In Mixed Media Color Studio you’ll learn color and design ideas that will boost your creative intuition SUPPLIES Oh, the thrill of walking into an art supply store and seeing all those pretty paint tubes lined up, calling to you to bring them home. But before you blow your budget, consider a few things: You don’t have to have it all. A few tubes of paint, a surface to paint on, and a brush or two will give you a good start. I suggest using a variety of materials for the projects in this book, but I encourage you to be resourceful. Adapt with what you have on hand, substitute when possible, and be innovative with your supplies. If you are interested in learning about art supplies, we’ll review the possibilities in this chapter. DISCOVERING YOUR SIGNATURE COLOR PALETTE Color is part of my identity as an artist. I’ll bet that if you looked at your work, you would see a color pattern as well. When you paint, do you have a go-to palette or know how to identify one that is materializing as your own signature color combination? A golden thread runs through your work and your life, and it’s the key to your own signature color palette. The best way to discover your signature color palette is to see the world with wonder. Figure out what lights your soul on fire and then embrace your natural path toward creative expression. Soon you will see color combinations everywhere you go that you simply can’t resist. MODERN COLOR THEORY Previously, color theory included hues such as ultramarine blue, cadmium red, and cadmium yellow. The newer colors of phthalo, quinacridone, and azo yellow are synthetic hues not found in nature and have revolutionized the way we create because they offer an incredible array of colors that you can’t get using the traditional color palette. Many artists have moved over to new and exciting possibilities with modern synthetic colors. This is where modern color theory comes into play. For printing and graphics, and now on your canvas, you can use primary cyan, primary magenta, and primary yellow. Let’s take a deep dive together into a whole new world of modern color theory. PALETTES AND PROJECTS One of the greatest pleasures in working with mixed media is that painting in layers is forgiving. You can correct mistakes and adjust your work along the way by experimenting with different mediums and mark-making tools. Be creative in your approach—use what you have—and substitutions are allowed. Nothing is a mistake in the process of making art. If something doesn’t go as planned, consider it serendipity, a chance to discover something unexpected in making your most authentic artwork. Based on Kellee Wynne Conrad's popular former online True Colors Art Program, the lessons in Mixed Media Color Studio include: TRICKY GREENS | PROJECT: DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE In this lesson, you’ll see how a green-centric painting compares with one that is balanced with other colors and more natural hues of green. When painting landscapes, many of my students are inclined to use a bright St. Patrick’s Day green right out of the tube or mix a similar super-saturated color. To create a dynamic and interesting landscape, more variety is needed. That’s why we’re going to push the range of hues we use and include complementary colors. INFINITE BLUES | PROJECT: SMALL SEASCAPES This lesson will not only expose you to myriad blue hues, but it will also bolster your acrylic painting practice. If you don’t have a million blues like I do, return to the color wheel warm-up lesson (see page 36) and mix a variety of blues using the modern primaries. Once you have a nice selection, begin playing with paint and create these lovely small seascapes. YELLOW ON TOP | PROJECT: MIXED MEDIA ABSTRACT BOTANICAL Let’s get wild with our biggest project. This is a great opportunity to try out any of the mixed media techniques or ideas that we’ve covered, and we’ll see what happens when we bring it all together into one big yellow phenomenon. Don’t hesitate to make it your own! Guest Artist: ANGE MILLER “Altruistic Flow” 48" × 60" (122 × 152 cm), acrylic and oil on canvas Website: www.angemillerart.com Instagram: @angemillerart Although I tend to form color palettes intuitively, in hindsight I see recurring color themes in my artwork that seem to represent scenes in nature. For instance, this piece is ocean and sky. The deep blue forms the base of the color language, and every color I crave to place with it speaks of sunrise and sunset (pink, orange, lilac, and dusty neutrals) or the water’s reflection of the sky. Metallic gold references the sparkling sun itself. Although my painting is abstract, and I have exaggerated some colors for contrasting effect, the color palette expresses an appreciation of naturally occurring color combinations.
✔ Author(s): Kellee Wynne Conrad
✔ Title: Mixed Media Color Studio: Explore Modern Color Theory to Create Unique Palettes and Find Your Creative Voice--Play with Acrylics, Pastels, Inks, Graphite, and More
✔ Rating : 4.7 out of 5 base on (222 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1631599968
✔ ISBN-13: 9781631599965
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about Mixed Media Color Studio by Kellee Wynne Conrad
Beata Shepard
What a rollercoaster of emotions! I laughed, cried, and everything in between. The author's ability to evoke such raw feelings is truly commendable. It's a story that will stay with me forever.
Aileen Menzie
The plot twists were executed masterfully. I was left gasping at every unexpected turn, and the suspense kept me on edge throughout. Bravo to the author for keeping me guessing.
Kara Snyder
I'm already planning to reread this book. It's one of those stories that you can revisit again and again, discovering new layers of meaning each time.
