20 Color Comments

Need a refresher on colors? 

Here's 20 important facts taken from the 

Artist Helping Artist Pod Cast about using colors.

1. Use color temperature for spacial illusions; warm colors come forward, cool colors go back.
2.  When mixing colors, add dark to light.
3. When mixing colors, add opaque to transparent .
4. When choosing pigments stick to single pigments. They give a much cleaner look. Check the back of the label to see pigments.
5. In a painting you want to orchestrate color harmony so you the same colors over and over and mix them together for variations.
6. Complementary colors look more vivid when they're together than apart. green & red, yellow & blue.
7. Using a limited pallet creates color unity and harmony.
8. Use complimentary colors or earth tones to tone down a color. Tone down reds and greens with burnt umber. Tone down red with a little bit of green.
9. To indicate that something is in light use a light color with a warm color. Make sure the color is warm. If using white add a bit of yellow to it.
10. Are your colors muddy? Adding a complimentary color to a primary will make a grey color. Adding a little green to red makes a nice grey. If you mix two colors and they get muddy don't add white, just add more of one of the original colors. Adding purple to yellow makes a nice shadow color.
11. keep your colors organized. Lay out your palette in the same way each time so you get used to it.
12. Premix the color that are for the biggest parts of your painting. Use colors you know.
13. Step back from your painting to see the final colors. Be sure to squint or take a picture of the painting to check the colors.
    
14. Value is more important than color. Value creates a focal point adds depth for distance. Whenever you have a light value against a dark - that's where the eye will go. By taking a photograph and turning it to black and white you will better see the values.
15.  Know the differences in lighting. On over cast days the light is cool and the shadows are warm. On sunny days the light is warm and the shadow are cool. The colors are more distinct and have more contrast in the sun.
16.  Understand the whites; zinc, titanium and lead. they remove a colors brightness and vibrancy because white is the sum of all colors. Titanium is the strongest of the whites.
17. Colors provoke moods; cool colors calm. blues actually lowers heart rate, makes one eat less, and is considered "dependable". Warm colors evoke happiness. Red orange increases heart rate and hunger levels.
18. Five major rules of color. Use color to:                
    

• to harmonize, contrast them
• use colors in a theme to create unity
• set forth a visual path
• to use rhythm through out the painting
•  to create interest       

    19. Don't use black - it will make things flat. make your own by
     mixing a warm color and a cool color. Try these; ultra marine and
    burnt umber, Prussian blue and burnt sienna, ultramarine
    blue and alizarin crimson (I'll add just a touch of green to the last
    one.), purple and transparent orange, Viridian green and blue.
  20. When changing value look for the opportunity to use another  
   color.