1. Watercolors
The Basics of Color Blending

2. Now, your paint might look like this.
5 colors per “set”—please share.
From what you know about watercolors, how do you think these
little paint pans will look as we use them?
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3. If your paint set looks like this = GOOD
It means somebody knew how to mix colors.
In REAL LIFE, colors get DIRTY…so should your palette.

4. You’ve used brushes like this.
Problems?
• Loose their bristles.
• Permanently “bent.”
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Won’t come to a fine point.

5. A watercolor brush should look like this.
• How should a good brush pick up paint?
• How should a good brush apply paint to the page?

6. Get the paint wet.
Let it soften for a bit.
If it’s dirty, then dab it clean with tissue
Re-wet as needed to keep it soft and ready for use.

7. Can be combined to mix all the other
colors—so if your short on cash when buying
paint, be sure to get these three.
2. Other colors can’t be combined to make the
primaries.
1.

8. Shades of pigments vary
based on chemical make up.
Sometimes warmer, sometimes cooler.

9. Painting the full spectrum:
Transitional Color Blends = Wash
The effect is achieved by applying paint to wet paper:
WET ON WET

10. Look at the color wheel.
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Which Colors are in a TRIANGULAR relationship?
How is the full spectrum triangle here different than the color wheel?
What colors are missing from your palette?
What will you have to do to get the full spectrum?

11. What’s a Triangle got to do with it?
Establishes color relationships.
Gives you room to mix secondary colors.
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12. 1.
Mixed from TWO primary colors.
2.
The compliment is one of the primaries.
3.
Mixing the compliments darkens the color—
or makes neutral grey

13. 1. Wet the paper.
2. Load your brush
with Yellow.
• How do you get the most
paint on the brush.
 Keep the paint moist.
 Roll—don’t scrub.

14. Does yellow have
to come first?
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No.
We start with yellow to keep it
from being overpowered.
Paint yellow ½
way down
• How do you keep the
color intense?
• How do you keep the
whole page wet?

15. More pigment,
less water =
INTENSE
color!
Water is needed to pick up the
paint---but can dilute it.
Solutions?
•
BLOT the brush.

16. Load your
brush with red.
• Blend ORANGE where
red meets yellow
• Rinse
• BLOT
• Repeat

17. Load your
brush with
blue.
Blend GREEN where blue
meets yellow.
• Blend VIOLET where blue
meets red
• Rinse
• BLOT
• Repeat
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18. Using the Radial or Free Form Design
made with Sharpie, make a full
spectrum blend.
The Sharpie design will still show up because watercolor paints
transparent. So you use the same technique we practiced.

19. Wet the page.
Wash only works when
paper is wet.
Start with yellow.

20. Then load
brush with red.
• Blend ORANGE where
red meets yellow
• Rinse
• BLOT
• Repeat

21. Then load
brush with blue.
• Blend Green where blue meets yellow.
• Blend Violet where blue meets red.
• Rinse
• BLOT
• Repeat