When I started painting in watercolor, I did what most of us do, I went out and bought every type of green I thought was necessary. I think I have at least 15 different kinds of greens in my drawer. Then I learned to color mix and I haven't use those greens at all. I simply put yellow, blue or Payne's gray (black too) to mix my greens.
For this article, I created a new color chart. I used four blues (Pthalo, Ultra Marine, Cerulean, Deft Blue) with Payne's gray. On the other side, I put down Azo, Hansa, New Gamboge, Lemon Yellow, Cad Yellow and Yellow Ocher. To my delight, I developed 35 new colors. Then on the side I painted a swatch of my paint tube greens. Except for Cobalt, Jadite and Prussian greens, I was able to produce every tube color.
I created the chart below. Unfortunately, my photo doesn't do it exact justice. I even tried to scan the piece and I didn't get the lovely greens under the Yellow Ocher, nor did the Payne's Gray come across as I had hoped. Why not try this yourself with the blues and yellows you have stowed away in your drawers.
By the way, when I was mixing my colors, I used a cool water container--a bait box. It has three sections that are sealed. I used one side for the yellow, mid for the blue and the last for a quick clean up. You can see I didn't keep my yellow quite pristine, but it didn't seem to contaminate the colors too much. I got it in the fishing department at Bi-Mart.
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| As I used my paints, the water became contaminated, but this after I mixed 35 colors! |
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| I love this water container. I can use my three primaries in it and keep the water less muddy. |
Next month, I'll cover mixing purple. This is one of the hardest colors to mix--you just can't take any old blue and any old red and get a good purple. Let me show you why and how.
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What's ahead
Believe it or not, we're already looking at fall. Didn't summer just get here? PCC has their fall schedule online at www.pcc.edu/community. My summer classes at the studio will end mid-August and begin again, mid-September. In the meantime, I've been asked to teach watercolor on a Celebrity Cruise ship to Alaska in September. I had a test class here at the studio last Friday to see how well the subjects I chose would go over with students. It was very successful. If this goes well, I will probably pick up the Panama Canal cruise in December. I will again hold a test class in October or November. So if you are interested send me a line at jjgoodell@gmail.com
Visual Journaling Class
- Learn how to express yourself by creating a visual journal using words and art.
- Play with pencil, watercolor, acrylics, sponges, photos, fabrics, papers, pen and ink, plus more.
- Express your inner self, your dreams, your fears, your successes, hopes…
- Absolutely no experience necessary.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Glastonbury Studios, Tigard
$20 for supplies. Bring sketchbook.
