How to Mix Watercolors (AVOID these 3 colors!)

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Let me know if any of these colors have caused you problems in the past?

[@sojournerkarunatruth4406]

I'm so very grateful that you're teaching this information for free; especially, as I've bought beginner sketching and painting kits already, under the supposition that I'll just act on inspiration, alone 😬🙃 I'd be happy to invest money into any specialized art classes 🎨 if you're ever interested (or already have) your own website to Teach from 🍎

[@Bassbarbie]

Not watercolour, but I’ve just bought some coloured pencils and that green is one of two in the set. The other is mint. Really not very useful! Really interesting video. Thanks

[@B.Duncan]

When I first started watercolors my instructor included thalo green as a starter color. I live where there's an abundance of fir trees. Thalo green and alizarin crimson were used for all the different colors of the firs. I switched to viridian because it's non-staining and can be lifted whereas thalo green stains and is impossible to lift. Some viridian hues contain thalo green which will stain.

[@reasonableification]

I live in the tropics and viridian is perfect for creating the bluish emerald water. I’ve tried a lot of other ways, but viridian really captures it.

[@rebeccapage4411]

If you do have and want to use up Viridian, I enjoy it with Burnt Sienna for a moody, mossy green or Alizarin Crimson for lovely, stormy blues and purples.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Great ideas, thanks!

[@elsagrace3893]

Thanks for the mixing recommendations. I like Viridian actually. Only thing is it’s too hard to re-wet so I think I will just use it out of the tube. In the pan it dries so hard that is pops out of the pan.

[@polinanikulina]

Yes, and it's also the perfect color both for windowglass and fog before sunrise!

[@ryanoconnor7957]

The thing about viridian / phthalo green is it's actually a fantastic mixing green - add yellows or oranges to get any spectrum of natural foliage greens. Or the other angle, add blues to get any spectrum of water or skies. Or add reds to get neutrals. It's quite a workhorse on my palette but definitely not for everyone, especially those wanting to just use pigments directly from the tube

[@gathercreatelivewithleslie8340]

I love the color for mixing, it's a lot cheaper for a larger tube. This was the one color I got the biggest tube in lol

[@Saphia_]

Black is something I rarely use. Learning watercolor from professionals like you on youtube, I've learnt to avoid for the most part. However, since the watercolor set I have only has burnt sienna, I use it to darken my brown sometimes without losing the vibrancy of it. Viridian (Hue) on the other hand, I love. I think the one I have is more a Pthalo Green than Viridian as the color is slightly different than what you've shown and the brand also has a separate Emerald bit it is still quite unnatural straight out of the tube. However, mixed with a warm red (scarlet lake in the brand I use), it gives this beautiful cool, dark but duller/more natural green that I absolutely love. And mixed with a cool red (crimson lake in the brand I use), it gives a gorgeous grey. I absolutely love it. Oh, and it also gives a bright turquoise color when mixed with prussian blue (and maybe with other cooler blues too). I also mix a teeny bit of it with prussian for the skies as the prussian I have is not quite the color of the skies. I hadn't tried mixing it with ochre though, I should give that a try too. P.S. The brand I use is Camlin. It is an Indian brand and extremely affordable for us in south Asia. The colors are not as transparent as something like W&N and do not bloom far in water but they are lightfast, affordable, artists quality, easily reactivated and not at all chalky. Universally loved by those of us who have used it.

[@valeriegehling4358]

The green colours are interesting to know about. Luckily our art instructor got us colour pans, no black or white in my paint box, basic colours to be mixed. Grateful to him & thanks for reminder.

[@ArtandDiamondsWithEskies]

Veridian happens to be a wonderful color for use in water. Many lakes are very green and when you look at the deeper parts of it they are very much a viridian color.

[@cricketthoffman9499]

Viridian is my cool green and sits next to Hookers Green in my secondary pallet with Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black and Paynes Gray. My main pallet is cool red yellow blue and warm red yellow blue. I use the secondary if I am going to do a more detailed piece.

[@Bearwithme560]

I don't know many people who use veridian, and yes, it's useful if you paint a few lakes, but must they stick it in *every* palette? I have a lifetime supply.

[@PatrickGilmour]

This is a more more useful, information-full tutorial than the others I have watched on mixing colors. Don't use black to darken colors, don't use white to lighten them, avoid Viridian as a beginner, know that when you mix, some colors already have secondary colors in them and this will affect what color you produce... and tons more, like pan sizes and that replacements are available. Thank you - really learned something watching this!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Brilliant Patrick, thanks so much for watching :-)

[@cherylberry1613]

Color mixing is really the foundation for painting. It would be so frustrating to know what color you wanted to put to paper but have no idea how to make it. When I was in my 20's I took a few artist led community classes. I was so frustrated when I tried to paint at home and had no knowledge of color theory and mixing. So for me, I like that you are teaching it.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

For most people it doesn't come naturally, but it can definitely be learned!

[@bobnolin9155]

Viridian mixed with alizarin gives you nice greys. It's a very pure, transparent color, very close to true green.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Sounds great, will try that one!

[@LunaBianca1805]

I'm not exactly sure that applies to the Schmincke variant, though. That's more bluish than a true green, for all that I can tell, I'd also say it's also granulating a bit and I think it's not as translucent as say, the heliogreen wish is the other green that I got 🤔

[@florforcity953]

Try mix with transparent orange, you ll get a very beautiful green tone

[@Saphia_]

Yes! I accidentally did mixed those two and have been in love with that mix of grey ever since.

[@bobnolin9155]

@@mikenoneofyourbusiness7122 You're right. True Green means exactly between blue and yellow on the color wheel, which only applies to pigments.

[@marthamurphy3913]

A very, very helpful video! My ex-husband is a color blind painter, and I used to help him mix colors. Viridian was the worst! I didn't know about ultramarine, though. I finally settled him on Hooker's green (he paints with acrylics), and he has been able to do some beautiful landscapes. He does see yellow, so is able to mix shades of green with Hooker's green and yellow.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Brilliant. Two hacks for Viridian that always work, add a touch of pink (greys it slightly) or add Yellow Ochre, will warm and dull it. But of course it can be hard to judge if you are colour blind, many men are, it's genetic.

[@vickigeorge5348]

Viridian and sepia or burnt umber make a beautiful green shade.

[@OptimusPrimordial]

One of the things I found revolutionary when I was learning: Paints aren't colors at all. Color is how we perceive things, so it's understandable to see it that way at first, but paints are made of stuff that reflects light... pigments. Understanding what materials are ground down for my pigments was very helpful in understanding why different formulas behave the way they do. My teacher actually made us search up and write reports on material safety data sheets so we could understand every element of what was in our paint. It was enlightening. A lot of students bought greens and were disappointed when he wouldn't let us use them (but made them do Color charts for them anyway, lol)

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I use a lot of ready made greens now, but when I started I mixed them all, I think that's really important.

[@OptimusPrimordial]

@@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber every now and then I'm tempted to get a tube of green, but it would be a little like the expensive whisk my husband bought me. I love it and it has it's uses, but I'm still more likely to grab a fork or a pair of chopsticks because it's such a familiar way to do it. I have a very limited pallet and just mix everything really. I picked up the practice in oil painting. Once I learned how, I kept it on because it's so practical. I actually feel bad for younger artists who spend on massive paint collections. Learning to mix greens is wonderful advice.

[@PHALOMOON]

I definitely mix my greens, but I do keep phalo green in my pallette for mixing purposes, never straight. Great video Michelle.

[@nancyloomis3046]

Your mention of viridian made me think about how I often express myself artistically. I guess I’m a beginning intermediate where wc is concerned but I don’t always paint realistically. I love flowers and tend to go more with abstract and stylized designs that may or may not represent a certain flower or plant or actual landscape. So some of the brighter colors that we may not see in the natural world can make a more whimsical and abstract painting a delight to look at, because of the overall composition of patterns and colors. On the other hand, I sometimes want to paint more realistically but am still honing my drawing skills and am still struggling with controlling my wc to get the effects I want. So I find I still need to practice the basics, so I’ll be tuning in to watch your beginning wc videos. Thanks.

[@brendacollinsdeeks7268]

This is extremely useful information. I've read and watched a lot on colour mixing but your explanations are so clear that I'm truly understanding the underlying principles. Please do continue with the colour mixing tutorials as this is a critical component of successful watercolor painting. Thank you so much for sharing your obvious expertise.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful Brenda, thank you for your kind words, I have been teaching for many years so I guess it helps me explain clearly.

[@oanam2]

Thank you for your clear, inspired explanations you offered in this video! I am new to watercolors and I constantly try to learn the basics from the very best. And what you explained here is a gold mine for any beginner, like me! Thank you!

[@SophieBird07]

You are amazing. I wish I had had the opportunity to have a great art instructor back in the day, but even though I am now retired I can perhaps have the time to take more advantage of the knowledge you have to offer. I’m overwhelmed at times, but keep replaying till things sink in.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks so much Sophia, if you learn something with each painting that's all that matters, you don't have to absorb it all at once!

[@martinitang]

So true, Michelle indeed is an excellent teacher. To teach is a craft. She does it well. Whoever learns in her guidance will become proficient and confident. The best part is, Michelle doesn’t hold back. She shares secrets of artists that most will not divulge. 💗

[@marinaashraf2206]

Great video! I think phthalo green is usually included in beginner sets because it's a great mixing colour. Even if it isn't natural looking on its own it can be used to mix beautiful natural greens by mixing it with different yellows and blues. It can also be used to make a beautiful cool grey when mixed with a quinacridone rose or a quinacridone magenta.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Yes I did a video all about using these bright greens for mixing!

[@stefnedupreez8072]

Thanks for the tips. I consider myself quite accomplished in watercolours but sometimes it is worthwhile to go back to basics. As far as Ultramarine Blue, as I live in South Africa and like doing desert-scapes, if you use it wet on wet it is a beautiful sky colour.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Of course, no doubt a great colour for Africa, a little too strong for UK skies!

[@harrietblank6812]

You are such a good teacher. I have taken watercolor on and off for 10 years and no one every told me this. I assume that these tips hold true with acrylic paint as well??? Thank you for making this video.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Not quite. Black can be used but I wouldn't use it to darken colours, use it sparingly, just when painting something that is actually black. White IS used, because acrylics are not a transparent medium, so white is used to lighten colours. With watercolour you just add more water to lighten. The green still applies!

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

A now deceased oil painter - former editor of Leisure Painter, F C Johnson - said Viridian on its own was useful only for painting park benches. I've seen it used for tree foliage, with ghastly results. I wouldn't recommend it, and still less pthalo green, to beginners either. I'm not a beginner, and find viridian very useful as a mixer - with yellows, with burnt sienna, for example. And, it'll make an optical black, with a bit of red - if you ask it nicely. Agree with you about Ultramarine for skies, too - at least when starting out. Useful video for beginners.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks Robert, I actually have some true viridian and it's not bad, many things labelled viridian are actually phthalo greens I have found!

[@ThePingpong108]

As a beginner in watercolor and looking at many different artists, I find it always interesting when they have complete different opinions, which colors are essential for the beginning and which are not. Being from Germany I watched a lot of videos from an old austrian watercolor painter and guess what, ultramarine and also viridian, or something similar as viridian as phtalo green belongs to his must have colors, if you want to paint landscapes. He doesn't use them in their pure form, but always mixed. And actually, I am trying to paint since a year and the first color which I finished in my set is ultramarine. 😀

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Phthalo green is actually incredibly useful. The reason I tell people not to use it is because they don't usually know how to mix it effectively. There are no bad colours :-)

[@ai-man212]

I will often use a very pale Viridian wash for skies and then go over that with more of a cerulean or primary blue color (either as a mix or after it dries) along with a bit of pale rose, yellow ochre, and ultramarine when needed. Don't diss the vrid. ;-) To me, it's essential in order to make watercolor vibrant, and I absolutely understand why it's included, (though...subtlety is most definitely a virtue). Learn to control the pure hues, just like those rose dye colors you describe as so essential.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Ah, not dissing it. It's a great and useful colour, but beginners get into a lot of trouble with it. All the colours in this video can be used effectively when you know what you are doing!

[@dilemmix]

Thank you Michelle! I need all the help I can get especially with mixing blues and greens as I unfortunately have tritonopia. I mostly rely on other people's advice on what works. I'll check your other videos to see your advice on other greens and blues. It's very helpful!

[@princesslola55]

As a beginner I found that incredibly useful. Thank you so much. I feel a little less “in the dark” about colour mixing now, but still have a long way to go.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are so welcome!

[@nettiemoss324]

This is a timeless video and sooo very useful to beginners, who maybe have never thought of colour mixing - it's a whole art in itself and one worth learning about: thank you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PLKinka]

I am amazed how people are different. I’ve never met or even heard of trying to paint sky with ultramarine, it just doesn’t compute. For me it’s an only paint I need to rebuy frequently in sets, it’s absolutely essential. I use it in mixing and in washes of dramatic shadows, it’s a night colour for me.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

It's a beautiful colour. I do know a couple of people who use it successfully in skies but they have a very pale, light touch, it certainly doesn't work with a lot of pigment.

[@kerstinm.6304]

Thank you for this video. I paint mostly landscapes and nature and I actually have Phthalo green in my beginner's palette. But even in my very first watercolour painting I would never have thought of using it on its own. Beginners need to learn how to mix the shades that they want or need; and I consider the bright greens perfect for this venture.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You obviously have good colour mixing instincts, so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@marsbeads]

Ausmalblog Ausmaler yes, phthalo green is meant to be a mixing color 👍🏻

[@jenniefrench1338]

@@marsbeads yessss! Mix with a little quinacridone gold or indian yellow or nickel azo yellow and a little dulling with quin. coral. If learning to mix sap green you have to have phalo. I use French Ultramarine in my skies all the time. Phalo blue than should be pulled too for beginners because why they might actually have a happy accident and learn to mix with it! Oh but keep the fugitive colors. Doesn't make any sense to me.

[@courtneyshannon2621]

I used to live in Colorado (US) and the sky there was pretty close to Ultramarine on many days, especially in winter, but that was the only place where the sky got close to that.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Amazing!

[@muskndusk]

I just love Ultramarine for mixing purple, especially mixed with Alizarin (W&N make a permanent Alizarin). I mix black from Burnt Umber and Prussian Blue. White should only be used in opaque mediums; I often use it when painting with gouache.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Ultramarine makes amazing purples!

[@mayapaya314]

I would also recommend anthraquinone blue as an alternative to Prussian as it’s usually much more lightfast! I use m Graham’s and it’s gorgeous

[@Saphia_]

While I'm not sure if this works only in the brand I use, but prussian blue mixed with warm red also makes black colors. Brownish if red is more and bluish if blue is more.

[@askialuna7717]

I like Viridian PG 18 very much, it is also called fiery chrome oxide. If I have a palette with few colours then I don't have viridian in my palette, I always have to mix in other colors to get a natural green. Emerald green at White Nights is PG7 phthalo green. I don't like this colour so much, it's difficult to handle for me. I avoid cadmium colors, these are too opaque for me and do not mix so well with transparent colors. A colour that I don't like is Aureolin PY40, it turns brown after a few days and the picture looks different from planned.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I don't mind a few opaque colours in my palette 🙂 but you do have to be careful when layering them ☺️

[@fangchick93]

I agree that black is a colour to stay away from in watercolours. I mix my own blacks and greys, which are usually neutralized colours. For instance pg7 with pv19 neutralizes into a beautiful range of moody colours from turquoise to purple, I usually lean more towards purple for my blacks.

[@CastleMc]

Phtalo green is a great mixing color and so is viridian, which is one of the only tube greens I use..

[@cricketthoffman9499]

My entire pallets is Alizarine Crimson, Lemon Yellow, Cerulean (cools) and Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Medium, French Ultramarine (warms). That’s it. You can mix what you need from there. My travel palette is only 3 inches with six half pans.

[@tinac3094]

Hey everyone, I just painted an abstract piece using all the colours a beginner isn't supposed to use. It felt liberating, joyful, and wonderfully expressive, which is what art is all about! Paint whatever you want with whatever colours and mediums you want! Fill your heart with joy! Live!! Be free!! Experience creativity fully, and don't let yourself be stifled by rules. 🖌️🎨🌈☀️

[@kathleenjones2687]

Michele, I adore your videos! I find they have so much value. Whether you are an accomplished watercolor artist or a true beginner, your passion for the art medium shines though and excites the imagination! Thank you for your willingness to share these important tips for success.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are so welcome!

[@megperry5586]

Must stop watching your videos and go put all that I learn into practice, but these are so good, and I have watched alot of videos and yours are just loaded with practical tips and experience no one else ever points out, yet is so obvious when you explain it. Thank you.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Awesome, thank you!

[@abassage655]

I have a new paint set which has black, white, and verifiable. I will set them aside for now. Thank you! I have SO much to learn… Thank you for all these videos!!

[@colleenc5511]

the first beginner set I bought was a Winsor-Newton Cotman, and one of the colours included was Viridian -- and I thought it was ghastly right off, and really have never seen any good uses for even while several of the other colours they had have turned out to be surprisingly helpful. The second set I bought was a Daniel Smith beginner's set and the only green it included was Phthalo Green Blue Shade, also rather not helpful. Your tips about mixing with the different blues was very useful information! I appreciated knowing this!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Phthalo Green is actually very useful for a more advanced artist who wants to mix colours, it's just alone that beginners get into trouble with it. I do have a video that gives some mixes for it... Somewhere (!)

[@ewacollier4760]

So helpful, I do use french ultramarine blue in my skies but only for Mediterranean landscapes, other artists are keen on cobalt blue which after 20 years of learning I struggle with. I used to hate Payne’s grey until I watched your video and came back to it and love it if I’ve diluted it enough. Such a useful video, thank you, now to go and play

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

So glad you liked it!

[@lili_stiv]

this video was god sent, you explain everything so well and you didn't just say which color to avoid but the ones we can use to replace it, from the bottom of my heart thank you so much, this just helped so much with making the correct decision of which colors to buy first!!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I'm so glad it helped you!

[@cosmicforest5205]

I feel so blessed that I came across your channel! I have never seen so detailed drawing tutorials on KZbin, your videos help me greatly! Thank you for existing

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are very welcome!

[@clairedowson3818]

These are all the colours I would also suggest avoiding when teaching beginners but I would also put more emphasis on the mixing of complementary colours

[@christinakylecasteel2429]

I enjoy your videos so much and learn so many things. You are so direct in your teaching-no nonsense and blabbing away. So many blogs are filled with wonderfully talented artists who talk about everything but what and how they are doing. I have had to turn several off. You give the exact amount of how with the proper amount of anecdotes and I learn so much. Thank you, 💐

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Wow, thank you!

[@christinewilde110]

This was so informative...explains why blue doesn't act like I think it should!

[@shariarnold9649]

I really like your color mixing videos. You are a very good teacher. Thank you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you so much!

[@Junebug93309]

Thank you for this tutorial because I wondered why the put that viridian blue in my first set of tubes. I had not found a use for it. The explanations you gave were so educational. Thank you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You’re welcome 😊

[@daramclaughlin7234]

Thank you so much for this video. Your explanations make so much sense. I felt funny using the white to make a pink, like something was wrong, but I didn’t know why, and wasn’t happy with how the black was working when I tried to use it, even in small amounts.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

So glad it helped you Dara ☺️

[@annihilator45]

I think the Veridian looks nice when doing water in a painting being mixed with different blues😊

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

It does yes!

[@katieh5044]

I’ve been painting a little while at this point so I do have more experience, but phthalo green is the only convince green I use just because since it’s so bright you can take it anywhere.

[@we4r119]

Viridian and phthalo green are great in sea-scapes and fantasy pictures. They are my favourite greens.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Oo yes Dragons!!

[@nerdnam]

Payne's Gray, it could be noted, has some black in it. I seem to have good results with indanthrene and black which isn't as blue as Payne's Gray.

[@terryallen6688]

Thank goodness I learned to mix my own colors right off the bat, so to speak. I really like a lot of my own mixes as opposed to ready made.

[@michaelklein5242]

PS: Thanks for covering Viridian! I watched another video you put up about it. I was using it for quite a while and it sure has helped knowing not to use it as is.

[@bessiesegal5885]

Thank you, Michele Webber, for a great green colour-mixing video. I used to kick my Viridian out of my box but now will be able to use it for mixing, thanks to your tutorial. My favourite mix was Naples Yellow & Prussian Blue.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You are so welcome!

[@bobyounger6109]

That cat is from my favourite: the black panther I’ve got a print on my wall.There coat has a tint of red? My cats coat had a beautiful Black deep, like boot polish I recon the shine would have given him away as far as mice were concerned.

[@AlexYorim]

This is a personal preference; I do think I would keep Viridian in my palette in case I would paint buildings or objects painted in mint green, for tropical seascapes, for convenience if there's no time in mixing blues and yellows, and for mixing neutrals with reds.

[@jammingwheey1677]

I looove how organized you are🤩 I always use ultramarine to make purple colors, subconsciously up to now! Thank you for this great video 💕

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Good instinct then! You are very welcome :-)

[@curtiskaltenbach1629]

You can make a fantastic black with Thalo green and alizarin crimson.

[@CSea-fw2ko]

I just mixed viridian and moonglow. So pretty.

[@Katrina.for_art]

I adore viridian aaaaaand haven't used. I've mixed it with all my other pigments at which I ooo'd and awwww'd but thats about it. So true. Thks for your yt lessons. I'm pickibg a lot up that I've forgotten. 🎨👩‍🎨👏👏

[@mountainsno]

Such a great help. I've not heard or perhaps not understood that a colours that have another primary already have a head start in that direction. Will be watching more. Awesome. Thank you 💖

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@IrritadaDesign]

I'm learning so much with your videos. My love for watercolor is getting bigger. Thank you ♥

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

It's a great medium!

[@lindyashford7744]

There are whites you can use for mixing, they are usually called Chinese or zinc white. Kremer does a very beautiful white that is odd looking in the pan but not opaque at all, it mixes beautiful pales from the more opaque watercolours such as chrome oxide green, certain earth reds like caput mortuum or English/Venetian red, and even others and siennas. Avoid titanium white for anything except tiny highlights. There are some lovely dark pigments and mixture that are not black. I think the reason historically for including black and white in watercolour sets is because it was part of the pedagogy of art education to do a lot of value studies, especially in Europe where they were very thorough about how things were taught. So on a student field trip you might be required to do such a study, and you would not use your coloured pigments which could be quite expensive. Well most of the really good ones still are.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Interesting, thank you!

[@martinitang]

Nod nod… 😀

[@jerrincurless5249]

Brilliant!!!! I've just subscribed to your beginner's watercolor course!!! I've ordered those tools I'm lacking to get started!!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

That's great Jerri, thank you!

[@peggymccann4524]

Incredibly helpful for me as a beginner. I’ve made these color mistakes already but now know why they were so unsuccessful. Thank you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Brilliant, once you get used to them they can all be used (carefully), they can just be tricky when you are starting out.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

I have got all those colors in my beginner set and I was always struggling to get my greens correct and my colors lighter or darker when I began. Unfortunately I was told to use white to lighten my colors in addition to just watering them down or to darken the colors with black which I felt produced muddy colors. Luckily I found your videos on KZbin and things definitely got much better for me.

[@christinecarr4593]

Thank you for the great information. I am what I now call a seasoned beginner. I have also learned along the way (actually I need to credit the artist Maria Raczynska for teaching me this) that mixing your own black from the colors used within your painting with applying color theory and knowing your complementary colors so that your blacks look more natural in the painting and when I mention using blacks I’m speaking more to shadows and cast shadows within the painting due to shadows are never just black or a lighter version of black but will contain some of the color found within that object and mixing either a combination of complementary colors or the primary colors found within your painting seem to look most realistic of all. I know with your talents and expertise this is something I know I’m not telling you for the first time. I realize you spoke more to black overall vs shadows etc it was just something that came to mind watching your tutorial as I’ve recently discovered it. I am enjoying your content very much and I also appreciate the tutorial you have on stretching watercolor paper bc as you know there are so many ways out there on how to do it and you made it very simple and I like breaking it down into the 7 easy steps. I look forward to trying this especially now that I’m starting to try larger paintings. Where did you happen to get your wooden board from and would an mdf material work for that? Thank you so much

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Hi Christine, I cut my own boards or get them at the DIY stores, either Ply or MDF but don't go too thick with the MDF as it can get really heavy at a big size. :-) Yes mixing your own blacks or darks is much softer than ready made black pigments. Good luck with your paintings!

[@christinecarr4593]

In the Studio with Michele Webber thank you

[@Trish_Carmichael]

Payne's grey is such a gorgeous color!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Yes it is!

[@elsagrace3893]

It is one of the most useful colors in watercolor. I need it.

[@mariakellner5429]

Viridian pg18 is similar to pthalo green pg7 which is used form many ready made greens ,tfs your technique

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

The problem with Viridian, Emerald and Phthalo is the manufacturers don't all stick to the same names! Can be confusing :-)

[@ctrgigi]

Nice explanations and reviews of the colors and how they appear and mix up. Thanks.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

No problem Ruth!

[@askialuna7717]

What I also find funny is that on Amazon people, for example, rate watercolour boxes worse if there are a few colors that they don't like. But it can be checked beforehand in the description and in the pictures of the box which colors are included. If you don't like the colour scheme you can buy another one. In the reviews, a few people always write that they do not need the white and would rather have had a different colour and others find it good that there is a white. Exactly the same with the black.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Yes they can't please everyone!

[@Saphia_]

What's worse is when that the same brand has a set of the same colors, one including and the other excluding white. Sure, the one excluding white will have another color to replace that, but you can choose for yourself what you value more, white or the extra color.

[@barbhayes5613]

I especially appreciate the section on Ultramarine Blue - it explains some of the issues I've had with it and you gave some great tips to use going forward. I just found your channel, so it looks like I've got a lot of catching up to do. Thank you for posting these great tutorials. Cheers!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

No problem Barb 🙂

[@dixieoswald1234]

Thanks for the many videos. I enjoy them all. I find I also learn from the comments. Keep up the excellent work Ann God bless you throughout this trying time

[@MusicalRaichu]

Mixing sky blue from ultramarine? No worries! Just mix it with a bit of that gaudy emerald you didn't seem to like! Actually my set has no colours in between those two so yeah I have to get my blues by mixing them in some proportion or other. From the colour theory I learned at university (not much but it was very helpful), about half of the standard chromaticity diagram contains different shades of green. It's impossible to get a full range of greens by mixing yellow and blue, just as you demonstrate. Printers use yellow and cyan which is what you're recommending. Although I'm only a beginner with watercolour so I'm speaking from theory rather than experience, but I would recommend you that your art set contains extremely saturated greens (including the emerald you don't seem like much). As you point out, you would rarely use them directly, but they can help you mix a good range of greens and maybe that's why paint sets contain them.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Everything you say is true and I have actually done a video on the things you can use such greens for, the problem is that because most beginners don't understand colour theory they simply use the set green for their whole landscape.

[@Reb4ful]

I found this video fascinating I have so much to learn about color so thank you for this wonderful video.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robertblackborow8474]

Again like to use Windsor green in grey mixes

[@sandradaoud3565]

Helpful tips, and I love the colors you’re wearing 🌺🌺🌺

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you!

[@k.b.woodworker3250]

Excellent video. I knew about the black and white, but didn't understand the viridian nor the ultramarine limitations. I like different grays, so they are good for that.I've just been studying a lot about pigment codes, and notice some colors, like Payne's gray, have black. This depends on who makes them. I'm going to do a lot more color mixing. Thank you! subbed.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you. There are no bad colours, just some to be a little careful of when starting!

[@annahale3145]

Fantastic video. I had no idea about the blues. Thank you.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

My pleasure!

[@ldesnick]

Just started doing watercolor. Enjoy and learned a lot from your video. Thank you. Les from Minnesota.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Hi Les, thanks for watching ☺️

[@D9david]

Thanks!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks again, I appreciate it :-)

[@Azure_Jewel]

I’m a newbie. Thanks. I find you to be an effective presentation for technical aspects all the while adding a wonderful artistic presentation. I thought I heard that ultramarine is not a pure hue, so I will continue to observe which ones are, and are not. I made the crafty floral piece. Thanks. I’m really enjoying you.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Awesome, thank you! Ultramarine is a single pigment colour, but granulates heavily and varies between brands. It can be very beautiful when used for the right things :-)

[@draganadc5519]

Hey, you’ve just got a new subscriber! And one of my cats loves your brushes, he totally approves!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thanks so much!

[@kayedavis2873]

You have helped so much! Thank you for your clarity.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ralphanderson2604]

Just finished watching a presentation on 3-color art - so... I use black 4 negative art; ; crimson was recommended in 3 color art =? Cobalt blur?

[@SarrahJaane]

I feel so enlightened after watching this video. Thank you!

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

You're so welcome!

[@joyceandrews4196]

Loved the warnings about uses and mixing of ultramarine - although I love the green it did make. Found your info very helpful. I'm just a beginner.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Awesome! Thank you! I have a video coming up about greens in the next few weeks. There's nothing wrong with an ultramarine green, if you understand it will be a dull green and contrast it with other, fresher greens. There are no bad colours, all of the ones I talk about can be used, it's just beginners can find them tricky.

[@stevemcguire1810]

Would you be better off just getting 6 separate tubes to start rather than a set ? If so what colours would you suggest. Thanks.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I would advise a split primary set. You get a warm and cool of each primary plus a few earths. Several brands do them, including Daniel Smith, and I have a set I designed myself, if you go to my website and click Art Materials then Essentials Set. Because although you can start with just 6, it's quite hard to mix decent browns as many earth colours are single pigment and you can't necessarily replicate by mixing.

[@stevemcguire1810]

Thanks, thats very helpful.

[@cristinalattuada5322]

I discovered that if you mix slight veridian with permanent rose or Quinn magenta it tones them, it’s great to varying the pinks. It’s a great mixing colour.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Yes pink is always good for calming down greens :-)

[@nsha5687]

All these colors may be good to use from the very start. It depends on the place where you live and your personal color choice to you it or not. In the place where I live all shadows in summer are impossible to imagine without ultramarine ans alizarine. As for black I don't like to use it but some great artists used it successfully.

[@artbysha8039]

Dioxizine purple is pretty but with water it thins to very bright tone I like it for shadows in some painting that use vivid tones but I’m careful with my water saturation because it’s so warm, I love it under/against greens but in small doses

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Sounds lovely, I don't have that one!

[@Bethanjbjrs]

I am admittedly very much a beginner, but I really like mixing diox purple and veridian for watery moody skies.

[@conniemartin9150]

Thank you, Michele, from Canada! I use viridian and alizarin crimson to make a colour that is excellent for old asphalt roads in my landscapes. I’m sure there are other mixes just as good but this is the one I have the most success with. I have too many similar colours in my pallet, however, and want to some day phase out some. Will try Phthlo green the next time in this mix and see what happens

[@RoryP22]

This is very useful, thank you. My Winsor Newton set came with Viridian and I never use it because it looks so unnatural, glad it's not just me.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

It's very pretty, but not much found in nature!

[@ilustralilian_]

You only have to learn how to mix it. I use mine a lot. I have a pan set of Van Gogh (I particularly don’t like Cotman’s, but I do like the professional W&N, but I only buy them in tubes) and they came with Viridian. I really love this color. I mix with different kind of yellows and browns, mix with the other green (that’s a sap green), and I find it very useful. If I had a set without it I would miss it very much. It’s an amazing color for mixing. As I don’t usually use colors in their primary stage it never bothered me.

[@OhJodi69]

@@ilustralilian_ The Viridian from Van Gogh (and Cotman) is actually Phthalo Green PG7, and it is a great mixing color. True Viridian is PG 18, and doesn't work well.

[@lemonrose1254]

I actually like ultramarine in skies, but I like mixing it with pthalo blue to adjust the color. I like the granulation in skies.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

I do this too, with cerulean, to keep but reduce the granulation :-)

[@annabellezamora2525]

just discovered your videos and thank you so much for this information with such a details. You inspire me to improve my watercolor paintings

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Thank you Annabelle, so pleased you found it useful :-)

[@meherenow]

Viridian is one of the few single pigment greens available. Mixing single pigment colours gives you cleaner colours than mixing colours that contain multiple pigments.

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

This is true, but the point of the video, which is an older one so I probably didn't make it clear, is that viridian is very often mis-labelled Phthalo green. They are good for mixing, it's only complete beginners who should be wary of them, if they haven't learned to mix yet :-)

[@urbanbeachbum2148]

Recently I have been tempted to tape over the cobalt currently in my palette (from a tube). It has its uses, but I’m usually disappointed with the result. I’ve been using Prussian blue instead. Ultramarine makes some very deep greens, but I don’t use it on its own. Off to find your video about mixing blues….

[@IntheStudiowithMicheleWebber]

Cobalt is really useful for tulip leaves and any sort of mid range blue greens that aren't too vibrant :-)

[@stephn4085]

Very useful video on colours. I did find viridian was useless for landscapes. I do use ultramarine a lot but will try cobalt or cerelian. How do I make a pink that is thick rather than a very watery colour?