Antagonistic Complements: Two-Color Watercolor Hexagons Skill Level: Medium My husband and I spent 6 months in Germany after we got married. Because I never, ever quit painting, I spent gray Dusseldorf winter days painting tiny gradient stripes in acrylic paint. After seeing many completed paintings, one day my beloved was idly observing me paint while drinking his coffee and after a while he said, utterly disbelieving, 'You mean you mix all of those colors by hand?' Somehow, not being a painter, he imagined they all came out of hundreds of paint tubes, which, practically speaking, would not be the most space-efficient use of studio storage. Truth be told, I was using five or six colors plus white. You can get by with three in a pinch if you need to travel light, and I do recommend bringing paint with you everywhere. Obviously. In this project, I walk you through mixing complementary colors. I don’t know why they call them complementary, because frankly I don’t think there’s much that’s complementary about them—in fact, they clash. The pairs are made of colors that are across the pie from each other on the color wheel. Red/green is one complementary pair; blue/orange and yellow/purple are others. Mostly, certain holidays notwithstanding, these are the combos your mom told you not to wear at the same time. I would much prefer to call them antagonistic colors. So here’s the magic. If you mix two analogous colors together, like blue and purple, you get bluish purple. But if you mix a complementary set together, Bob is your freaking uncle. You have unlocked to door to beautiful neutrals and grays and toned-down primaries that will have you painting hexagons for years. Two complementary colors can be mixed in various amounts to create a bajillion different tones. Choosing Colors To make the sample above I used two of my favorite watercolor colors, Transparent Pyrrole Orange and Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), which is basically turquoise. These are secondary colors (a reddish orange and a greenish blue) that are across the wheel, never the twain to meet. Until we mix ’em, of course. Test Your Colors It’s usually impossible to gauge the exact color or intensity of a watercolor mix when it’s on your palette. High-quality watercolors straight out of the tube sometimes look almost black because the color is so concentrated. That’s why it’s nice to have a scrap page nearby to test your colors. Materials Watercolor paint in two complementary colors 140lb (300 g/m2) watercolor paper, 9˝ x 12˝ (22.9 x 30.5 cm) No.4 (or smaller) round watercolor brush Watercolor palette with clean areas for mixing Paper towel 1 Using the hexagon template, start laying down your pure color—in this case, the orange. Use the clean area of your mixing tray to create the strength that you want. Fill the first line of hexagons with unmixed color of various strengths. The addition of water combines with the white of the paper to create shifts in value (light to dark). These shifting levels in color strength can add pleasing visual interest. The right size brush will help getting a precise edge—use a No.4 round or smaller. 2 Now you should have a decent amount of mixed orange in your mixing area. Here’s where a little goes a long way. With a rinsed, clean brush, dab the dried turquoise the tiniest bit and mix it into the orange. Use the scrap paper to gauge the color. For the first color shift, the color will still look orange, but the tiniest bit duller. Fill the next line of color with the paint on the mixing tray, adding water as desired. When you get to the center line of hexes (with this painting, line 4), the color should be a nice warm brown—not orange any more, but not too green either . 3 Carry on by adding a tiny bit more turquoise to the orange every time you reach a new line of hexagons. When you get to the last line, use unmixed turquoise from a new part of your palette, as even a little bit of the orange mix will dull the vibrancy you’re looking for.
✔ Author(s): Josie Lewis
✔ Title: The New Color Mixing Companion: Explore and Create Fresh and Vibrant Color Palettes with Paint, Collage, and Mixed Media--With Templates for Painting Your Own Color Patterns
✔ Rating : 4.8 out of 5 base on (265 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1631595490
✔ ISBN-13: 9781631595493
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about The New Color Mixing Companion by Josie Lewis
Jillian Neel
The depth of character development was astounding. I felt like I knew each person intimately, understanding their hopes, fears, and dreams. It made the story so much more meaningful.
Beata Shepard
The way the author handled complex emotions and relationships was remarkable. I felt deeply connected to the characters, and their growth throughout the story was both inspiring and moving.
Violet Tyler
The way this book explored the complexities of human nature and relationships was both profound and relatable. It touched my heart in ways I didn't expect.
