Color Theory Ep. 2 | Split Primary Palette | What Is It? & How To Make One

[@laura3071934]

By far the most easy to understand explanation of what a split primary color wheel is and WHY you want to use one. I’ve spent days looking for this!! THANKS dr. Kano !🙏🏻 🙂

[@spongebobtanu]

This might be the best explanation I've ever seen on the split primary palette! I always felt the need to have a violet in my palette because I thought you mixed warm triad within itself only and cool triad within itself as well. So of course my violets were never great but now I understand! For my painting subjects which is mostly florals, and in that mostly cool colored florals, the cool triad is the best and I add a turquoise as that is hard to mix (for me anyway). For the last two spots I usually had a violet (which I suppose I could replace with an ultramarine now) and a neutral tint so I didn't have to spend too much time mixing a neutral. I might still keep the violet instead of ultramarine because of my intentions with my palette but it's great to know why I couldn't get the desired results with the cool triad.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you enjoyed the explanation. Yes turquoise is so hard to get right by mixing your own.

[@SabrinaGraham82]

Ugsfugg

[@EveBolt]

Yes!! Split primary for the win! Really good tip for the layout of the colors in a palette, I gotta remember that one :O

[@OtoKano]

Thanks Eve :D I used to get so confused when it comes time to mix!

[@mianoname9825]

Oto, that tip of arranging the colors in the palette so that the top row color mixed with the color right below it gives a vibrant secondary is amazing! I just come from trying that out and it's sooo helpful! I can finally stop trying to remember which mixing recipe gives what I am looking for (vibrant or muted), thank you! I also would like to say that I am enjoying your color theory series very much. I am just learning to use watercolors and your series is totally helpful, concise, well explained and just interesting to watch. Thank you so much for providing it!

[@OtoKano]

**** PLEASE READ **** Since people see colors differently, and of course we all have our color preferences. So if you feel the colors for these six should be different, that is totally ok! I personally prefer cooler yellows than warmer yellows, and so the colors I recommend for both yellows might seem too cool to you. That's ok! Please do what works for you, and only take my suggestion as that - suggestions. What's most important is that you select colors that work for you and make your heart sing in joy 💕💕💕

[@creativesea.design]

I actually have the reds and the blues and the warm yellow from Holbein, but I didn't get Aureolin, instead I opted for Imidazolone lemon for a cool yellow. I wonder what is your take on that color?

[@atelieradela]

Also, since people are watching this on a screen, the colors might vary slightly between different screens. Never trust what you see online, that why there is always a warning when you want to purchase something online, something like: "colors might vary from the online pictures and in real life".

[@OtoKano]

Andreea, that's a great cool yellow color as well!

[@OtoKano]

That's such a great point Ailuro, I'll be sure to mention that in the next video, thank you.

[@atelieradela]

@@OtoKano No problem :D

[@misseskval2686]

Oto, this new series of color theory is a winner. The best yet. You just earned a new subscriber. Thanks so very much for all your hard work. It is greatly appreciated.

[@OtoKano]

Awwww so glad you are enjoying the series. Thank you for subbing!

[@sleepydrJ]

one of the all time best color videos. So straightforward, and such a clean explanation of CMY vs RYB and where they excel.

[@MaxB-o6h]

Totally agree with many of these comments. After watching dozens of videos on color theory and mixing this has to be best and explained so perfectly. Amazing how much clearer this video made the whole subject. Thank you so much!

[@mostlyvoid.partiallystars]

Ive watched five other reels in the last two days and this is the first that really hit home. Thank you so much for talking the time to explain this! The concept of “cool yellow” was something I still have trouble grasping but your examples have really helped.

[@SPQRKlio]

Somehow this is the first time I’ve seen a split-primary colour mixing chart that made sense to me and explained it t a glance. I came to a realisation recently that I’d rather have a wide variety of colours-finding interesting single pigment paints is fun-than do much mixing, and I’m still trying to come to terms with that about myself 😊

[@OtoKano]

So glad that the chart made sense. I'm totally with you. I'd rather have many colors that I love, and only do what mixing is necessary with the colors I have.

[@SAJK0KAT]

This is the best video I have seen about color theory! 🙏

[@PhuongyNguyen97]

I really like the tip for laying out the split primaries in the palette! That will make life sooooo much easier!

[@OtoKano]

So glad you liked that tip Phuong, thank you for watching :D

[@joanstockton2186]

The clearest simplest thorough explanation yet, I can absorb that and use it. It doesn't get any better than that. Brilliantly done!

[@Ceteria5]

Your explaination is the absolute best I've ever heard for a split palate & all your video's I've seen explain everything about color theory much better than I've ever heard. Thank you!

[@adnil651]

I have been studying the split primary palette for a month now, and Dr. Oto's lesson is the best explanation I have seen, heard, or read. Her notes accompanying the video are so helpful. Thanks, Dr.!! You are an amazing teacher.

[@828burke]

A good way to remember your mixing is that red is "hot" (not warm) and blue is "cold" (not cool). You always mix red with a warm blue or yellow, and you always mix a blue with a cool red or yellow. Yellow just wants to "match" the other colors temperature.

[@peggynyhoff4200]

Brilliant teaching! I wish I had learned this as a child. Children are a lot smarter than we think, there are ways to teach this to kids I’m sure. Thank you!

[@MyJoyanne]

What a lightbulb moment! I never knew why people have warm and cool primaries in their palette. Thank you so much for this!

[@GraziaPrimavera]

This is probably one of the best explanation i have come across on the topic, one that breaks down the complex and overwhelming concepts of colour theory from an artist perspective in a way that immediately makes sense and is engaging and logical at once. A must see for beginning artists or anyone wanting to understand the elusive nature of colours. Thank you🙏🌼

[@lesliesamet]

I can't express how happy I am to have found this video. It answered a very large question of how/what I had been doing wrong. Funny, how no one else I have found covered this. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

[@candybourgeois6916]

Thank you! This explanation really helped me understand what I was doing wrong in my pallet. And I especially appreciate that you've included Sennelier in your recommendations since it is my go to for watercolor.

[@imissmypencils]

Your color theory videos have been really helpful. I know most of this stuff but its so beneficial to have it compiled by you. A true artist hero. Thank you!!

[@helmaschine1885]

I googled which colours windsor & Newton recommend as primaries, and their "Cotman Water Colour 6 colour system" seems to align the best with this split primaries palette you recommend. • Lemon Yellow Hue • Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue • Ultramarine • Intense Blue • Permanent Rose • Cadmium Red Hue definitely going to try that out, since I don't have a lot of money to buy every hue in existence.

[@kkcreativekk]

Out of all the attempts I have made to learn the split primary palette from different sources, your explanation was like manna from heaven! So easy to understand. Got it!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

[@felix-xd4mx]

literally the best video on color palette ever! very amazing

[@SarahNotSara]

Thank you for the effort and hard work that went into creating this video. It was extremely informative and clearly explained. 💟

[@Lifes1BeautifulRide]

This deserves a trophy 🏆👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@renejantzi7441]

Gosh darn you,re genius! I've never heard or read this so well explained! Each series you do I think it's the best and then you come along with something like this. So so so helpful. Thank you.

[@OtoKano]

Awwww you are so kind Rene, you really made my day! Thank you :D

[@FayeWulf]

Oh, I'm definitely gonna borrow that palette layout from you! I never thought about that, i always have it as c/w yellow, c/w red and c/w blue in a row.

[@OtoKano]

Please do! It makes bright color mixing so much easier :D

[@YenDraws]

I am struggling alot on watercolour theory and went on youtube to find out my answer. The more I look and the more I am confused with advices from different artists and most of them did not explained much in details and just based on their own thinking with abit information here and there till I chanced upon this channel. Trust me , it is super difficult to understand warm and cool theory as beginner. I nearly wanted to create a colour wheel using warm blue and warm yellow and get those unwanted muted green and may not know what is the reason behind! I really appreciate Dr Oto Kano putting this out together with so much effort done. Best video found ,thank You . Subscribed!

[@CyberMaddenus]

This is good. I've never seen the information on the red/blue combination before. Thank-you.

[@fabfoll]

Thanks for the excellent video. Helped me to finally understand about cool and warm colors and their mixtures!

[@ConnieVitucci]

Very easy to understand and very helpful! Looking forward to what's next. Thank you. 👍🏻

[@stacys447]

Thanks for the very clear explanation!

[@seijurogou256]

first of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH! i've been painting on and off for a long time now and never learnt colour theory and it's something i only recently started looking into. i'm still working my way through watching your whole colour theory series but i must say, thank youuuu very much for suggesting how to lay out the split primary colours! (starting around 11.00) i've been trying to find a way to lay them out in my palette for a while now and nothing seemed to work. i'll try your suggested method and see how that works for me but i think it will work wonders! thank you again!

[@Pinkstarpirate]

I've used a split primary palette for a long time, but that color positioning is brilliant and I'm going to immediately switch the positions on my palette to match this. Thank you!

[@divamagpayo6377]

Brilliant for the palette layout!

[@robincooper9323]

I loved the tip on laying out the colors in the palette. Very useful and helpful. Thank you for an excellent video. I love your teaching style. Thank you for a great series and going through it so thoroughly.

[@McQuizzical]

Thank you. I had placed my DS primary set with a warm and cool row, and you're right its hard to remember which mixes better with which, I have to keep checking my notes. I shall be rearanging those. And also using your tip for WN colour chart to search out the better primarys for these too (unless you've added those somewhere else please?). You're explaining all this so clearly, Thank You!

[@lookingup4505]

Your explanation finally made sense of the split palette. Thank you!

[@TsukabuNosoratori2]

I love videos like this that explain colour theory. Every artist brings their own take of colour mixing theory to the table. I got a twelve colour porcelain palette that I got this summer and I decided to have it contain the basic warm colours and cool colours, plus pthalo blue and green and Manganese blue. It's been helping teach me so much about colour mixing and boosting my confidence.

[@OtoKano]

That sounds like a lovely palette Tsukabu!

[@angiewright-artist8246]

Hey Oto, I love this video, it explains so easily. I love that you explained the CMY pallet, I have been using this for years but I've never had anyone explain it so well. It took me years of color mixing to figure this out. I always prefer the brightest colors I can get and agree with you completely because you can always go darker but you need an original bright pigment to start with. I also love that you showed the best way to set up the small pallet that works best. I'm working towards having a 6 color palette for painting in my sketchbooks to bring with me in my purse. This really helps. I dont like the colors most companies give you in sets Thank you xoxo Cheers girl! so

[@OtoKano]

What colors are you planning to have in your palette? :D

[@stellabelikiewicz1523]

Yaaaaay! The videos you make that explore how to think about the properties of watercolor are just so fantastic! And, that palette layout suggestion is sneakily brilliant!

[@OtoKano]

So glad you are enjoying the series Stella. Happy to hear that my tip helps :D

[@alisonhendry2928]

I must second the statement that is the best and clearest explanation of the split primary EVER! Thank you! At last it make sense! I am going to go play with paint now....

[@annelouise4639]

Excellent information! I had no idea why I sometimes got a murky purple and sometimes made a pretty purple.💜 Btw, thanks to you, I am now addicted to Daniel Smith watercolours. 😉 Started off with the Essentials and Primatek sets, then the Alvarez set - amazingly, there are no colour double-ups! I now have a small bundle of tubes on the way from Jackson's, thanks to the free comprehensive DS dot cards that came with the sets. Thank you so much for introducing me to them! 😀👍

[@OtoKano]

So happy to hear that you've figured out about mixing purples!

[@maryhall916]

Loved this video. I think I finally understand. Can’t wait till the next one. I have a new little metal palette I’ve been wanting to set up but confused about how to start.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you get it now :D Thank you for watching the series Mary!

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Outstanding video, so rich in info. Best explanation I've ever seen on this . Thank you very much for your work helping us understand this.

[@5starorchid]

While I'm new to art and color theory, I'm glad that you made this video and explaining it in detail and so clearly! As a visual learner, your video helped so much! If you have an online beginner class on color theory and art, I'll be taking it in a flash! Thank you so much for your videos, which I just stumbled today!

[@debrabartman6749]

Very helpful information. Thank you so much!

[@angelabyker1587]

I bought this Daniel Smith set this summer and really loving it! This video is fantastic and really loving your suggestion for travel pallet layout!

[@rosannebloompereira536]

Thank you for such a good video re the primary split palette. My understanding of this method is much clearer now.

[@phedran]

Literally just put together a (mostly) split primary watercolour palette of Daniel Smith paints and bought that for cyber Monday. I think only two colours I picked were different, and I grabbed two earth colours and phthalo green just to make mixing slightly quicker for some things. I'm pretty new to watercolour and only ever used Winsor and Newton Cotman half pans so far but I wanted to try some artist quality paints before I spend too many hours learning how to work with them. I did Inktober with a set of four CMYK fountain pen inks and mixing those though (first time using that as a medium!) and I loved that so I think I'll be just fine with split primary (ish) for now.

[@OtoKano]

What did you get for the other two colors Phedran? You will enjoy DS paints so much more than the Cotman, great decision to upgrade.

[@phedran]

@@OtoKano In total I went with Hansa Yellow Medium, Quin Gold Deep, Pyrrol Scarlet, Quin Rose, Ultramarine, Phthalo Blue GS, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, and Phthalo Green BS, plus the Mijello 18. I was trying to incorporate and balance suggestions and shortlists for limited palettes recommended by like 10 different artists, yourself included, and I watched and read a LOT of information trying to pick a nice small set. I did try to stick to the semi-transparent, single pigments mostly, highest rated lightfastedness, and also looking at what people were most often recommending for best mixing, and I steered away from granulation for the most part for now just in case I don't like it, except for the Jane's Grey duo and maybe Burnt Umber but I can't remember anymore. I would have probably bought a convenience mix or two if they hadn't all been sold out already, and I wanted to go with Quin Gold but it too was sold out and the Deep version said it was non granulating and the same pigments so I kinda just went for it. I thought Hansa Yellow Medium was cooler toned but now I'm worried I need a different cool yellow. Hoping I get along with them and don't get too frustrated! I'm in Northern Ireland so as you know not the cheapest but hopefully we'll worth the investment!

[@OtoKano]

I love your selection Phedran, you clearly did a lot of research. Hope you enjoy them :D

[@cherylj.harris4967]

Thank you! This is much needed info for me; enhances my understanding of color theory; 'the how' and 'why'.

[@ranradd]

This is the best color theory tutorial I seen yet. Thank you so much. Awesome series on color.

[@arcuda2001]

Fabulous!! You are a wonderful teacher !!

[@OtoKano]

Aw arcuda, you are so kind! Thank you :)

[@joyjuler1166]

Great explanation of split primaries. I think I understand it now. Thank you so much for creating and posting these videos!

[@MrPuddinhead61]

Love the split primary palette organization suggestion! ❤️

[@aylaperez2778]

I love the warm and cool colors they have always been red oranges and yellows and cool colors are blues greens and violets

[@tiahsian7014]

excellent teaching! thanks!

[@ceec165]

very informative video. I learned a lot and the tip on how to place the pans in the palette for easy mixing is awesome! Thank you.

[@OtoKano]

Aw so happy to hear that Cee, thank you for watching!

[@marmar1293]

When learning about this i realized that a watercolor artist i follow used alot/all muted colors for her illustrations and its something ive never seen anywhere else and even if its "muddy colors" they look so good all together in her paintings

[@OtoKano]

Woooo who is the artist you're speaking of?

[@marmar1293]

@@OtoKano Her name's Tamaytka i think she uses alot of muted colors but i could could be wrong lol

[@JTMY08]

this is absolutely helpful for me!! im very new to watercolours and i struggle with colour theory. i have watched many tutorials about primary colours but when i tried it myself, it didn't turned out as expected. sometimes it turn muddy and i have no idea why. thank you for the clear explanation!

[@OtoKano]

So glad this video helped Jeanie!

[@lisap5615]

Great color mixing explanations! Thank you.

[@anjalianand6253]

Thanks for your tutorials and Happy New Year !

[@danellemalan]

This is incredibly useful. Thank you so much!

[@OtoKano]

So glad it's useful to you Danelle!

[@cynthiatrombley6378]

I learned a great deal watching your split colour wheel demonstration, Thank you

[@krystenfitzpatrick7246]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. Your videos are amazing for beginners like me

[@christinahutchison3967]

Love this new beginner series I'm looking forward to all the videos.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you are enjoying the series Christina, thank you for watching!

[@katherinenoggle6407]

Really useful information- thanks so much for all your hard work!!

[@jjordansart]

Omg youve helped me a lot. Im still intimidated with buying so many colors and ive jut got a warm and cool red.. i hated what the warm red was mixing and thought i jist got a bad color. This cleared everything up. Thank you very much

[@madelinegrudens]

I really wish I saw this when I first started.... It would have saved me a ton of money and aggravation. However I recently purchased A. Gallo's split primary pallette. Thanks for so much useful content!

[@MOSQUIROW3]

Wow this video is mind blowing, it's super detailed explained like oranges and apples so everybody can really understand it and not get crazy after haha, I loved it, you're a great teacher. I use winsor and Newton cotman, it's what I can afford for now and I was wondering if you could tell me the perfect 6 primary colors of them please? Thanks a lot!

[@randmccarley3405]

That palette setup is genius!

[@irajpartovi]

Thank you very much for this fantastic presentation. I use acrylic for painting but I am sure this applies to acrylic as well.

[@vedatkonyali]

Thank you very much for this vitally important information. I watched all of your perfectly prepared CT videos. Very very very useful. And Great work.

[@MsGnor]

OMG thank youuu @OtoKano!! World changed ... Split Primary Palette ie RBY (Paint) & CMY (Printer). Got it! ❤💙💛🙏💖✨

[@evgeniawillis2836]

Very nice explanation, thank you!

[@melissabailey2209]

Great tip for arranging the colors on your palette! Great video, as always! When I wanted to try out White Nights watercolors, I ordered a *somewhat* split primary so I could get the most versatility with few colors. Can't remember the exact names, but it was something like: lemon yellow, golden/Indian yellow, cad red, ruby, ultramarine blue, and phthalo blue. Then I added 2 more colors: their russian green (cuz I had to!) and burnt sienna to make a neutral gray. I don't use it often since I prefer tubes over pans, but so far it's working out great.

[@OtoKano]

Wooooo they all sound like lovely range of colors! I know what you mean about Prussian Greens, I just have to try all of them!

[@LeeAngold]

I’m rewatching your series as I put together my own palette-building series, it’s cool to see the similarities and differences. I love your approach and clear explanation, even though I don’t fully buy into split primaries (or primary colours generally) and tend to prefer a more even CMY/GOV spread for a 6-colour mixing palette. I get a similar brightness overall, but gaps in different areas. The difference might be because I don’t like cool yellows at all (neither the colour nor the pigment behaviours), and can easily live with a single yellow if I have enough bright oranges and greens to mix it with. Likewise, I find more use for brighter purples than bright blues, so I’m pretty happy to forego ultramarine in favour of better coverage elsewhere on the wheel. Once we get up to 9+ colours our palettes start looking a lot more alike.

[@juliorodriguez9510]

Thank you SO MUCH!!! 🎉 Very helpful! Great way to have enough colors to practice color mixing and theory and save money from buying unnecessary colors... Would these color pallets also work for portraits?

[@danielquebedeaux1835]

This was so helpful and well done!

[@susanphillips323]

Thank you, Dr. Oto! Excellent.

[@tessstarowen6579]

This was a great explanation! Thank you.

[@Flux_One]

Fantastic information. I use oils but the theory is the same. Now to choose which colours I need for the palette 🤔

[@melissabridge5687]

This is awesome for Split Primary pallets. I have these colors in W&N pro. Im going to use you suggestion about color order in my pallet. Thank you!!!

[@FarlyCreates]

I love the split primary! Very lovely video and easy to follow along!

[@OtoKano]

So glad you like it too. It's the perfect base of any palette.

[@Angie-pl3uw]

Thanks for making something that I pretty well understood now become crystal clear! I’m still going to write things out as I’m afraid I’ll be back to "pretty well" in a short time!

[@holdthehalo]

This was such a great video to learn from as a beginner, thank you!

[@barbaracallan7672]

This is a very well explained video 👍🏻

[@annemorozova]

I've added brown as 7th colour. As I always have difficulties to mix it

[@SuperExadidas]

The best!!! I will definitely share and make one pallete as my bible. I have a lot of Holbein and would like to continue using it, I just want to make some clarification here: 1) When you say Holbein ULTRAMARINE BLUE DEEP is this W094 W294 Ultramarine Deep> and if you have, can you also add M Graham? Thank you very much and more power to you.

[@lynnebell5425]

This is the best explanation and reason for having a split primary colour palette I have seen or read. Thank you.

[@ZenMasterChip]

In my exhuberance to help. I forgot to thank you Dr. Kano; I am finding this series very helpful to me; thank you for this video and sharing your perspective and expertise! :-)

[@dymonddozen]

I'm really really glad that you made this episode. I'll definitely be updating my palette soon!

[@moniquetemblor-lee815]

Thank you for the very helpful information. What would you recommend for a split primary set using M. Graham watercolors?

[@jalh3]

Best video I've seen regarding color theory for watercolors. Thank you and I've already recommended it to a friend.

[@OtoKano]

So glad you found it useful Anita, thank you for sharing it with your friend :)

[@juliajulia7572]

I have watched your whole series on colour theory and it is excellent, thank you so much. I have got a 12 palette worked out to use from your mixed palette video which is great but then I decided I really needed to make a chart with your split primary palette which is 15 colours and I got stuck haha. Could you please tell me which colours you used for the split primary palette and then I can figure out what I'm missing and substitute or whatever. I would really appreciate it. Many thanks

[@carmenzaldivar4393]

I wish I had seen this video long ago. Thank you soooo much .You are and amazing teacher I 'v finely untangled my confusion. Thank you againg and againg.

[@annelogged]

Such an informative video, thank you! I paused it and immediately rearranged my 6 primaries in my palette 😂. Makes so much sense.

[@jcsart5055]

I have never seen a spit primary palette and this is amazing I actually watched this three times so I could tear apart my Conem St. Petersburg Sonnet palette and pick the 6 colors I thought fit best. I ended up with yellow medium and red light = orange, Blue and Hanza lemon Yellow=Green, and Ultramarine light and carmine=violet...I am still debating between the carmine and madder red lake for that violet. I have the set of 24 but I think that limiting myself to just a few colors and really mixing my own would be good for me an my painting style. I am curious about the violets that come in the palette and your opinion on the palette as a whole, they are less than 30$ on eBay or amazon and maybe if you have time you could review it. it has lightfastness ratings color numbers and color names. I would love to get your opinion on comparative colors from the more expensive brands you use.