Thanks for explaining this so clearly, I’ve always wanted to do colour studies but never quite know where to begin 😊 it also really surprised me how pretty the study without blue turned out!
It’s the challenge to make a boring photo alive, I always have problems with that. To abstract, to make it colourful. It’s amazing how you manage that, this requires a lot of imagination. I have problems with that - I can only paint what I see :-/
Hi Sarah . I have a question. Do you use titanium/ permanent white for the mixing as well as highlights? If you have both zinc and titanium I was wondering if you could do a comparison using both for mixing to see how much difference it makes please?? ...is there need for zinc white I wonder because of its transparency or can we get away with using only titanium
zinc white is slightly more transparent so it can technically give a stronger tint (without desaturating the color as much) but nowadays I only use titanium white
Sarah. Sigh! This was so interesting and educational too. I was hanging on your every word for this video. I am so grateful you made this and put it up. I learnt so much today. I love how disciplined and focused you are with your colours. So much to take in. Thank you.
I've been doing this without knowing. LOL I'm a watercolorist and have been doing duplicates of a picture in different mediums - and I just got some gouache. I'm so happy to have found your channel. Thank you for sharing. Now I'll pay more attention to what I'm doing and why.
The principle you're describing @1:50 - is that what they call "optical blending"? I've heard that term defined in several ways and it hasn't always made sense to me. Thanks for posting Sarah!
Just discovered your channel. I paint in watercolor but I love your gouche paintings. So beautiful! I want to try my own color studies. Question: In your study using no blue, how did you make greens? Did you use a tiny bit of black with your yellow? Thanks!
Yes in the painting world, Black and lemon yellow = green. I think if you use a dull yellow and a “true” black it would make brown but I haven’t tested it.
I never tried color studies before but seeing different versions of the same picture looks interesting, wow! The color selection really makes the moods different in a certain way, do you have any tips for lightings (sunset, daylight, nighttime, etc.)?
Sarah, I find your last 3 videos very educational. This just what I need at the moment. I love how you combine lessons, slices of your life as an artist and how you keep it real. And I will 5:47 never get tired of watching images of Scotland!😀
So I have come a really long way without ever having done a study. Very informal color mixing swatches is the most "practice drills" I have done in the 5 years I've been painting. And I paint everyday, mostly watercolor, occasionally gouache. Right nkw im experiencing an art block, or something, My skill is somewhere in the advanced range, but definatly not expert. So its time to start using drills, practicing technique, and really stepping it up. Thanks
I got my new brushes!!! They are dreamy. Gonna try these color exercises to give them and my brain a workout. Thanks for throwing in the tape peel. I always love peeling away the tape when I finish a painting.
Thanks so much for this. I've been making mini swatch wheels mixing different primaries plus white for each one.. Will introduce black to my studies and borrow your idea of mini landscapes to test my favourite combinations. You are always so inspiring thank you
Oh my gosh, I love the red one without any blue. What an eye opener. I never would have thought. I don't paint with gouache, but I learned something. Thank you.
It was really really helpful! I am never able to just focus on studying colours - I always have to go and use random colours straight in my new artworks, and then groan when everything is ruined hahaha your colours look beautiful
Oh my goodness, I am beyond delighted to have found you online just a few days ago. You are an incredible, inspirational teacher and I am going to try these color studies. I have painted for years in oils, acrylics and pastels but have not advanced beyond my current level and recently discovered gouache. Thank you Sarah!
Holy moly was this ever a helpful exercise. Thank you Sarah! I’m new to gouache and still struggle with colour mixing and found this comparison of colour palettes within completed paintings very useful.
Oooh, I really like that idea. That would be a super valuable practice. Kinda similar to one of the spreads in your recent sketchbook tour video where you explored the changing weather/lighting at the beach, but with a dedicated focus on colours to help create the mood. I hope you can share your experiences with this :)
