3rd video of yours) is crystal clear, Liz. Mind you, I am 63 and need help as fast as possible…lol
If I never paint a beautiful picture I can honestly say it is ok because I just LOVE watercolors and have fun!! I taught myself oils several years ago and never had this excitement…
I’ve been searching watercolor tutorials for couple of years and am upset that RUclips doesn’t put everyone or at least different people in my feed. I’m mad at them!!!!
Honey, you just keep going and I’m praying more find you!!! Again, you are gifted AND delightful.
Respectfully,
Nancy Rolfe
Texas
wow Nancy! Thank you so much for such a lovely message. Just what I needed after a trying morning. watercolour is the most wonderful medium. so glad these films are helping you on your discovery.
Such a helpful video on colour mixing. Thank you very much! 👍
my pleasure!
This was great. Thank you. I have just started exploring painting in general and water color. This information is so helpful no matter what paint medium I am experimenting with. ❤
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you! This really makes a lot of sense. So simple but I never even thought of this!
Glad it was helpful!
Bless your heart , Liz, for helping me to better understand color mixing!!!
Such an insightful presentation on the subject - the best yet for me out of the many tutorials I have watched & read!!! THANK YOU🖌️🖌️🖌️
that’s lovely to hear. Thank you
Woo hoo. !! Another little treasure trove. So look forward to them..Thanks Liz. Another artistic treat. Always full if inspiration .!! 😍x
glad you found it helpful!
This helped me SO very much! Thank you.
You're so welcome!
Aha! I love the way you explain this. From now on, only color daisies for me! No more wheels, so much more fun! 😂
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant!! What a great job you did illustrating the differences, thanks!
I am pleased it was helpful
I just discovered you, Liz. Now I have to scramble to catch up on all of your clear, simple, understandable explanations about the serendipitous nature of watercolor! I love the medium, but struggle to use it well. You now have another devoted fan.
Thank you,
Shelley
what a lovely message. glad you find it useful. I love watercolour!
Best explanation I have ever heard!! ❤❤❤
thank you so much!
This is exactly what I was looking for, and I didn’t even know it.
Thank you.
Glad I could help!
Thank you. Understand a bit more!❤️🦋
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful. Thank you for posting this!
You're very welcome!
thank you! you have made me happy!
my job is done!!
So, so interesting. Thank you for this lesson. Very helpful x
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you. This just answered a question I’ve been asking for 2 days. Perfect!!
glad it helped!
Thanks for the clearest explanation of this I've seen yet!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much. What an eye opening explanation!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video; thank you so much for sharing your experience and knowledge.
my pleasure!
Another excellent video. I've learned so much from your videos. Thank you for sharing!
So pleased!!
I loved this video. I have never swatched all the colors in my limited palette. You motivated me to do so. Now I’m actually looking forward to watching what happens. Thank you for posting. I’m enjoying going through your videos. 🙏💙🌵
I'm so glad you are enjoying them and understanding your paints will really help you be in control!
thank you , very clear and seemingly obvious illustration that not many tutorials will show you.
Glad it was helpful! I’m afraid most of what I say is obvious once I’ve said it!!
@@LizChadertonArt i've recently discovered that much of what i took for granted (by way of what my 16-year-old son knows), is by no means obvious to him - so i've realised that even though it might sound obvious to me, it may not be apparent to him - similarly, things that we understand intuitively are not always easy to put across to others, but you were able to make clear in minutes what i have been struggling to grasp for ages - not having had any formal art training. and art teachers often take the seemingly obvious things for granted. so thanks again.
@@dudleybarker2273 Hi Dudley - that's so nice of you to say. And you are right, it is easy to assume everyone knows the stuff you know or thinks the same way you think. Really pleased it helped.
Thank you so much I loved it and learned from it .
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks Liz, this has made a lot more sense while you explain in practice 😊.
Great!
OMG, that sure makes a lot of scenes.😮
so pleased to hear that
Very helpful Liz. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I'm sure it's already been said but wow you teach so succinctly. I get it now.. lol
🤥🤗
I’m so glad it made sense!
Thank you very much Liz for this video! Although I am still at the initial stage of knowing English, I understand very well your explanations about mixing colors. I learn a lot from you about watercolor painting.
Glad it was helpful! and that you could understand…
Excellent video - best I've seen discussing bias - thank you so much.
Glad you enjoyed it! thank you for such a nice comment.
Such a clear explanation, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow. I needed this lesson!!
Glad it was helpful!
🌟🌟THANK YOU I finally “get it!”🌟🌟
😁
Thanks for colour explanation hope when I practice it I’ll see it & understand it better. Thanks again.
Hope it makes sense
@@LizChadertonArt You were clear & precise, I’m not so sure I’ll obtain the results you did, going by other copies I’ve practiced! It looks so easy done by professionals
Putting it into practice is totally different, guess I’ll have to practice more!
@@valeriegehling4358 Doing it is the only way to get better!
A very enlightening tutorial. I've created colour charts but when I finish them, I put them away. I'm going to make a small colour wheel like yours as a reminder of the colour biases in the pigments. I'm also going to try the same experiment with oil and acrylic. Thanks so much for these helpful tips.
That's a great idea! there’s a great phrase ‘when you know better you do better’
So well explained. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Brilliant. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
Thank you Liz!❤🤗
You are so welcome
Greatly explained.... 🙏
Thank you 🙂
Great explanation!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you very much!!!
You're welcome!
Thank you so much Liz. Spreading your knowledge to others. Btw,
I just received your book, Painting Animals in Watercolor. Still in the process of reading it cover to cover.
Wonderful!
Excellent so well explained
Glad it was helpful!
I love your channel and have learned so much from you. I agree that the three pigments in Quinacridone Gold were the problem there. I also think that since Alizarin Crimson is PR 83 which is fugitive that was the problem there. Rather than Permanent Alizarin Crimson I use Daniel Smith Perylene Red PR 149 as a very close substitute. Daniel Smith may be hard to get in the UK but I'm sure there are other PR 149 pigments that would work.
delighted that you are enjoying the films. The fact that a pigment is fugitive won’t make a difference to its colour mixing properties, but of course is really important fir the longevity of your painting. my alizarin has an A permanence rating, so I will double check the pigment. I love perylene maroon and green, but haven’t tried scarlet, so will have a hunt for it! Thank you for the top tip!
So helpful!!
Glad you think so!
Thank you.
my pleasure
Lizzzzz. !! Why don't they have just a pure yellow. Or pure blue.. or red? 🤯😭 haha, I thought it was just my eyes thinking I saw the cadmium yellow looked a bit green 🤪. I love your videos. They've really helped open my eyes and skill set so much. Thank you sweetie, you're The Angel of Pallets 🥰
Welllll… the long answer is that you can select three colours which are closest to the pure primaries and use them just like your printer does (printer uses black too). There is a brilliant article by Jane Blundell ( the queen of pigments!). Take a look here: www.janeblundellart.com/watercolour-triads.html
@@LizChadertonArt thank you for replying. I will have a gander at blundell's and have my notebook ready. I love learning and I so very much enjoy your videos. There's so many, I got catching up to do 😉 Keep shining and stay lovely.
@@Xenial_Lizzie and you!
I am so pleased with the one I made following your video...my previous encounters with colour wheels have been quite messy and I could never absorb the warm/cool idea. Thank you so much for the clear instructions! Do you make swatches/wheels before starting a painting? -to identify the colours & mixes you intend to use..
that’s great to hear. I always plan my colours before a painting and test them out to make sure they play nicely with each other. nothing very formal, just on a scrap of paper, so there are no nasty surprises.
Why you don’t have 12 zillion subscribers is beyond me!
What a lovely comment to read over breakfast! I’d be very happy with 11 zillion!!
so well made eye opener, many thanks for that. As a beginner i ask myself now - do pure primary colors exists at all - can i buy them as watercolors, or are all offered yellows, reds and blues biased in one or two directions to another primary? As an exercise i would like to paint a clear color weel starting with only the primary colors, but which one to choose?
Yes you can! you need to Google CMY watercolour and lots of suggestions will come up. c =cyan = phthalo blue, m = magenta, something like quin magenta and y= yellow something like Hansa Yellow, plus black. it has its limitations but the idea is to replicate a printer and will certainly teach you colour mixing.
❤
glad you liked it
I call this the mind the gap theory.
First, arrange six primaries in a ring in this order: warm red, cool red, warm blue, cool blue, cool yellow, warm yellow (you have them in the wrong order in places!).
Then, when you come to mix secondaries:
- adjacent colours make the most colourful/vivid mixes. Maybe too colourful.
- if there are two colours between the two you're using, you're going to get a neutral colour rather than a secondary
- if there's one colour between your two primaries, you get something in between and sometimes these are the colours you want.
If I'm doing a painting (like your giraffes) with one blue, one yellow and one red, I'll make a choice with all this in mind, then test out how the three mix on a piece of scrap paper, just to be sure I've made the right decision.
perfect explanation!
Thankyou for explaining which colours are cool and warm. I am going to do my own colour chart. The problem I always have is mixing enough of a colour and then if I run out I can't mix it again. Do you have any tips.
I suggest mixing 30% more than you anticipate using. I also think it’s better to have it creamier than you need. it is far easier to dilute than to take water out..
@@LizChadertonArtThank you Liz. I'm now working through your brush stroke video.
Is there a video showing what happens when mixing say a yellow with blue undertones to a blue with red undertones, does that make for even muddier colors?
No film, but you are right - it would be even more muted.
Is there a book regarding watercolour mixing?
I’ve replied to your email, but I’ll put it here too. Two old books worth looking at: Making Color Sing Jeanne Dobie and Red Yellow Blue John R Koser
Sorry! I meant to say Perylene Scarlet. Perylene Red is brighter PR178.
great info - thanks!
Im wondering if you could tell me how to mix Aqua like the Jo Sonja acrylic variety please ??.....without adding white. Maybe it isn't possible to mix aqua. ?!?!?! TIA
hi Lindy, sorry but I don’t know what Jo Sonja is, so I cannot advise.
@@LizChadertonArt .oh sorry. It's a brand of acrylic paint
@@lindyhawthorne2164 as I don’t know the colour personally I can’t help. Jane Blundell is the queen of colour mixing. If you head to her web/blog you might find the answer there www.janeBlundell.com
Does it make even more of a difference if the paints are transparent?
Not really. It is all about the bias of the pigment. If you use opaque you will get opaque mixes. Lemon yellow is pretty opaque and I use it here.
I love this video. However there is no way known to man that I would actually know that cerulian had those other colours or that lemon yellow had the blue/green. Where does that leave me ?!?!?!?!?
No one knows until they are told! But now you can look at a colour and think is that a greeny yellow or an orangey yellow and you will know whether it is warm or cool. Is your red an orangey red or a purpley red, is your blue a purply blue or a greeny blue. It becomes automatic and will really help with mixing.
@@LizChadertonArt ok, I will take your word for it. .... but even after you said about the cerulean..I still couldn't tell. That's my problem. I will keep trying. thank you.
@@lindyhawthorne2164 it will come! So with cerulean look and ask yourself is this closer to green or to purple? Put other blues near it. Our eyes are better at colours in comparison. So if you put cobalt blue next to cerulean which is greener for example? Luckily very few women are colour blind! 1 in 8 men are to some degree!
@@LizChadertonArt Thank you, I will try that.
@@LizChadertonArt I would LOVE you to do one of your wonderful videos on this subject in depth !!!!!!!
Take a lesson from the printing industry. The colors they load into their printers are Cyan Magenta Yellow and Black. Those are your primaries.
you are correct about printing. I have been meaning to do a film about that triad (good reminder, thanks!) but there are all sorts of issues about applying that to watercolour - one being finding the colours closest to process CMY. The point of this film was to help people understand the colour bias of the paints in their palette and how to mix them