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Thursday, June 5, 2008

The Siren Call of Watercolor...


Well, I did it. After five+ years I pulled my poor neglected watercolor supplies out of storage and actually got some paint on the brush. I'm not an accomplished watercolorist (yet!) - just a dabbler - but the airy brightness of watercolor is more than I can resist. I've been reading Jeanne Dobie's Making Color Sing and decided this time around I'd try using a limited palette that's loosely based on her "Pure Pigment Palette" - plus a few other colors. For me, too many color choices is more of a hassle than an asset so I'm going to use some basic colors and add sparingly as I go. I'm hoping that using a limited palette will also help me to keep the focus more on values than color. Since it has been so long since I've used watercolor, a color chart seemed like a good place to start. Boy, was that fun! I was surprised - and thrilled - with all the bright, yummy colors I got from just twelve basic colors (Aureolin, Rose Madder, Cobalt Blue, Viridian, Cad. Red, Alizarin Crimson, Phthalo Blue, Hooker's Green, Gamboge, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna and Phthalo Violet). I'm posting a pic of the chart I made - it was just slightly larger than my scanner bed so a little of the edges got lost.


Here's what I learned from making this color chart:


1. Aureolin plus Cobalt Blue, or Viridian, or Phthalo Blue or Hooker's Green makes beautiful Spring-like greens.

2. Rose Madder and Alizarin Crimson both make a gorgeous purple/burgundy when combined with either Cobalt Blue or Phthalo Blue or Phthalo Violet. I immediately wanted to paint blueberries when I saw those color combos!

3. Phthalo Blue is STRONG! Wow. This is a very dominant color - use sparingly in mixes.

4. I got some great dark shades without having to use a black or dark neutral from a tube.

5. I'd like to add a Cerulean Blue to the palette.


I plan to keep the chart close by when painting...as a guide.... and an inspiration!


6 comments:

Lin said...

Yeah, Teresa!!! Keep going -- wc can be such fun!!!! LOVE your chart and it will definitely come in handy!

Teresa said...

Hi Lin,

Thank you for visiting my blog! I bought Cerulean Blue today (and daydreamed of fluffy Carolina Blue skies all the way home from the art store!).

I look forward to seeing more of your vibrant watercolors.

Jenny said...

Color charts are a wonderful reference, especially when first learning your colors. Phthalo blue is strong, but it makes wonderful mixes with other colors. Three or four base colors are usually all you need for one painting. The colors mixes will give you all the colors needed. Have fun!

Teresa said...

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for stopping by! I'm enjoying getting reacquainted with colors...even just playing around with them is fun (and educational too... at least that's what I tell myself!)

Cathy Gatland said...

You could frame the chart - gorgeous vibrant colours. Well done on getting those watercolors out and making a good start! Look forward to whatever comes next...

Teresa said...

Glad you stopped by and left those encouraging words.... I'm struggling with a watercolor painting today and thinking hmmmm.... maybe I should have left those doggone paints in storage! Actually I'm kind of enjoying just painting again.... even if some of it isn't going quite the way I had hoped. Good practice, I keep telling myself.

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