What color do I use?

I found an old blog post I wrote some time ago….a long time ago actually but still found it to be worth revisiting. You see as years have gone, by I find that the same questions are asked. And rightfully so, art can be intimidating and confusing. So here is a slightly longer answer to the question: “What color do I use?”

Old post-revised: One of the most common questions I hear from students when beginning a painting is "What colors do I use?"  If they are new to the class or just beginning...or very frustrated, I will tell them what they can use to try to get an accurate color.  Like many artists, I do not like using color straight from the tube without blending with another color, so I try to teach that concept in my classes.  When you are learning to paint, it’s important to also learn to see, really see what’s in front of you. In my opinion, this is the most important skill an artist can develop. The rest is practice and technique. Looking at something is more important than painting it; weird concept, I know, but I stand by it.

Example:  You are painting a red flower with a green stem.  OK, let’s look a bit longer and ask a few questions.  Is the red a bright red like a zinnia? Does the red look more like a rose color with a hint of pink to it? In the shadows, is there a hint of blue?  

Here are a few hints about those mysterious tubes of red paint and how to select what to use:

Let’s look at two popular options that are in most sets.

Cadmium red- This might be called brilliant red in some sets and might have the words light, medium, or deep also. When you think about the red, I want you to think of a fire truck. Bright, vibrant….red.  So if your flower is vibrant and very very red, you’re going to use this color.

Alizarin Crimson-This is the red you want to use to make a wine color, or mix to make a pretty pink color. When you think of this, think of wine. If your flower is a burgundy color like a rose, or has a slight pink tone, this is your color.

Look...look again and then think for a bit. You will see it, and when you do, you may just see how beautifully complex the colors of ordinary things around us can be. Now you are becoming an artist!