A Study in Color

This summer I decided I would revisit my studies on understanding color and the theory behind it.  Most who have followed me for some time now know how much I need to know the reasoning's behind how something works...what makes it tick.

I have been reading, taking classes, reading more, asking questions, taking notes and in all honestly I thought I understood...but I quickly found I really didn't. I picked up a new book from an artist that I had read a couple years ago and that is when it really hit me. It all makes sense to me now, I understand the terminology (well most of it) and am now understanding color.

Who is this artist you ask? Nita Leland. This girl knows her stuff and how to explain the more technical stuff so one can understand it.  I now feel I have a very good grasp on it and find I am looking at my palettes and paints in a totally different light. 

Here is a stack of books that I have been working my way through, the one on top is the one that really set everything in motion for me.

Although each book has their benefit, for me, Exploring Color Workshop (30th Anniversary Edition) really was what I needed to get my brain going in the right direction. I have had the Confident Color book for several years and although I thought it made sense, boy was I way off.  The Exploring Color Workshop I found via the library and less than three chapters in, I ordered my own copy.  I sat on the deck day after day in August, reading and taking notes in it before I started actually applying it in my studies.

The one thing I will say about this book, is even though it discusses Acrylics, Watercolors and Oils (and even fibres), I find that with the majority of its images are watercolor.  Now understand, this by no means says the exercises can't be applied to acrylics which is my medium of choice.

Now, getting onto my studies.  I did a few as I worked my way through this book.  First I mixed the primaries with themselves to create secondaries and then how the primary would react with neutrals and themselves.  By mixing this way, the possibilities are endless.

I chose to use the not so regular neutrals just to see how they would affect its  values (tints, tones and shades). Tints are the light value of a color, Tones are how hues (the color) are affected by gray or its compliment, and shades are the dark values of the hues.  I must say, I achieved some pretty impressive hues.

Now it was time to narrow down the palette so it was more direct.  Using Primary Cyan, I mixed it with white (tint), titan buff (tone) and black (shade).

Once they were mixed and samples put in my color journal I used the excess to do a page in my art journal.  I applied the colors in a blocking format and accented with the neutrals straight from the bottles.  The addition of marks was a much needed finish.  Simple page, but really shows the values reached in the palette.

Second study, repeat as above, however; this time I used Primary Magenta.  This time when I applied the remaining paint into my journal (which I had not made enough), I mixed directly onto my journal page.  This really allowed me to manipulate the the values on the page.

Next was Primary Yellow. Once again I only mixed enough to apply to my color journal.  Liking how the previous one went, I once again mixed right on the journal page...this time I wasn't as happy with the outcome, but understanding that it was not about having the perfect journal page, but more about seeing how the color values worked. Success.

Now it was time to dive deeper into exploring color.  One of the premises is that Nita Leland works with a Split Primary Color Wheel. This was a very intriguing concept to me and I was all in.

As mentioned in the earlier studies, the modern primaries are Primary Cyan, Primary Magenta and Primary Yellow.  These are colors that cannot be made by mixes other colors. The introduction of the split primary colors was a serious game changer for me. For this study, I chose Phthalo Blue (Red Shade), Pyrrole Red and Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue as my splits.

I did do my studies a bit different this time around by the addition of a neutral gray to give another tone value. First up was Phthalo Blue (Red Shade).

Interesting values here - the addition of the neutral gray was impressive for tonal values.

Next it was time for Pyrrole Red. The two that I found most exciting were the mixes with Neutral Gray and the Black.  The richness of the colors were amazing.

As dark as this image is, it really does not do it justice.  The richness is breath taking.  I added some marks using the Stabilio Woody pencils in white and red.

The final color Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue once again, did not disappoint.  I love what the Neutral Gray and the Black did to the yellow.  They are so my kinda colors.

I had to work hard on this one, it didn't come to what I had intended.  I have learned to let it go as the purpose of this study was not to create masterpieces, but to see how paints would react.  My motto this year when it comes to my art journals - just paint, just play, just practice!

There is still a lot more to come, but I will leave it here for today, I'll be back tomorrow with yet the next level and game changer in my study of color!