passionate educator for more than
15 years, teaching a multitude of
workshops and college courses on the
subject. Colour is so personal and
incredibly versatile and diverse.
I mix my colours on an enamel-
coated palette that has a lip, so the
water doesn’t run off the end. If you’re
using paints out of a tube, you can
line them up along the sides and use
the inside area for mixing. I suggest
using a white or neutral grey palette
so you can really see your colours.
Here are some quick tips to consider
when embarking on your own
colour-mixing journey.1
USE A WHITE
BASE FOR TINTS
When making tints add your hue to
your white. Do not try to add white to
your hue or you might end up using a
lot of white. Also get to know your
different types of white. For example,
Titanium White is more opaque and
will make good pastels, whereas
Chinese White is more transparent
and so it will help you retain more of
your hue.2
ADD BLACK TO
CREATE SHADES
When making shades, add black to
your hue. This seems intuitive, but Iand get frustrated as it will remain
very dark.
Instead, take tiny dots of black on
your brush and slowly mix them into
your hue until you get your desired
effects. And get to know your different
kinds of black too. Ivory Black is my
preferred option and leans towards
the blue side of black, whereas Mars
Black is very opaque and leans
towards the brown side of things.
Lamp Black is also on the blue side,
but it is less dense than Ivory Black.3
TRY MIXING BLACKS
For a more natural-looking effect,
avoid using black from the tube all
together. There is very little true black
in nature. Go look around outside to
prove this is true. Even things that we
think are dark, like shadows or trees,
tend to contain a cast of a hue like
purple, brown, orange or blue
depending on time of day and
surrounding colours.
Make your own black with different
formulations – Ultramarine Blue or
Turquoise mixed with any kind of
brown is a great place to start.
Experiment to fi nd a good black for you.4
PLAY WITH
COMPLEMENTARIES
Likewise for more natural darks andYou might be surprised at what
mixing complementary colours will do- purple and yellow, for example, can
make some amazing and unexpected
greenish and brown tones.
5
BE OPEN-MINDED
WITH COLOUR
Most of all be willing to try anything.
Mix what you think are two very wrong
colours together to see what you get.
The best way to learn about colour
and fi nd your personal palette is to
play with paint and see what
combinations you can create. So, what
are you waiting for? Get to it!
Lisa’s new book, A Field Guide To Color- A Watercolor Workbook, is published
by Roost Books. http://www.lisasolomon.com
LEARN THE LINGO
COLOUR MIXING
TERMS EXPLAINED•HUE
The colour you are using or
seeing, such as red or lime green
•TINT
A hue mixed with white
•SHADE
A hue mixed with blackAmericanartistandauthorLISASOLOMON
shares her five failsafe tips for developing your
understanding of colour and how to mix itMIXING
PAINTING TIPSwatercolours