Paint Watercolors With Only 3 Colors

When watercolor painting beginners think about getting started little thought is given to color mixing.

1. Why is this so?
2. Is it because watercolor paint manufacturers can supply almost any color imaginable?
3. Does this mean that you need to buy all the colors that are available?

Question 1 is easy to answer… People are used to living with color. Your home, your car and your clothing can be chosen in almost any color you want. Even your food contains extra coloring to make it more attractive.

“Color is all around you… so much so that you don’t give it a second thought…”

A watercolor painting beginner doesn’t realize that color mixing is fine art in itself.


Question 2... Modern technology allows an incredible range of color of every strength and quality. This wasn’t always so… at one time colors like Ultramarine Blue were rare and expensive, being made from ground Lapis Lazuli, a rare and precious stone. There is a reason that Purple has been associated with Royalty… it used to cost a King’s ransom.


Question 3... Just because you have the world of color at your fingertips does not mean that you must use every different color there is to buy. If you use basic color theory the only colors you need to mix any color that exists are…

• Red
• Blue
• Yellow

It cannot be simpler.. We learn this at school.

The difficulty is that basic color theory is just what it states… it is theory...

It relies upon true perfection… A True Mid Blue, A True Mid Red and a True Yellow.

Unfortunately there is nothing that is perfect. When a professional artist uses a selection of colors to create a version of reality… it is personal choice and experience that determines what colors to use.

Expert color mixing expertise is a luxury that a watercolor beginner doesn’t have...

This is why you rely upon color guidance from experts. The problem is that many experts can only tell you what colors they use in general terms…

• They will give you a range of colors that they have used
• They tell you what colors they like to have available to use
• They show you what is possible if you were to use the colors suggested

It doesn’t mean that a professional artist uses all of the colors at the same time. The best paintings are often the ones using the fewest colors… they work because they emphasize subtle mood and tone.

Watercolor painting allows you to use the least number of colors to achieve the widest range of color mixes...

Because the watercolor paper provides the color White you only need 3 colors… a red, a blue and a yellow to mix almost any color you like.

And this leads to the next question… “Which Red, Blue and Yellow?”

Essentially, try to experiment with any red, blue and yellow and try to get the best results you can. Only change one color at a time if you find that you don’t get the secondary colors you want.

See you soon

Michael

“Keep Your Watercolor Painting Simple… Paint From Light to Dark”

What does ‘Light to Dark’ mean?

Simply, it is the way watercolor washes are applied to the surface of watercolor paper. The idea is to lay wash over wash to build color strength and tone… from ‘Light to Dark’

• This is done by first using thin watered down color to reduce the starkness of the white paper
• Once the first light tone wash is dry, the next slightly stronger wash is applied
• After the second wash has dried, a third darker wash can be painted
• And then the next still darker wash is added… and the next…

‘Light to Dark’ is the first and most important rule of watercolor painting. It is a rule that is hard to ignore. Although there are occasions when you can get around it, the principle gives you a cast iron guarantee against unwanted painting errors.

In theory, you can continue to apply as many further washes as you want. However, as you add more washes the transparency of the color reduces. This is not what most artists want to happen. It is the white of the paper shining through the color that gives watercolor paintings their extra life.

Top watercolor painters can do this almost all of the time, often needing no more than 4 washes to get best results…

Another reason for keeping the number of washes to a minimum is that it reduces the disturbance of the lower washes. It keeps the color quality high because earlier washes aren’t dissolved into the newer washes.

If you ignore the ‘Light to Dark’ rule by trying to paint light colors over dark color, your light colors are lost…

• Light washes over dark have no strength because they have less color pigment
• Light washes, with more water, pick up pigment from lower washes and lose their strength to the stronger darker under-wash

Painting light tones before dark tones is what gives watercolor paintings their sparkle and brilliance…

Color luminosity is increased by light reflecting from the white of the paper, back through the color. This is where the vibrancy of watercolor comes from…

• It is the paper that you should be trying to use as your white
• It is the white of the paper reflecting though the transparent watercolor pigment that adds to color quality
• It is the texture of the paper that makes watercolor color sing, with light bouncing back at different angles

When watered down most watercolor pigments are naturally transparent and let light pass through. It does this because…

• For light colors there is less color on the paper surface… pigment particles are widely spread, letting the white of the paper shine between
• For dark colors there is more color covering the paper surface… pigment particles are crammed together to hide the paper surface… the white of the paper cannot reflect through dense color particles

Only when the color pigment is at its strongest (unthinned) does it become opaque and resist light passing through.

Remember, with watercolor painting, water is the solvent… it acts as a ‘Thinner’. By altering the amount of water in the mixing process you can change color strength…

• Use more water for light color tones
• Use less water for stronger darker color tones

Given a choice between looking at paintings that use bright vibrant color and pictures that have dull dead color…

“What would be your choice… Light, bright, clear and refreshing to look at?”

See you soon

Michael

“Learn To Paint What You See… Or, Can You See And Feel What You Paint”

Some people paint what they see in front of them. You are extremely lucky if this describes you.

It means you can turn your hand to creating pictures that look exactly like the subject in front of you.

It is wonderful to be able to paint pictures that look real. There have been wonderful painters like the English Pre-Raphaelite realists, who took great pains to construct their world of romantic reality. Each painting has a complete story to tell and no detail is left out.

However, for painting beginners it is hard to produce realistic art. It takes a long time to develop the skills required. Even for an experienced artist it is hard to maintain the standards required to paint pictures that look real.

Although it can be stimulating and stressful for an artist to paint with realism for beginners and inexperienced artists it is pressure that you don’t need.

Luckily, there are other people who see what they paint…

They are fortunate because they can concentrate on their painting instead of being overburdened by their need for perfect copying. Perfection means something different to them.

For 30 years I have been locked into the quest for realism and correct detail in Technical Design and Fine Art. It needs iron discipline and rigid structure. It is a struggle to maintain these standards…

I don’t want this… “Do You?”

Imagine then the pleasure when you see paintings by an artist who has been released from realism.

Some artists see what they paint. They know the complex story behind a simple painting…

Some artists paint life in their paintings…

• Paintings that can scream and shout
• Paintings that are calm and quiet
  

Choices are yours… the search for lifelike realism… or life in abstraction.

But don’t be disheartened. Just because your painting doesn’t look exactly like the subject doesn’t mean that you haven’t caught the essence of it. You could have captured the life inside… the emotional quality… which can be equally as important.

Emotional quality has been important for Old Masters…

• With JMW Turner, Art began to be transformed with vivid color and swift precise drawing. He was an inspirational man of the 1800s whose vision shocked the English Art Establishment
• It was the Impressionists, like Monet & Sisley, who transformed Landscape painting with their swift brushwork and color use
• Vincent Van Gogh unwittingly forged a place in Art history. With his passion and dedication, he painted masterpieces that will continue to be admired
• Picasso, the father of Modern Art, excelled at conventional painting but expanded his influence through finding new ways of seeing the world. His influence was so great that he inspired competition from equally great artists like Salvador Dali.
  

What kind of artist are you? And, more importantly “What kind of artist do you want to become?”

To paint with flair and enthusiasm is as important as minute detail perfection. Let your personality and character shine through your artwork. Try to be accurate in capturing the spirit of your subject…

You will enjoy your painting more and you will paint pictures that have greater appeal.
However you paint, it is better to paint pictures that have a life of their own…

• Paintings that share your ideas, vision and flair
• Paintings that tell stories
• Paintings that ask questions
• Paintings that will inspire

“Are you inspired by your paintings?”

See you soon

Michael

p.s. Don't forget your free drawing lesson... Click the text link...Learn How To Draw… Lesson 1

"Tell A Story With Your Drawing And Painting"

When you draw a picture do you think about creating a story?

Would you concern yourself about what your painting says?

It doesn’t matter what art materials and tools you use to create your drawings and paintings, unless the picture you create has a history it can never be a success.

Many beginners wouldn’t realize that their drawings and paintings should have a message.

Drawing can be done with graphite pencils, charcoal and chalks… but unless your sketch weaves its magic story your hard work is lost.

Top artists spend a great deal of time and energy weaving magic and mystery in their paintings and drawings...

It doesn’t matter whether they paint with watercolor, oils, acrylics or pastels… The artist understands the extra value given by the story that their art tells.

At a recent exhibition, an artist told me the story behind a series of 3 paintings. It was a story about “The Walk Of The Dead”. In the 3 paintings she showed abstract moorland scenes that followed the route of the ancient dead, who were carried over the hills to the burial grounds… the final painting showing the release of human spirit.

Until the story was told, I didn’t understand that there was meaning in the artist’s paintings… they were just pleasant daubs. After listening to the story, the paintings came to life. They became important... I bought one of the artist's paintings.

• Cave paintings told about the animals that were hunted by prehistoric man and the world they lived in.

• Medieval paintings could pay tribute to the church and tell the story of creation… with the art patrons included as if they were part of that story.

Modern art is fortunate… it is able to speak freely about anything the artist wants to say.

“What stories do your drawings and paintings tell?”

Don’t worry, it isn’t difficult for an artist to create art that features a storyline. Even the simplest of sketches has a story. Unlike most photographs, which are just a snapshot in time, a sketch takes time to draw.

Because it takes time to produce a drawing, painting, sculpture or installation there is a history… that history is a story in itself.

It takes time to plan a painting…

• There are ideas that never see reality but develop into other ideas
• There are quick freehand sketches that develop into serious detailed finished paintings
• There are outdoor sketches that grow into studio paintings

And, it takes time to draw and paint...

Each line you draw takes time… It has a start and an end...

• Each color daub you paint… Every brushstroke you lay on the canvas has its origin in the paint tube
• The color finds its way onto the palette and is mixed with other colors
• Paint is worked on the canvas before the painting is finished

Every mark you make on paper, canvas, panel and fabric has its own story. Take pleasure in the story behind every painting you create.

There is research before painting…

• There are location visits to places of interest
• Circumstance, environment and chance grows inspiration
• Landscape, buildings, weather, people and their history influences art creation
• Stories you have heard could be the reason you want to paint and draw

All of this is part of your art…

Understand this vital element behind your art and be prepared to tell that story...

• Write the story down on paper and expand the value of your drawing and painting by giving the background story
• Include captions alongside your paintings at exhibitions that build the story

Your art pronounces its story...

They say every picture says a thousand words. Make sure that your painting’s story is heard…

Tell people about the challenges behind your art and let them understand the difficulties you have overcome. Let the story add to the value of your painting and drawing.

See you soon

Michael

p.s. Don't forget your free drawing lesson... Click the text link...
Learn How To Draw… Lesson 1

“What Is Stopping You From Being A Great Artist?”

It has been some time since I last posted on my blog.

There are no excuses but there will be some explanation…

You will see when you look though earlier postings that the name of the blog has changed from 'Learning How To Draw'. Of course, you aren’t interested in the reasons but, if you read on, you will learn something about what could be stopping you from being a great artist.

When 'Learning How To Draw' began I didn’t really know what to do, what to write or where I was going…

Is this familiar to you?

• Do you know what you want to do with your art?
• Do you know what subject you want to paint?
• Do you think you might to try drawing instead of painting?
• Or, what about trying sculpture?

It doesn’t matter that all kinds of different things interest you… that is great. Drawing on its own isn't enough for me... I want to talk about painting and drawing.

Here is a risk. It is a massive risk that will stop you succeeding with your art… Distraction.

'Learning How To Draw' was too small a subject area for me to write about when there is a whole world of art to investigate. But, if I wasn’t careful… the whole idea about writing about art would be lost.

You will have your own specialist subject interests. You will have your own particular aptitudes and skills... The wisest path to success is to know what you are good at.

It makes good sense to concentrate on subjects that interest you. Combine the wisdom of bringing together your skills and interests... Dedicating yourself towards being your best is a road to success.

The old saying “Jack of all trades, Master of none” sums it all up.

It is so easy to be distracted… this could be stopping you from being great in your field of art.

I know I can paint and draw many different subjects reasonably well but I cannot be successful in everything that interests me.

I am specialist in just 1 or 2 subjects, so I will not be talking about sculpture, wood carving, pottery and etc.

I will talk about what I know…

If you are interested in learning how to paint and draw… and you are focused on success with your painting and drawing then please join me with… Learn How To Paint And Draw

See you soon

Michael

p.s. In the next posting you’ll learn about… “Tell A Story With Your Painting And Drawing”

p.p.s. For Your FREE drawing lesson... Click the text link...
Learn How To Draw… Lesson 1