Some Thoughts on Color
Susie Short Shares Some Thoughts on Color in: Working with a Split Primary Color Palette
Painting in watercolor is fun and exciting even if you don't have a clue what you are doing. Many of us are instantly hooked by the seductive medium and start by jumping right into painting pretty pictures. So if that's where you are, you are in good company.
A word you will probably hear again and again on your artistic journey through watercolor painting is "Practice, practice, practice." The truth is you really do learn to paint by painting. My Split Primaries Lessons are meant to acquaint you with the fundamentals of mixing colors.
Some thoughts on color as it applies to learning to paint with watercolor
Color sets a mood and gives an artist unlimited means of expression. Color can be magi cal. Where composition and technique connects with our intellect, color touches our heart. It's been said that color is the heart and soul of watercolor.
Is studying and under standing basic color theory instead of simply relying on color formulas worth the effort? Each of you will have to answer that question for yourselves. Learning about color relationships can be liberating, allowing you to focus on other aspects of painting, which opens the door to greater freedom of expression.
Although watercolors obey the same color laws as other mediums, there is one very important difference: Watercolor is transparent. It's the unique transparency of the paints and the translucent quality of the colors that make watercolor so popular.
Being able to mix the colors you want is considered to be a basis for successful watercolor painting. Even though experienced watercolor painters seem to be able to make color mixing look extremely easy, most of their skill and confidence comes from knowledge and practice.
Once you learn the basic principles and how they apply to the Split Primary Palette, color mixing will become simple and automatic. And yes, mixing muddy colors will only be by choice!
Let's start with a color wheel arranged like a clock (illustration above) and divided into three equal sections. At the top of the wheel (12 o'clock) a cool yellow, Hansa Yellow Medium -- a lemony, slight bias to blue-green is on the right of the line; a warm yellow, New Gamboge -- a golden, slight bias to red-orange is on the left of the line. Going clockwise around the circle (at 4 o'clock) there is a cool blue, Phthalo Blue (GS) -- an icy, slight bias to blue-green is above the line; a warm blue, French Ultramarine -- a purplish blue, slight bias to violet is below the line. Continuing clock wise, (at 8 o'clock) a cool red, Quinacridone Rose -- a rosy, slight bias to red-violet is below the line; a warm red, Pyrrol Orange -- a tomatoey red, slight bias to red-orange is above the line.
Here's how it works
Use a warm and a cool of each primary hue (a warm red and a cool red; a warm yellow and a cool yellow; a warm blue and a cool blue) to mix bright, high-inten sity secondary called a Mixed Primary Hue. The secret is in using the right split primary colors and not crossing over the lines into another section!
- To mix the oranges, mix the red and yellow within the lines to the left of the circle. First mix orange, and then add more yellow for yellow-or ange and more red for red-orange.
- To mix the greens, mix the blue and yellow within the lines to the right of the circle. First mix green (2 o'clock), and then add more yellow for yellow-green (1 o'clock) and more blue for blue-green (3 o'clock).
- To mix the purples or violets, mix the pink or rose with the blue within the lines at the bottom of the circle. First mix purple (6 o'clock), and then add more blue for blue-violet (5 o'clock) and red for red-violet (7 o'clock).
Now here's the rule that makes this work: 'When mixing two colors on the wheel to achieve high- intensity color, don't cross over the line-stay in each section. Just imagine, no more muddy colors!
Crossing over the lines and mixing the colors on either side of the line causes the mixtures to become less intense and slightly grayer. Cross two lines and even more graying occurs. This graying is called neutralizing. It is the result of a slight touch of that third color being added to the mix. To mix earth colors, you simply cross over the lines or add a warm neutral to your mixtures.
That's where Quinacridone Burnt Orange -- the seventh color of our essential 7 basics-enters the scene... it's a versatile warm neutral.
"Essential 7" Basic Color Chart-Mixed Hues
To create your own color mixing chart using the "Essential 7" Basic Colors of the Split Primary Palette, use a pencil to draw eight rows and columns as shown above. To show how transparent or opaque each pigment is, make a black line using a permanent marker before you apply the colors. Each ROW is about the color/hue in that row and what the other colors in the palette do when mixed with the dominant row color.
Each COLUMN contains the same colors placed in the same order as in the rows. Mix less of the column color and more of the row color for the best results.
NOTE: Each color will be mixed with itself during this process.
This chart shows the secondary and tertiary color combinations that are possible by mixing only two tube colors. It's possible to create many more neutral hues by combining three or more tube colors in the basic split primary palette.
Color Basics in a Nutshell
Definitions of terms as they relate to watercolor
- Hue -- The name of a color, such as red, blue, yellow, green, orange, etc.
- Intensity -- The strength, brightness, or purity of a color; its chroma.
- Saturation -- The measure of brilliance or purity of a color.
- Value -- The lightness or darkness of a color; pure colors will vary greatly in value.
- Temperature -- The warmth or coolness of a color; also relative terms in comparison to other colors in context.
- Primary Colors are those hues that cannot be mixed from any other colors-- red, yellow, and blue. From these primaries, most other colors can be mixed.
- Secondary Colors are the resulting hues of mixing two prima ries in equal amounts. (R+Y =Orange, Y+B=Green, B+R=Purple)
- Intermediate Colors are products of mixing one primary and a secondary. (R+O=Red-Orange, Y+O=Yellow-Orange, etc.)
- Tertiary Colors are products of mixing two secondary colors. (O+G, O+P, G+P, etc)
- Complementary Colors are two hues directly opposite each other on the color wheel. Complement to a primary color is the combination of other two primaries. Complement to Red is Green (Y+B), to Yellow is Purple (R+B), to Blue is Orange (R+Y).
- Neutral Hues are the results of combining all three primaries in various amounts, thus neutralizing the intensity and saturation of a hue. Combining a primary with its complement results in a neutral hue.
Temperature
"The warmth or coolness of a color; also relative terms in com parison to other colors in context."
Both red and yellow are commonly considered warm, while blue is unquestionably cool. More specifically, warm and cool colors are relative to where a color falls on the color wheel. The warmest color is red-orange and the coolest color is blue-green. Everything between those two points has a slightly warmer color on one side of it and a slightly cooler one on the other. Its neighbor is either warmer or cooler depending on the direction you go around the color wheel. Using a split primary palette, you will be working with a warm and a cool of each primary color. All secondary hues are mixed from these carefully selected primary colors.
About the Author
Internationally known watercolor artist and instructor, Susie Short's paintings have merited numerous awards in regional, national and international competitions. An enthusiastic teacher, she enjoys sharing her knowledge and love for watercolor by conducting art classes and workshops. Recently, Susie started recording some of her most requested lessons on video to share her techniques with a wider audience to afford others the opportunity to experience the wonder of watercolor.
With Susie's sets and this article, you will learn about color relationships and open the door to greater freedom of expression.
Susie Short's "Artist Series" Watercolor Sets
Seven 15ml Tubes - Essential Set
Set contains: From left to right -- Hansa Yellow Medium, Quinacrdine Rose, French Ultramarine blue, New Gamboge, Pyrrol Orange, Phthalo Blue (GS) and Quinacridone Burnt Orange
Seven 15ml Tubes -- Intermediate Set
Set contains: From left to right -- Quinacridone Coral, Indanthrone Blue, Quinacridone Violet, Sap Green, Quinacridone Gold, Cobalt Blue and Perylene Maroon
Susie Short's "Beyond the Sunset" Video and DVD
Learn to create beautiful watercolor skyscapes with Susie's easy to follow step-by-step video or DVD. Using a variety of watercolor techniques, you will explore different cloud types and atmospheric conditions. Learn wet-in-wet and dry brush techniques for stunning skies and spectacular sunsets that stand-alone or make perfect back-drops for landscape paintings. For watercolorists of all skill levels.
Beyond the Sunset 118 minutes
DVD
Susie Short's 1" Chisel Tip Wash Brush
If you've never tried a hog bristle brush for watercolor, you will be amazed at what Susie's 1" Chisel Tip Wash Brush will do. Create wonderful washes with the long flexible bristles or add texture and interest to foliage, stones and grasses with the chiseled end. Use Susie's Wash Brush to create dramatic skies as you follow along with her "Beyond the Sunset" Video or DVD.
1" Chisel Tip Wash Brush
Materials List
DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolors