Mixing Colors by Ed Kane

 

  

Those of us that work in color are familiar with the Primary, secondary & tertiary colors all starting with the basics of red, yellow & blue. How many of us paint only using the primary colors? How many have considered it, but felt that it would lack something?

 



All work is the property of the Artist Ed Kane

Well I've been using only yellow ochre, alizarin crimson, and Prussian blue over the years as part of a field sketch kit when I was re-enacting on weekends and had some down time from the battle scenarios, and duties in camp. For the past year I've been painting with these three colors on a daily basis doing demonstrations as a colonial artist.

 



I've come to appreciate the way in which the value of the color is affected by the amount of water used to dilute it and how one wash affects another. Also the amount of a certain color mixed with another will either be too light or too dark. Adjusting the mixture as I paint can be very interesting. Studying period manuscripts (via the internet) have been very helpful and informative.

 

It can be frightening, but after awhile, one learns from one's own mistakes and you begin to get comfortable. However, I'm demonstrating for five hours and generate several small works of which some are framed and others will go to my recycle pile or be used as a seedling for a larger piece and a full palette.  Not every piece is a success, I'll be the first to admit that. But creating the piece is not the goal of the exercise, learning what I can and can not do with the limited palette is the true goal. Experiencing the changes that take place with water and paint is wonderful. Also consider painting with water first then add a drop of the color you intend to use in a area. Watch how the color swirls and tries to escape the boundary you set with the water you previously brushed onto the paper.

 

As artists one of our jobs is to learn, we learn by doing and experimenting. So take the plunge and just use the three primary colors and mix as you paint. While you are doing it have some fun.