Video - Colors of Gray

Colors of Gray  Week #3

Last week we talked about mixing clean colors and why we can grayed down colors. 

This week we want to mix Colors of Gray.  You always need to have “rest stops” or an area that  makes the eye rest in your painting.  

The most unique thing about Colors of Gray is that it  makes the pure pigment look brighter, especially when you use the colors of grays that is its complement.

In this exercise on page 12 Fig 9 we mix a base Gray that is
Ultramarine Blue+Alizarin Crimson+Gamboge (3 primaries)

Mix a large puddle.

Using the base Gray move a couple brush loads to the side, add more Ultramarine Blue (Blue Gray)

Take the base Gray and Add More Alizarin (Violet Gray)

Even more Alizarin to push the color toward Rose Gray

Add more Gamboge Tan

More Gamboge for Yellow Gray

More Gamboge + French Ultramarine Blue Making it more Green Gray

Challenge yourself to figure out the complement…..

Use the complement color wheel as a guide

Stop the video here !

Lets now add the complement into the square……

Blue Gray = Orange  Look At the Color Complement on Page

Violet Gray =Gamboge

Rose Gray = Green

Tan Gray = French Ultramarine Blue

Yellow Gray = Violet 

Green Gray = Alizarin Crimson

Colors of Green Fig 10a & 10b

Greens have always the biggest challenge …..A lot of watercolorist purchased tubed colors, I’m not staying that is a bad idea.  But why not make your own personal statement with your Greens.  I feel you must first understand how to mix all those wonderful Colors of Green.  Of course there are a few Colors of Green that you can’t mix.  First understand the mixing process, then go out and purchased a few of those beautiful Greens that mixes just isn’t quite as good. 

Using the 2 Colors of Blue on the Color theory Palette with the 2 Yellows to make a forest of beautiful array of Greens.

Starting with French Ultramarine Blue as the base Blue:

Permanent Yellow Gamboge French Ultramarine Blue Cadmium Red and Alizarin Crimson

Now mix Permanent Yellow + French Ultramarine Blue

Using that same mix add a touch of Cadmium Red, Mix another puddle of PY & FUB and add a touch of Alizarin Crimson

Mix Gamboge with FUB then add a touch of Cadmium Red\Mix another Gamboge + FUB and add a touch of Alizarin Crimson.

You could mix all these combinations to fill several pages of Green…..See how many you can make and add them to your book