Why aren't my watercolors glowing?

[CharM]

Sylvia, Nita's triad exercises are absolutely classic and I have my Students work through them... priceless!

I hope This Link works...

[hblenkle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD5pBgI_k7M

Very clear and useful.

[LunarMoth]

Thanks for the links, Painterbear, CharM. The library was able to place (Making Color Sing) on hold for me, so maybe that will help me out.
I tried painting a little forest scene the other night, but I think I overworked the picture too much. Oops!
I really think that detail is a lot of my problem. I get so caught up in trying to make this color go here and that color stay there that I loose the beauty of letting the paint just be the paint and fall where it may, in short I loose the luminosity through too much overworking with the brush.
I also think I've been applying to light of washes which fade once dry, by doing this it causes me to apply another wash and I think that that sorta dulls my painting. So I am going to try painting bolder looser washes and see what I get. Wish me luck! I will let you all know how I come.

[Iuvien]

Originally Posted by CharM

For instance, mixing ultramarine blue which has a red bias with hansa yellow light that has a green bias will result in a DULL green... why? Because the red and green biases are mixing complements and create neutrals when mixed together.

However, if you mixed phthalo blue gs (PB15:3) with your hansa yellow light, the two green biases will work together creating a very bright and clear green.

I never thought about that! Thank you so much for your book recommendation too, I just ordered it and I can't wait till it arrives!

[claude j greengrass]

Originally Posted by CharM

What a great question you've asked, LunarMoth! And, as I'm sure you've realized already, there are no simple answers.
...
Basically, you need to understand the bias of your pigments in order to arrive at a colour that you intended to mix.

For instance, mixing ultramarine blue which has a red bias with hansa yellow light that has a green bias will result in a DULL green... why? Because the red and green biases are mixing complements and create neutrals when mixed together....

Once you've learned to mix your bright colours, mixing your neutrals is the next step in your journey...

Unfortunately, there isn't a single solution that will help you... but perhaps you can focus on a specific technique or exercise until you're comfortable with it... and then, move on to the next...

Bruce only discusses mixing neutrals here, but it is a real eye opener regarding the bias of various colours when mixing 'complements'

[hblenkle]

I liked Stephen Quillers book on color mixing. He showed with example paintings the use of different color schemes.

[virgil carter]

"Why aren't my watercolors glowing?" Might be as simple as using a dirty palette with dirty paint wells. Amazing how many painters do this and brag about how they "never clean my palette"!

If one likes to keep using previously mixed and applied paints from one's palette (creating some lovely and harmonious grayed hues), be sure to paint the saturated/intense and pure passages first. Then paint with a dirty palette for as long as one likes.

Just clean the palette before the next painting! Rinse and repeat!

Sling paint!
Virgil

[Barbara WC]

Originally Posted by virgil carter

"Why aren't my watercolors glowing?" Might be as simple as using a dirty palette with dirty paint wells. Amazing how many painters do this and brag about how they "never clean my palette"!

Sling paint!
Virgil

I took a couple of semesters of watercolor course at our local community college- it was a real mix of people, some young college students just starting out, some old timers that have been painting for years.

I'm very picky about cleaning my palette and always clean it after a day of painting- some people in the class thought I was a new painter because my palette is always so clean (which I wasn't). I was always amazed at seeing some of the palettes of some of my fellow students- yellows that were supposed to be bright were dull brown, bright reds that looked like earth pigments- and I never could figure out how they got the beautiful bright paintings they do! It seems even if I get a spec of contamination in my yellow wells especially, I perceive a dulling in my painting. However, it seems to be a badge of honor among some painters to have a messy palette, and somehow they make it work! I'd personally rather mix my greys as needed

[noge]

This is my palette - I use it once a week or more for dirty paintings

[chkre]

Steve Hall says in his DVDs that mud does not evolve from using a dirty palette but that it comes from overpainting. He argues that a dirty palette might even give a slightly more personal and interesting character to your colours. I more and more believe, that the efect of glowing and light can best be achieved by using strong tonal contrasts, to put 'light against dark' (Steve Hall). However, I also usually quickly clean my palette roughly after each use.

Christian

[alansam]

we all go through the phase were we start thinking of luminosity
I know I did. and avoided cadmiums because I was reading and listening to artists .now .Ive left all that behind me and use anything I want .be yourself and enjoy doing it your way .make a nice painting you like,,and above all..stop over thinking about it all .just paint//
if you cant see through a cadmium thin it with water and you will// splash it on I say. PS/.please ignore these comments .like they say the hard work and finding how it works is part of the enjoyment .

[LunarMoth]

I always try and keep my palette clean, I don't like a messy palette.

[LunarMoth]

Thanks, alansam. I will take all your advice to heart. I agrea, one should just be theirself, that's what make's the picture you paint unique. Thanks!

[olliewood0702]

Alansam said it all! Horray for you Alan you hit the nail on the head!

[alansam]

well now .I have just come in from the garage where I played a Steve Hall video, I am not a fan of Steve //but hes likeable .he is a little flambouyant swishing it around with great aplomb ,and doing his lozenge shaped strokes (his words) ,I thought steve,,as I pause the video on his hands holding his craig young palette ," thats not the light red I see in my palette.and thats not mud your picking up.and that yellow looks like my lemon yellow " ,and thats not quite a Ted Wesson tree
,but ...mm// it could be the old tv I play it on /