What a week! If I had have known what the past week had in store for me I may have increased my caffeine levels a bit.
Lots of very big changes are happening here around our household. All plans in the making up until now, all talk and dreaming rather than action ~ until this past weekend ~ I am not sure what lit the spark, but trust me when I say it has been ignited. Its go time. The next 6 months will be full of lots of positive change for us as a family.
Pick up the phone and start dialing…
I wont share too many details right now, but they include lots of moving parts. Moving homes, moving lives, moving ~ a 5 year plan is in place. Lots of balls in the air, now just a matter of timing and making sure they all fall in the right places.
Ah.. the ball in the air metaphor. A favorite around this household..
My husband thrives with all his balls in the air. I like mine lined up in a row, preferably color coded and all the same size. The only similarities between us being that we both like momentum and lots of it….
Enough about me. Oh,wait, this blog is about me…it may be the only thing that’s all about me. The rest of me has somehow become all divvied up between life and family.
Today, in my world, my issue is with color. This is not a new issue, but one that I am slowly discovering needs to be addressed. I have the books, the links and all the information I need to be a master colorist. Now is the time to actually absorb all that I have read and instead of haphazardly throwing color around, placing it where it is supposed to be so that my paintings start to SING. Oh goodness…
Somehow it just seems easier to go out and buy the perfect shade!
But, no,I have been told, many times, I only need 12 colors ~ with a bit of black and white mixed in.
Taking that in mind I set out on an exercise to understand just how many colors can be mixed with 12 colors, a bit of titanium white, titan buff and black. This lesson was a little something I picked up from Julie Pritchard. Check out her site for some great online art courses!
All you need here is some white paper, a few transparencies, paintbrush and paint.
On the top of your white paper and transparencies write out your colors and a dark line
Along the side of your transparency and white paper write the following…
pure, white, white++, titan buff, titan buff ++, black, white +, titan buff+
Grab your paints, paintbrush and palette.I used 24 colors because I am not very good at following directions. I laid out my paints according to the color wheel, starting with my yellows and working clockwise to green, blues..and so forth.
Using the example above with Quin Magenta
First square = paint a square of pure color.
Square below= add quin magenta with a bit of white mixed in.
Square below = added the quin magenta+ white + a bit more white. ( ++ white)
Square below = add quin magenta+ titan buff
Square below = add quin magenta + white + a bit more white ( ++titan buff)
Square below = add quin magenta + black
Square below = add quin magenta + black + white
Final square = add quin magenta+ black + titan buff
Proceed on..complete above exercise with all colors. It takes time, but you will be very happy with the results!
1 color + white, titan buff + black = 8 colors
I completed this exercise using 24 colors I had on hand which = 192 colors.
THIS is before I even began to mix colors…which I wont be doing, but will definitely take into consideration the next time I dive deep into my pocket to buy yet another tube of the perfect shade of green!
Imagine the possibilities!
Why the transparency you ask?
Ever feeling a little lost wondering what color to add to your painting, maybe a little stuck wondering what color to use for glazing, or simply wondering how transparent/opaque your color really is??
The transparent color chart is your friend!
Well friends, that’s all I have to share today. Come back soon for more color info over the next few weeks. Don’t hesitate to comment if you need further explanation!
Off to hit “publish” and wait for the phone to start ringing…..
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I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. Thanks Julie. This is a GOOD idea. Now, if I can convince myself to do it. LOL
You CAn do it. It really didnt take that much time and it was helpful. Julie
The transparencies are a brilliant idea! I have been meaning to make a color chart for the longest time – now I’m so glad I didn’t do it sooner! I’m totally going to do it this way. Great post.
Oh good, glad it was helpful. Unfortunately not my idea (thanks goes out to Julie Pritchard), but always happy to share!
Thank you very much for the mention!
Thanks for visiting! I would love to take another course from you and Chris in the near future- will go and check out what you have to offer! Woke up to snow on the ground so its time to hunker down and paint. Julie
I am so glad you made this post!!!i stopped on this post because of the colors i saw on your transparencies. my father was a painter and he referred to himself as a colorist. he us a pure color palette, cad red, yellow cerulean blue ect. he rarely desaturated the colors in his paintings. one thin g he use to say to me was, “color has a psychological effect on people, it is a visual and emotional experience.” its true color does have an effect on mood. i hope you have much success in your art and new 5 year plan!! sounds exciting! my blog is dedicated to the paintings of my father, Vincent Farrell (1928-2008) stop by sometime!
vanessa
this is a super idea 🙂 i too like the ball rolling as it where, i am constantly thinking of new plans and ideas which i need to begin to follow through with.
this idea though of the transparent colour chart is really good, i think you should patent it!
thankyoou for sharing, keep smiling
love the color worksheets and the energy of your momentum – can’t wait to see where it takes you as a family, business and an inspiration to us all!
this is so cool – I really want to do this too now! Thanks so for sharing – you’re so right, the possibilities are endless. All the best with your exciting adventures! 🙂
Tinting and toning swatches were part of my initial colour and design course… an exercise in frustration and (at the same time) amazement. Colour rocks! 🙂
I know its so important to do. I have been meaning to spend more time studying color, but it is exactly that…studying..aghh.. I just want to toss really colorful paint around and keep my fingers crossed:) Off to visit your world.
I have been meaning to get around to it but never did get it done.. Strange as there seem to be so many people making change of late…including me! Congrats and best of luck with keeping all of your balls and colours in the air! Have a great night, Lorelei
Thanks Loralei. Spring is a great time for change:)
This must be the year of BIG changes Julie!! I’m right there with you and its scary and exciting at the same time…would your changes happen to include somewhere lush and tropical??
Love this colour chart but its far too organised a thing for me and WOW I’ve finally found an area that we differ in. We have so much in common, you and I, but colour coded rows is not one of them! Cant wait to see all of your lovely plans unfold….
hugs Tracy xo
Unfortunately no lush and tropical ~ Will still be staying in Whistler, just a change in location. Lots of travel plans though! Tracy, one more thing we do not have in common…a lovely singing voice! Whatever happened to the video with the voiceover? Keep us posted! xo
Hi Julie,
love the transparency idea for the colour creations, looks great! What fabulous fun you’ve had doing this. I don’t know that I’m as patient as you though. I still tend to make it up and mix colours on the spot. I can remember my Mum teaching me this when I was about 10 though and I enjoyed the calming process of mixing and discovering new colours from a simple basic palette.
Wow, you have a lot going on! Where are you moving to? I hope it’s down here close to me (o” Wishing you well beautiful and maybe some calming green tea would be a better option than increasing your caffeine my dear (o:
Sending you lots of love, energy and calm for all the busyness that you have going on at the moment. Liza xxx
PS. I began my regular yoga practice again last week. I’m now going twice a week again, which after a 2 year absence due to our lil munchkins feels so wonderful. I have really missed it and have already noticed the difference it’s making to me. xxx
im going to try this out, i stumbled upon ur blog when looking for ways to make a colour chart for university. the transparency sheet= genius!
Isnt it great!? Unfortunately I have to give credit to julie Pritchard for the idea. She taught me this one! Thanks for popping by!
No problem, if I blog about it I shall link ur blog too, need to find transparent film first
I just used plastic sheet protectors or you can try the transparent sheets used for overhead projectors.
i managed to get some in my college shop 🙂