How to Avoid Muddy Colors in Watercolor

Muddy colors! What are they? Do you want them?... and how to avoid them. I define what they are and show you several things to be aware of when painting to keep colors clean and bright.
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[@mell8577]

"To shade while maintaining intensity, use a cooler analogous color." POW. MIND BLOWN. Thank you, Sensei.

[@tkkozeluh]

I really appreciate the depth of your tutorials. Not just how to avoid muddy colors, also the technical aspects like what creates luminosity.

[@TTomJohn]

🖒🖒 Thanks. Another great lesson. Just like weeds in the garden - there's nothing wrong with any of them, until they're in a place you don't want them. Continue your good works. I've learned much.

[@helenechouinard3473]

Thank you ! Now I understand better the difference between neutrals tones that we aim for and muddy colors. 👍

[@tinahasfjord7808]

I love teachers who, regardless of how 'perfect' an analogy may be, are able to convey the solutions to that problem that has been plaguing me as a beginner. It is particularly helpful when I am able to leave the video with an understanding rather than rote. Well done.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Tina, very kind and encouraging.

[@condorreades2148]

Reminded me to go back through my homemade color charts of my various watercolors and mark each as Transparent, Semi-Transparent, Opaque, Semi-Opaque. Really helpful. Did it with Winsor Newton, now need to do it with Daniel Smith, Sennelier and Schmincke. I was just being lazy about it. And so easy to find all the properties on the manufacturers’ websites. Thank you for reminding me, Steve, the more information I have, the better my work will be.

[@aptwalker2009]

But, but, but....I like to play with mud.... just not on top of expensive watercolor paper :)

[@ClaudiaSketches]

Brilliant video! It sounds very obvious (and similar to using complimentary colours), but not full understanding colour temperature also leads to muddiness. Probably more of a beginner's problem than the things you mentioned in your video though! It is something it took me a while to understand, for example ,using a warm yellow with a cool blue is not going to make a vibrant green. Also, making sure your water is clean is very important too. Only recently I started using two separate jars of water for painting. Definitely helps with keeping colours purer and more vibrant :D

[@richiejourney1840]

Claudia Sketches Color “temperature” has nothing to do with it...Color BIAS on the other hand does...

[@rajankumar_art]

True

[@Cherylherb]

steve, i can not tell you how much I enjoy your videos. I am so happy to have found you on KZbin, and am so happy for your success.

[@joseortiz-fw7by]

Don't be scared of "mud"!! Check out Yong Chen's watercolor channel and watch how he uses "mud" to create beautiful shadow colors especially in skin tones. This video however is still important for people who are not trying to get that same effect. It's all up to the artist what colors they choose to use. Great video thanks

[@cdorothy444]

Actually I love mud. i need dark browns, dark blues, dark purples, dark greens to make the values work.

[@donnaeturner]

When I clean my pallette, I take it to the sink and wash it off with a sea sponge and water. The pigment washes right out of the sponge with cold water, and it saves on paper and cloth towel use.

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

Thank you!! Great description 😊

[@maryriley6163]

A big help about opaque colors. Thanks.

[@selftrue670]

Brilliantly instructed--so clear and precise! Thanks much!

[@laurahale5774]

Thank you for explaining this!

[@isalawton6239]

So helpful, thanks for doing this demo...

[@elaine-cb]

The joy of learning from Steve's talent & experience

[@Shatril1]

Dang, this was eye opening. I really resembled many of these problems. Thanks a million for the video.

[@susandavenport8777]

Love the way you present each lesson. I have learned a lot from you and appreciate your talent.

[@JosieLewisArt]

Ah love the explanation of compromised intensity, thank you!

[@aylamonic]

this has been my biggest issue! thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping us newbs

[@elaine-cb]

Another excellent video packed with useful info and... always your little bit of the comedic to start with a smile. Thank you Steve for sharing your experience.

[@craigpotter4056]

love how you talk with your hands! I will now; proof my palette!!

[@vickiratliff8182]

You are such a good teacher! thanks

[@makeitmakesense5577]

I think it's time to stop painting & start studying the color wheel & learning color. You've taught me understanding color is step one. I guess it's like cooking..i have to understand the ingredients BEFORE I use them...using salt instead of sugar can ruin a good cake. Thanks for directing me back to square one...building a good foundation is always important.

[@kristynsinnott3673]

I love aaaallllllll of your videos. Clear. Great examples of right and wrong. Well organized. Light-not heavy. I have learned a ton from you. Thank you sooo much. Keep them coming. :)

[@sueshanks9447]

great video packed with tons of helpful info. THANK YOU !

[@path-finder1]

I so appreciate your kind, soothing tone and the instruction you so generously share...! Most helpful and informative. Thank you also for the extra special inspiration at the end of all your videos as well... :)

[@Juhani139]

This is the video I've been waiting for! thank you

[@mmmmlllljohn]

Thanks for your clear explanation re mud! So appreciate you sharing your experience and knowledge.🇨🇦😍

[@joys4524]

Thank you , Steve! I am still learning after 4 years of tutorials and practice. 🖌🎨🙏

[@DocumentedJourney]

you crack me up!! Love all your videos! I appreciate all your knowledge and sense of humor!

[@artetinta2470]

Fantastic! Super helpful for me! Thanks!

[@maryanharrell5642]

Thanks, Steve. This was helpful!

[@virginiaburns5278]

Thanks! I found this really helpful!

[@joeaccordion]

You have answered in this video questions I've had for years and years - specifically using analogous cooler colors for shading. Also avoiding mixing opaque colors with other colors. Thank you!!!!

[@Sasa-iu9ix]

Thankyou for the tips! Especially for wet-on-wet part..

[@madacaphoto]

Great tips. I'm learning more and more each day.

[@lisatodd5075]

Learning so much from your videos! Yours are by far the best watercolor videos on you tube! I love the way your videos end with a bible verse. Thank you!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Hey thanks!

[@gailwedgeworth]

Thanks so much. I appreciate the help.

[@SarahAndBoston]

Awesome video! I learned a lot thanks.

[@orcamum]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@sherrylee6719]

Thank you so much. I really learned so much.

[@annfoster1980]

Thanks again from Australia. I always learn something new from you.

[@mariwyl]

Thank you! I just ordered a set of DS colors. I'll look at their website! You are very helpful!

[@chrisbaer15]

This is great info! Thanks!

[@Karla_Smith]

Very helpful and answers some of my own questions and experiences...

[@thl1]

excellent video. and i learned how to clean the pallette properly... it's the little things that make a difference.

[@karenhoward303]

Thank you Steve!

[@cristyjeanconcepcion4654]

Thank you so much for this, Steve! I learned so much from your videos!!!

[@pinkypilot]

Great info for us newbies. Thanks.

[@azzuparis]

Thanks Steve, great information and tips :)

[@lauravlad7216]

You describe exactly my process of over-working! :)) Thank you so much for showing mistakes as well, it unlocks my 'stucks' :))

[@han05n]

I have learned so much watching your videos. Thanks a million ❤️❤️❤️

[@pattycyr8662]

I very much appreciate this video. I have often noticed areas of my paintings looking muddy, and this video is very informative and will help me avoid the problem. Thanks!

[@m.c.5124]

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. 😁

[@JAsisterti]

thank you, soooooo helpful!

[@mrs.martinez9638]

been experimenting and painting with watercolor for over a year, mostly trial and error, but this video is really helpful!! it explains and defines issues i have come across but didn't know how to verbalize. Thank you so much!

[@shinyhope2126]

Thank you so much for your amazing helpful videos! Whenever I have a question about watercolor, I come to your channel to look for the answers in your videos. Have a happy holidays!

[@SKY-qf8qq]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@NaushSA]

fantastic help !

[@sakimiakoto8786]

I like using muddy pinkish colors for some skin tones to make them look more sad and dull, and intensify other areas.

[@christineappel-hinderliter3086]

Fantastic tips thank you for sharing

[@deborahthompson3847]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@pvl256]

Super helpful!

[@LadyLeda2]

Great video!!! Thank you so very very much!!!

[@MariaNyceDesigns]

Wonderful information. Thank you!!!

[@rosapope9623]

Very helpful video - thanks!

[@johnnyrbattaglio6943]

Thank You Extremely good information 👍

[@lindathaxton1994]

So grateful that you teach in such a clear manner - I am a “minder”

[@chrisr5362]

Great video! Thank you!

[@JWtheMighty]

This channel is awesome :D

[@rajankumar_art]

JWtheMighty yes it is

[@meggraham7564]

Very helpful ty,ty. Particularly the written list.

[@angemac1519]

Great info. This explains a lot for me. I now understand why I have been disappointed with the effects of some of my colours. I have avoided the mud being careful not to mix complimentary colours but after seeing this I realise that many of my colours are opaque. Thank you so much. x

[@dustinarnett4404]

This video was extremely helpful to me! I am a self-taught painter working with extremely limited color resources (what I can afford of the artist-quality stuff) and I hadn't realized the issues that might have come from Yellow Ochre and Cadmium Red. I have them both in my palette. Thankfully, it seems like from the brands I have, the only one I need to watch for carefully is Cadmium Red - my yellow ochre is lovely. Thanks so much for your hard work and generosity with instruction in your videos.

[@pate8250]

Excellent summary, thanks very much. I'm what I call a "lapsed botanical artist", but keen to get back into it. I mostly use W&N watercolours and keep my transparents to the opposite of my palette from opaques, but it's easy to slip into bad habits. Love your videos. Very encouraging.

[@cazscot8397]

excellent artist plus advice

[@wenangelsfly2105]

Thank you! I haven't been painting for long! May 2020! i'm 74 yrs young, love your teaching on colors and what they do! I surprise myself on the small paintings I do with your info! Thanks again, also enjoy your Scriptures!

[@cesartongson3808]

thanks for the lecture on mixing transparent watercolors. Perhaps the reason why some paintings remain vibrant

[@Lithium_Peaches]

SO. HELPFUL.

[@pablomiezavarela8358]

Thank you. from Barcelona (Spain)

[@providencevalleyfarm5270]

Super helpful! So easy to understand the differences when you explain and demonstrate. I have only ever painted w oils and I loved the Cadmium and cobalt shades. 40 years later I am learning watercolors and the color names are so new and unusual to me. I am also learning that convenience colors in the watercolor world aren't so convenient, I need to mix more and study color theory a bit more.

[@dawnsnyder6071]

Good tips! The American Journey transparent earth oxides are nice alternatives to a few of the more opaque pigments.

[@rajankumar_art]

Wonderful tutorial

[@heather333]

I'm really glad you made this video. To me you are stating the obvious, but I watch a lot of KZbin videos and virtually all have dirty palettes - both the mixing areas and the pans themselves. It may be a waste of paint; but I clean my brushes, paints and palettes before I start a new painting.

[@elflordsjourneys]

Great tips from a pro for us amateurs 😀

[@judojohn11]

Thank you good reminder!

[@lynnweiss7349]

Really Helpful! I love your lessons :) I'm 69 now and just starting up again. Thanks so much for this series!

[@zeldacheri]

Thanks for this presentation! In other places, I've heard/read a lot about choosing single pigment paints as much as possible, to help avoid "muddy colors". A fair number of commercial paints are combinations of 2 or even 3 pigments, so that when mixing two paint colors, one could actually be mixing 4 or 5 different pigments! And in this way, mud can result. I've decided to buy only single pigment colors moving forward -- after first using up the many very lovely multi-pigment colors bought as "the kid in the candy store" when first starting :-)

[@good_youtube_handle]

Such a helpful video! I had no idea my yellow ochre was the culprit. Definitely going to be using Indian yellow mixed with other colors a lot more. Also, going to be looking for a possible replacement for cerulean blue. I really only use it for skies, and use other blues for mixing, but it might be worth swapping out for more versatility.

[@melissasue19681]

Great information! Thanks! BTW, your mud is so pretty! Lol!

[@andysargent5821]

Thanks for a very interesting video Steve. I too tend to use a lot of neutrals, especially for shadows, rocks etc. I never use black but M. Graham Pthalo Blue, Quinacridone Rust and Quinacridone Red mixed in the right proportions make a lovely dark colour to add some depth to a painting.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, I use a lot of them too. Good mixing formulas for darks. Thanks for the input!

[@BigDaddyZakk420]

I've never believed in "muddy colors". Colors are only muddy if they're not in harmony with the whole of your composition. Still something great to keep in mind for beginners; awesome video!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yeah I tend to agree. It such an often used term though, I think artists need to know what is meant when its used. The term came from oil painting where its not uncommon to mix paint that looks like mud. Not really as applicable to watercolor, nonetheless the term persists.

[@janyenyo]

subscribed right now!! Thank you!

[@41rgm]

Good stuff!

[@DrawingWithFire]

Great video Steve! 😆 Awesome explanations. I still like playing in the mud! My body & brain may be adult, but my heart is only 4.3 years old. 😉

[@kathleenfischer2241]

Very helpful and showed me some of my errors.

[@aparnasarkar532]

Superb video!!!

[@marybaksheeva2874]

Wow, that was very helpful! Didn't know that cerulean blue makes mud for instance and the ochre! Thanks!

[@mindofwatercolor]

They can. Doesn't mean they always will if used correctly.

[@marybaksheeva2874]

@@mindofwatercolor well, I am only starting with watercolor, so should be aware of this properties, at least. I am sure experienced artists can keep any colour clean, but for me it's helpful to know "tricky" ones beforehand and use carefully)

[@personthatmakesstuff4186]

Good info. Thanks