Color and Its Compliment - An Oil Painting Lesson by Helen Van Wyk

In this lesson, Helen Van Wyk demonstrates the intricacies of color mixing with a focus on the complementary relationship between red and green. Using a still life setup featuring peppers, Helen delves into the practical aspects of creating depth and dimension through careful color selection and brushwork.
She begins by explaining the importance of understanding primary and secondary colors, and how this knowledge translates into effective painting techniques. Helen then moves on to the importance of background preparation, emphasizing why it's crucial to lay down the background color first to avoid color bleeding and to ensure a smooth painting process.
As she works through the composition, Helen discusses the challenges of perspective, especially with objects like long, skinny peppers that require foreshortening. She provides insightful tips on how to approach painting with large and small brushes, the significance of brush stroke length, and the importance of replenishing paint frequently for better coverage.
Throughout the lesson, Helen emphasizes the importance of considering the light source and how adding complementary colors can effectively diminish intensity in shadowed areas. She also touches on the common pitfalls that students face, encouraging them to avoid over-criticizing their work during the painting process.
By the end of the lesson, Helen masterfully integrates the background with the subject, showing how reflections and highlights play a vital role in creating a cohesive and dynamic composition. With her engaging teaching style, Helen makes the complex art of color mixing accessible, all while sharing her secrets to achieving a harmonious and well-balanced painting.
Subscribe now and join Helen Van Wyk on a journey to refine your artistic techniques and discover the satisfaction of understanding and using the basic principles in your paintings, ensuring you experience the fulfillment that comes from applying Helen's teachings.

[@oOstoneyOo]

I bet she'd be thrilled to know she's still telling all her secrets from beyond the grave. These videos are pure gold

[@HelenVanWyk]

Exactly... nothing more to say. Thank you.

[@virginiarparker9503]

Thank you for putting the videos out for us. I do miss her on tv.

[@melianna999]

Helen was my first teacher. Just bought her books and I started. Now I enjoy her video.

[@HelenVanWyk]

It's nice that you have both Helen's books and video lessons to learn from. Combining the two is the ideal way to benefit from her teachings. Thanks for posting. It's appreciated.

[@IFRSKIES]

Helen Van Wyk should have been a lot more famous the Bob Ross. She actually teaches you how to paint.

[@Dr10Jeeps]

Her painting style is a joy to watch.

[@KatMa664]

Thank you thank you so much whoever put these Helen Van Wyk videos up on you tube. They are not on my PBS channel any more. I miss them so much.

[@celestecharlton5069]

Kathy Jenkins I miss her top

[@valdemargarcia6332]

she passed away a while ago I think?

[@aav2364]

YOU are who I’ve been searching for. Thank you for your knowledge. I’m self teaching myself

[@muhlenstedt]

I am an auto-didact and I have learnt more about giving form to an object with Helen painting the red paprika as with all books and videos I haver ever studiedThank you very much for posting this video,

[@lindalopez5951]

Wow...extremely informative. I totally understand everything she said. I got it!

[@nickfanzo]

Love her style. She was very cool.

[@artfortheheartpainter677]

HelenVanWyk ah...finally someone released Helen's teachings...that's what she would have wanted. She loved painting and teaching...never leaving anything out. Her lessons are locked away with so much needed teaching for many. These KZbin channels are sprouting daily with New wanna be artists who think they know what their doing...picking up a brush and oils with fancy supplies, teaching...I wonder do they realize, do they think their really good or know what their doing or is it all about making a buck...so many viewers who want to really LEARN to paint and have no idea...so they go out and buy ALOT of supplies, some buying..wanting the very same brush as the person giving the so called lessons...spending money...in hopes to learn...but the knowledge is not there. They come up with fancy names for their channel...and copy from one another...paint daily....weekly...posting a so called lesson for those who desperately fell into their shenanigans...no compositions...some don't even know color theory...nor focal points ...there's no creative flow within the so called lesson ...the painting...many teach themselves and practiced until they got someone's else's method down and never to pick up a book nor try to improve themselves. Yes...that's what's going on today...a painting craze and not many like Helen Van Wyk who knows...who really gives the true lessons..let her out...as she lived to paint and teach ..

[@alfredlester161]

Artfortheheart Painter qq

[@melianna999]

She said in one of her books - Everyone can paint. I didn't believe her. But I took brush and paints/ her palet/ My walls are now full of my paintings. I look at them and can't believe they are mine.

[@HelenVanWyk]

What a nice testament to her teaching style. Thanks for posting and support of the channel. .

[@bartchanfer]

I adore your videos. I learned so many aspects and you are that open minded. Thank you well. Tot ziens.

[@lyndakacicz8314]

Miss Helen but i'm so happy they've decided to share her past videos. I will never forget going to her home and watching her painting. Happy that I purchased what she painted, neat also because I photographed every step of the painting. Helen was a lovely woman and absolutely knew everything about being an artist. I miss her, but I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to meet her. R.I.P. Helen. Thank you for being the best.

[@Deadeye901]

I used to watch her shows on PBS. Great teacher.

[@paulashford4155]

I learn from them too..

[@sleepyheadsleeps]

excellent. any video on painting oranges and lemons please. I struggle with these fruit.

[@anapatriciamonsalve3606]

Gracias me gusta mucho la forma de enseñar

[@HelenVanWyk]

Lamentablemente, Helen murió en 1994, pero sus enseñanzas seguirán influyendo en los pintores durante muchos años. Gracias por visitarnos y disfrute de los videos recién publicados.

[@kksilvestri5007]

What kind of paint and medium did Helen use? I just love her. It shows how much she loves painting.

[@HelenVanWyk]

I believe Helen mainly used Grumbacher Finest paints. She cleaned her brushes in turpentine but the painting medium was a mix of what I can't remember.

[@HelenVanWyk]

In one of her lessons she mentioned the medium mix was turpentine, damar varnish and linseed oil. But I believe Helen used different mediums for different purposes.