Mastering Muted Color 

I watch quite a few artists at RU-vid and very rarely do I have an “aha” moment where some of the fog that lives perpetually in my head clears. I had that today when you were discussing the puddle of paint and pulling colour into the puddle. I always feel so surprised when something that feels so complicated gets resolved by such a straightforward technique. You also made a comment that I found very insightful about the temperature issues with mud. Thank you very much. 👏🏻👍🏻😃

Amazing how such a seamingly simple scene of mundane everydayness can turn into one in which we find ourselves drawn in, wanting to study it, to really look at it and be introduced to the hand of the artist. Fabulous demonstration.

So love this. Thank you. It feels like a modern day Andrew Wyeth.. The calm everyday scene.

I'm always amazed at how much information and demonstration you pack into a video under 10 minutes. Thankyou for your wonderful teaching - concise, beautiful and infinitely useful!

Finally a simple explanation about muted colours!

I just cant thank you enough for these videos. I’ve learned so much. I appreciate your time and effort and instruction. thank you again.

Fascinating approach to color mixing. Thank you! Lovely painting too!

It is a beautiful painting and composition ! the colours are great and subtle ! Thank you so much !

I want to title this delightful painting MOVING DAY. Enjoyed this.

I have tried to paint an old gray barn with very muted and subtle changes. I kept wasting a bunch of paint making separate puddles of three or four colors. Not sure why this wasn't obvious to me, but starting with a single puddle and slightly mixing in the split complementary colors did the trick! Thank you very much for the video!

I have been searching the whole YT since a year and now finally I found this channel that teaches in such a way

Et voila, here is the finished painting, ( I always like to hear Ian saying it), those muted colours have transformed the photograph into something of interest, the gradations and transitional areas just a pleasure to see come alive. Many thanks Ian.

Love the gray puddle in the middle tip...Thanks...Great video!!!!

you have just described what I have inadvertently been doing for the past few years. I appreciate the confirmation.

Thank you so much! I’ve been trying to figure out muted colors for the longest time and this helped so much

Really lovely painting! i think i'm attracted to it as a subject of mundane objects that illustrate the beauty of light. I also think its so cool how you modulated the lighting in the reference photo to have a single focal point. Very cool!

This was quite the epiphany! Such a simple yet genius method. Mind blown, thanks🎨

I could really see the relationship between your colours in that painting. Everything seemed to belong which gave it a comfortable feel. Thank you.

This is so fascinating. It reminds of marco bucci’s videos on coloring in the greys!! His videos are mainly for digital art, but love the concept

Thank you, Ian, you are a gently spoken man... I love your teaching ♥

Thanks for the neutral puddle mixing idea and a great demo.

Yes, interesting, subtle colours - all looks 3-dimensional. Thanks, Ian.

Your painting is so beautiful!! I LOVE muted colors!! I also LOVE the light and shadow in your paintings. I am excited about your teachings on perspective next week ... a COMPLETE mystery to me, perspective is!! THANK YOU IAN for allllll your EXCELLENT videos!!

Rich engaging neutral color gives this painting great harmony and subtle beauty.!! thanks for this great lesson in the SuBLIME!

I have been painting, teaching and studying oil painting over 40 years and have never heard anyone, ever suggest working back from the neutrals towards the pure colors. Excellent idea! I am impressed!

Seems like pulling from the middle and having a bit of that color in many if not all of the other colors is also a way to create unity and harmony. Thanks so much for doing these videos!

This is the first time that I have heard an explanation of "muted vs. muddy colors". It is nice to know that I have stumbled into the right direction when mixing muted colors. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and skills.

Years ago you were only an author I valued greatly. I took many notes from what you wrote. Now we are all so much richer for you presenting on RU-vid Thank you for making yourself available to us all.

What a beautiful painting! Seeing it blocked out 2 dimensionally made so much sense as an abstract composition. Then you fooled our eyes again and made it into a pile of boxes. Brilliant! One of the best paintings in this series, in my opinion.

Thank you very much for talking through the process

I love that these are so focused on one small point. You really get that point across without taking an hour and it's very helpful.

I love your videos, I always come back to them. Thank you

Ian, thank you for moving me in the proper direction visually. Your elucidation in words and in paint has allowed me make up for more lost time than I care to remember. With your help I have finally been able to compose my painting and paint what I see.

I cannot say thank you enough!! I've been struggling with colour! I love muted colours and this ABSOLUTELY makes perfect sense to me! It works!!!

Thank you Ian for showing us a way to create harmonious color in muted paintings. I've never seen such a clear description of what causes a muddy painting and how to make beautiful muted colors instead. Great demonstration and your painting is beautiful.

Nailed it again Ian!! You are able to effectively transmit complex painting technique concepts into accessible, easy to understand and implement terms. I can't wait until next Tuesday"s lesson!!! Thank you so very much!!!!

Wonderful sense of light. Made me think of some of Hopper's interiors. What starts out looking very neutral ends up quite colourful when everything's in its place.

Thank you for such a great lesson! You are a wonderful instructor. ❤

Amazingly explained Video! Wanted to learn this for quite some time! Thanks so much! :)

Really helpful and you explained how to accomplish painting muted colors really well and very easy. In the past I have tried to use a purchased tube neutral warm or a cool gray and mix my colors into them. I always came away with a muddy mess that did not look cohesive. Your method keeps the colors harmonious which is what I am after in my paintings. This is one of the very best demonstrations on how to mix muted gray's with out them becoming muddy. I love it! Thanks so much!

I started watching your videos just a week or so ago. I've already noticed the difference in my painting.

I have waited years for your level of instruction regarding color mixing. Most especially on how to support the eye-brain connection toward great design. It is ultimately great design supported by a color theory that makes perfect sense. Thank you Sir Ian!

I just can't believe that you made something THAT beautiful out of that photo. You really have an in-depth understanding and analysis of what you see that I'll never be able to gain (too old already). But, wow, what an eye. You really make things look so easy. Great inspiration!!!

I paint in watercolor, and always seem to have very saturated colors everywhere! This is a wonderful lesson that I will have to try to apply to my watercolors! Thanks so much!

This was fantastic, Ian. Thank you! Love the painting! g

Loved this finished painting …. Such an interesting composition

Wow, I love your finished paintings and the wonderful, easy-to-understand way that you explain color mixing and shadows both lighted and not as well to help the viewer see beauty in simplicity. I am subscribed and have begun to study the idea of trying a more representational approach.

Just what I was looking for and I didn't even know it! Thanks for all the knowledge!

So funny that I watched this today as literally yesterday I was applying some finishing touches to a painting and had to rub them out as the color looked muddy on the canvas while at the same time, it looked a beautiful hue on my brush. I did not come to the thought you shared here but resolved by pushing my color closer to the ones already in my river to get away from the muddy look. Really appreciate all you share with us.

Every Demo you do is fantastic. BUT...this was an EXCELLENT Demo on use of SUBTLE colors. This technique should be taught to every beginning artist. I think that would make such a difference in understanding color and how to "modulate" color to make a painting work. The first subjects to study are line drawing and perspective. Then how to modulate color. Thank you for all you do. Every time!!!!!

Wow! I could stare at this painting for hours being mesmerized by the light and shadow and shape. A chair, some boxes, table , shoes and light. Masterful. Once you have that ANYTHING is beautiful. My watercolour fingers are being teased back to oil to try something like this with goopy paint. It would work with watercolour, but ohhh I am tempted to pull out my oils..and go searching for mundane beauty. Thank you. Happy Tuesday!

Ian, your demo painting demonstrates what I frequently tell my students-that you can make a beautiful drawing or painting of humble things. Lovely.

Something I’m a bit unclear on is that you talked at the beginning about the difference between muddy and muted, and how the temperature of the colours is important to consider. So, if you mix that central pile of neutral, and then take another colour from the 'outer' circle to modulate the neutral for painting a particular area, that colour could be warm or cool, so isn’t that the same way we end up with mud rather than muted? In your painting they don’t look muddy, I have to say, but I’m not sure why, if they’re mixes of maybe four colours by that point! I’m now almost completely up-to-date with watching your videos, by the way, and I’ve learned a lot already. Thank you!

I am always amazed to see how you show light even though it is not "really light" since you are, as you state, using muted colors to achieve the effect. Always informative and helpful, thank you

Lost of warmth with those muted colors! Beautiful painting. Thank you very much for this lightning lesson.

I tried muted colours today . Turned out great ! Thanks so much for the tips !

Merci, I needed that explanation.....Thanks for your tuesdays wonderful classes.

Very neat and balanced painting! Hard to believe that "muted-clean" contrast can work so well! Thanks for sharing Ian!

I expected you to show yourself mixing those colors on your palette, after the intro stressed that different technique. Loved the example itself!

Beautifully done ! Thank you for the quality & great lesson !

I very much enjoy your clear and thorough explanations, the examples, and the way you demonstrate your concepts. Thank you for what you're doing!

I remember seeing some paintings in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow, which is one of my favourite art galleries, and the colours were very muted. I stood for ages looking at them. “Pastures New” by James Guthrie was one of them. It’s long overdue for another visit! The last time I was there, I got there from the city centre on an old rout-master bus! Really took me back to my childhood and the journey ended all too soon. I was reluctant to get off, such was my enjoyment 😂.

Perfect timing- just considering how to get from really vibrant intense area to muted colours without a helpful shaft of light and the penny has dropped! Thank you Ian!

Thank you so much for this video. So much to learn.

Thank you Ian. And that is a beautiful painting.

Mind bogling for me. Hope to watch this again, too!

Awesome! Thank you so much Ian for such a clear wonderful explanation 🙏🙏

This is one of the best both helpful and engaging, I have always struggled with colour relationships. The simple subject becomes a satisfying dramatic composition without the use of high key blasting colour or primary intense colours all over the place fighting with each other

Thank you. Absolutely genius and helpful. As a beginner, I'm so tired of my oil paintings looking so cartoonish or illustrated while my intent is realism.

I always struggle choosing a scene to paint, so I marvel at how you can take an image I would have never thought was interesting, and turn it into a beauty. Really fantastic demonstration as always.

WOW!!! I really find it amazing how you can take an image of something I'd never take a second look at and you make it into a very interesting painting! AND it is wonderful how you did this painting, I almost feel like...hmmm... maybe, just maybe, I might be able to try this (roughly speaking, of course)! Thank you -- nice video 😊

Another winner! The arrival of your video is the highlight of my week! That vibrant blue and yellow I bet are actually quite muted when looked at individually- made bright by their neighbouring muted colours. I just love the vast family of greys! This is a stunning painting- I would love to see more domestic subjects.

Makes beautiful from the ordinary, yet again!

Thank you..it's fascinating to watch you at work. You are a true teacher... wonderful tonal work. Loving your videos.

Thank you so much for your beautiful demonstration and very clear explanation.💐

I watched some of your videos specifically focused on composition, though most have that component worked in anyway, months ago. They were excellent! Last week I decided to watch EVERY video you have published on your channel, and I just finished! They are all very helpful and I so appreciate the effort and motivation it takes to develop, edit, and publish so much valuable content - THANK YOU! Now that my binge watching is complete, I will keep up with your new ones and use others as reference, but more importantly, it is time to put more miles on my brushes 😄. I have lots of head knowledge and need to develop more brush knowledge! In any case, please keep them coming and I wish you continued growth and success with your channel!

Fantastic demo, Ian! Thanks so much for all the work and passion you’re putting into these little video lessons ❣️

CRAAAAAZEEEEEE how fantastic this is! Truly a beautiful piece of art from a rather ordinary still life.

I have always loved muted colors and this was so helpful. I had almost given up using them because people said it made my paintings too dull, but I think that the problem was that I needed just a few pops of light. Very interesting video this week. I'm still thinking about it.

Thanks for this one on “muted” colours. The last time I painted I discovered this for myself (Isn’t that the best way of learning sometimes?). I had a middle “puddle” of neutrals and started to pull from that into my brighter colours. And here I thought I was so smart. LOL. And, I love the way you take an ordinary subject and make it extraordinary as a painting. I see now that the simple things around us can make for a great composition. Looking forward to next week on perspective. Always a challenge for me.

I just came across your channel and you have already become my teacher. Clear concepts very well explained and your short videos are full of good teachings. Thanks a lot!! Already subscribed and joined your email list.

Beautiful, I love this series. Can’t wait till next week. Perspective is a struggle for me as well as what you’ve just went over. Thank you so much for sharing your time and knowledge.

Thanks so much Ian. I’m pretty much addicted to your RU-vid videos. I see everything now in a whole new light (pardon the pun). Also purchased your book - Mastering Composition Techniques & Principles To Dramatically Improve Your Painting. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is watching your videos and want to improve their painting. Thanks again Ian and keep doing what you’re doing.

It’s fun to watch that you turn everyday object as an art piece when there is light hitting on. Thank you!

ohhhh.. just Love this painting 🙏 💕

You make the dullest subject come to life and gain beauty, can't wait for next week.

portrait of the shoes: love it! most pop contrast

thanks so much, neutrals have been my bugaboo- so I have avoided them. This really helps.

Excellent tutorial working on a painting of the Coach House at the Vaughn Estate , my wife was at Sunnybrook for her yearly check up at the Odette Center

I learn so much from watching your videos. I have heard about mixing a color into all the other colors on your pallet to produce color harmony but this way of doing it makes much more sense to me. I can't wait to try this on my next painting! Thank you so much Ian!

I really learn a lot from your tutorials. Thanks.

Always helpful and interesting. You simplify your lessons and make the painting seem achievable.

Very very very helpful.... Thanks for sharing this gem ✨

Thanks for this tip on muted colours ian. The puddle is a great idea. The painting of such ardinary everyday things is amazing. Looking foreward to the one on perspective. Thanks sgain.

Loved the composition and the process - the clarity was immense. Thank you

Such a master at what you do. Thanx Ian.

Thank you so much for discussing muddy / muted colors! I love your colors and it’s so very interesting to hear your thoughts.

This was an excellent demo and concept. Thank you so much for doing such great job explaining it. I’ve never quite seen that mixing method. I think it’s very interesting and will definitely try it out.

This is wonderful, I've never seen this way of looking at muted color!!!

Beautiful painting!