HOW TO: Mixing DYNAMIC GREYS in Watercolor

In this video I will show you the difference between mixing paint on your palette vs mixing direct on your paper using my “CRYSTAL GREY” recipe. This is my not so secret combination for creating visually dynamic and vivid greys.
The problem with most greys are that they can be dull and lifeless or overly powerful. I have been mixing this combination of colour for over 25 years and my loyal students eventually eventually started calling this mixture “Crystal Grey”. It has a beautiful range from warm to cool and you can create an endless combination depending on the ratio.
GRAB YOUR FREE CHART:crystalbeshara...
Here are some of my FAVOURITE PAINT COLOUR recipes:
crystalbeshara...

[@bushrarehman]

Thank you for showing a dynamic range of greys. Your video is easy to follow and remember! The greys mixed on the palette are definitely beautiful. Good for shadows and clouds in watercolors.

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

So happy you found this helpful ! Thanks for taking the time to write a comment :) Happy Painting !

[@xGrantx58]

Finally... a grey tutorial that made sense to me! (There are lots of them that demonstrate mixing black and white!) Thank-you, thank-you!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

How wonderful ! So glad to help and hope these become part of your repertoire !

[@user-is8yg9dv5u]

So easy to understand and follow, the best I have seen!!!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

Yay! Thank you so much for this helpful comment. I hope you subscribe for more. ☺️

[@imperialdelights1123]

So I do digital art, watercolor style, and I've had so much trouble with silver hair. This looks INCREDIBLE on my piece, thank you so much!!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

Ahhh yay! So glad this helps :)

[@magwindersingh1036]

I learn a lott from u.about painting as well as English.......namaste

[@AMore429]

Great profile in the blue gray mix !!! 😄

[@markdonovan1540]

This is an excellent video full of helpful tips. Thank you.

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

You’re so welcome. Thanks for following along !

[@juhsuhcahfritz5276]

I'm doing this blue and brown background but I needed dull/grey versions for it and you're video...WAS THE KEY TO MY ART PIECE. I couldn't figure it out, what was missing....and I needed the burnt umber grey and prussian blue grey! Ah! Thank youuu

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

That’s so great ! Best of luck to you. Glad to have helped :)

[@virginiarinkel7544]

This was a wonderfully 'telling' video and one I will try over and over again.

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

I love that. Thank you for your comment.

[@CC-ho5lw]

SO excellent & helpful Crystal!

[@suel4269]

Very helpful! You saved me from ordering a gray paint!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

Hey that’s awesome !

[@mijolobo]

My current project is a Blue Footed Boobie and besides the bright aqua, turquoise blues I'm working on learning how to blend, this on the greys is just what I needed for the parts of this zany-looking bird that aren't of course blue. Thank you

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

Awesome ! Good luck with your project - so happy this helped :)

[@carmenrenaud7980]

Great refresher Crystal. Thank you so much!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

You are so welcome!

[@kevinivaska4827]

Excellent! Thanks!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marcwheeler4406]

Very interesting....

[@LoriF25403]

Awesome! Thank you so much.

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

You're very welcome!

[@lisafred1362]

Very helpful thanks!!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

You're welcome!

[@fdej51289]

Very informative.

[@jkellyfamily9]

Thank you so much for showing how to mix on the paper! What brand of Diox violet do you use?

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

I use Da Vinci Violet which is formulated with PV23 (which is essentially DIOXAZINE) however W&N version : Winsor Violet or Cotman “DIOXAZINE” are options as well !

[@jkellyfamily9]

@@CrystalBesharaArtist, thank you!

[@carolynrobinson8124]

Can you suggest a blue alternative to Prussian? I love your gray creations!

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

oh my goodness so sorry I never saw this until now. You probably found one already, BUT, you could try Phthalo Blue Red Shade and even Winsor Blue Red shade. With both options, you may need a bit of burnt umber in there to dull down a titch. Prussian is like a dark denim colour :)

[@artbycatfitz]

Hi, can I suggest you try indanthrene blue PB60. This is a darker pigment a little more red-leaning, high tinting strength, non-granulating and lightfast. I love it for mixing neutrals and really dark greys.

[@carolynrobinson8124]

@@CrystalBesharaArtist thanks so much!

[@carolynrobinson8124]

@@artbycatfitz I do love indanthrone. I’ll try it also

[@barefacedquestions]

Thank you for the excellent tutorial. So if I want a light grey, something like silver grey, all it takes is to add more water to the mixture?

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

You got it ! Exactly. Value changes from light to dark depending on how much water you add.

[@suel4269]

I watched this 4 months ago but already forgot. If you use these colors to make gray , would you use them in the entire painting on their own for harmony? Hope that makes sense.

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

You bet, mix and match to your hearts content! Let me give you some context: Here is an example of some of my oil paintings using a range of these: 1) crystalbeshara.com/shoporiginals/thickasthieveswolves 2) crystalbeshara.com/shoporiginals/serenitysmalloil and some of my watercolours: 3) crystalbeshara.com/shoporiginals/the-dance 4) crystalbeshara.com/shoporiginals/presencemuskox this one is just the sky: 5)crystalbeshara.com/shoporiginals/resonancewatercolour

[@ValleyMermaid]

I read that Prussian blue a fugitive color? Is that true?

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

It depends on the brand but many archivists indicate “The modern pigment is lightfast, except when mixed with an abundance of white.” Which of course as a purist most don’t use white. That said you can use WINSOR BLUE if you’re concerned - however I’ve looked back at paintings of mine that are over 30 years old and nothing has changed. Hope this helps !

[@ValleyMermaid]

This was SO VERY HELPFUL!!!! Thank you so much, @@CrystalBesharaArtist!!! May I ask what brand you used?

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

@@ValleyMermaid for sure ! I use DA VINCI - here’s a video on exactly how I set up my palette 🎨 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3aTZGZtrsmgqdEsi=t3dtvaz_oYsbpxv5

[@ValleyMermaid]

Thank you, SO MUCH, @@CrystalBesharaArtist!!!🩷🩷🩷

[@monicapike2486]

I,m not able to download the free colour chart

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

Hi. How are you ? Sounds like you would like the free colour chart. The link is in the description you just need to click it. Here it is again for your convenience This link should take you there. crystalbeshara.com/crystal-beshara/tag/crystal+grey

[@aprildegele1510]

i'm sorry, but I don't see any gray. I see toned down colors, but none of them grey. That may be my fault because I'm grey/green colorblind. Many times I can't tell grey from tan or green. But to my eye, NONE of these appear grey to me. One appears to Payne's grey, one appears to be dark purple and one appears to be shades of brown. NONE of them, to my eye, are grey.

[@CrystalBesharaArtist]

If you want a predictable grey, you can use black and white. This video is specifically for creating DYNAMIC greys. Meaning a range of blues, felt browns, violets…. All of which are found in nature and in shadows as illustrated in the painting as seen in the first 30 seconds. You don’t have to use any advice as seen here.

[@budakart]

Come to Islam n success

[@ingam3310]

Piss off scammer