Mastering Muted Color

We all love vibrant color. But for much of what we look at, in fact, the color is muted. How to create rich, engaging muted color, without just creating a muddy mess? This video gives you some suggestions of how to do it.
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[@paintlady2268]

Amazing how such a seamingly simple scene of mundane everydayness can turn into one in which we find ourselves drawn in, wanting to study it, to really look at it and be introduced to the hand of the artist. Fabulous demonstration.

[@grossolee]

Agreed

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Really appreciate your letting me know. Thank you.

[@noiseintheoffice]

It really demonstrates that it's not just about subject matter, but that the _composition_ is key

[@lunadargent5292]

I watch quite a few artists at KZbin and very rarely do I have an “aha” moment where some of the fog that lives perpetually in my head clears. I had that today when you were discussing the puddle of paint and pulling colour into the puddle. I always feel so surprised when something that feels so complicated gets resolved by such a straightforward technique. You also made a comment that I found very insightful about the temperature issues with mud. Thank you very much. 👏🏻👍🏻😃

[@jonathanroger4705]

I agree, I've just completed my historical interpretation acrylic painting of many weeks. I'll speed up. Today I'll mix and copy your painting, an exercise made simple.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Luna. I really appreciate your letting me know it was so helpful. Best wishes.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Jonathan, I think that sounds like a good plan. A faster, looser interpretation of something after weeks of tighter, slower painting.

[@rivers10151]

You literally couldn’t have said it any better! Wow

[@craigseaborn4222]

I couldn't agree more , Ian please do a video on mud because of wrong temperatures , you can use any of my paintings!

[@gasperettiarts]

Finally a simple explanation about muted colours!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed it

[@pleinaire8698]

Rich engaging neutral color gives this painting great harmony and subtle beauty.!! thanks for this great lesson in the SuBLIME!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Really happy you liked it. Thank you for kind comments here. Best wishes.

[@janetkingwill9347]

So love this. Thank you. It feels like a modern day Andrew Wyeth.. The calm everyday scene.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Janet.

[@chapter1o1]

Et voila, here is the finished painting, ( I always like to hear Ian saying it), those muted colours have transformed the photograph into something of interest, the gradations and transitional areas just a pleasure to see come alive. Many thanks Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much. Delighted you enjoyed it.

[@paulineshelley4421]

I could really see the relationship between your colours in that painting. Everything seemed to belong which gave it a comfortable feel. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Pauline. It's easier to get those relationships to work when the color is more muted.

[@jazzman1626]

I remember seeing some paintings in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow, which is one of my favourite art galleries, and the colours were very muted. I stood for ages looking at them. “Pastures New” by James Guthrie was one of them. It’s long overdue for another visit! The last time I was there, I got there from the city centre on an old rout-master bus! Really took me back to my childhood and the journey ended all too soon. I was reluctant to get off, such was my enjoyment 😂.

[@rsbagley3451]

Love the gray puddle in the middle tip...Thanks...Great video!!!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Ramona. All the best to you

[@timcat61]

very helpful

[@padams7588]

I just cant thank you enough for these videos. I’ve learned so much. I appreciate your time and effort and instruction. thank you again.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are very welcome

[@devanshi2193]

This is so fascinating. It reminds of marco bucci’s videos on coloring in the greys!! His videos are mainly for digital art, but love the concept

[@ozlemguler4324]

I'm always amazed at how much information and demonstration you pack into a video under 10 minutes. Thankyou for your wonderful teaching - concise, beautiful and infinitely useful!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad you found it helpful

[@pjlewisful]

I want to title this delightful painting MOVING DAY. Enjoyed this.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Our youngest is going to college in a month and my wife had pretty much the same title for it.

[@davyshah1074]

I have been searching the whole YT since a year and now finally I found this channel that teaches in such a way

[@attiliadin]

Thank you, Ian, you are a gently spoken man... I love your teaching ♥

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome!

[@simonestreeter1518]

I expected you to show yourself mixing those colors on your palette, after the intro stressed that different technique. Loved the example itself!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it!!

[@patjeffers9431]

Fascinating approach to color mixing. Thank you! Lovely painting too!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much Pat!

[@mmartin00055]

I have tried to paint an old gray barn with very muted and subtle changes. I kept wasting a bunch of paint making separate puddles of three or four colors. Not sure why this wasn't obvious to me, but starting with a single puddle and slightly mixing in the split complementary colors did the trick! Thank you very much for the video!

[@mimiwhitney-hafft3036]

Every Demo you do is fantastic. BUT...this was an EXCELLENT Demo on use of SUBTLE colors. This technique should be taught to every beginning artist. I think that would make such a difference in understanding color and how to "modulate" color to make a painting work. The first subjects to study are line drawing and perspective. Then how to modulate color. Thank you for all you do. Every time!!!!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you liked the video Mimi. Best wishes.

[@legendarynoob1477]

Thank you. Absolutely genius and helpful. As a beginner, I'm so tired of my oil paintings looking so cartoonish or illustrated while my intent is realism.

[@waleezeart4295]

Years ago you were only an author I valued greatly. I took many notes from what you wrote. Now we are all so much richer for you presenting on KZbin Thank you for making yourself available to us all.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome. The tech world eventually got simple enough to anyone can make a video.

[@Alexandra-ks7cb]

This was quite the epiphany! Such a simple yet genius method. Mind blown, thanks🎨

[@alicegriffin4375]

Thank you Ian for showing us a way to create harmonious color in muted paintings. I've never seen such a clear description of what causes a muddy painting and how to make beautiful muted colors instead. Great demonstration and your painting is beautiful.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are very welcome Alice. Glad you found it helpful.

[@cindy_Bottoms]

I love that these are so focused on one small point. You really get that point across without taking an hour and it's very helpful.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Cindy, yes brief and concise. It means I find there are questions raised that a longer video could address but I'm with you. Short.

[@isaniart]

Thank you so much! I’ve been trying to figure out muted colors for the longest time and this helped so much

[@jantivel2337]

Nailed it again Ian!! You are able to effectively transmit complex painting technique concepts into accessible, easy to understand and implement terms. I can't wait until next Tuesday"s lesson!!! Thank you so very much!!!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks for letting me know Jan. I appreciate it .

[@suepidlubny3183]

Thanks for this one on “muted” colours. The last time I painted I discovered this for myself (Isn’t that the best way of learning sometimes?). I had a middle “puddle” of neutrals and started to pull from that into my brighter colours. And here I thought I was so smart. LOL. And, I love the way you take an ordinary subject and make it extraordinary as a painting. I see now that the simple things around us can make for a great composition. Looking forward to next week on perspective. Always a challenge for me.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I agree with you entirely. Figuring things out on your own, you really own it. And yes perspective next week.

[@jonathano.7109]

I started watching your videos just a week or so ago. I've already noticed the difference in my painting.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

That is great news. Thanks for letting me know.

[@christinerothmuller2597]

It is a beautiful painting and composition ! the colours are great and subtle ! Thank you so much !

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it Christine. all the best to you.

[@oltedders]

What a beautiful painting! Seeing it blocked out 2 dimensionally made so much sense as an abstract composition. Then you fooled our eyes again and made it into a pile of boxes. Brilliant! One of the best paintings in this series, in my opinion.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much !

[@yiliao123]

Thank you very much for talking through the process

[@joz3568]

It’s fun to watch that you turn everyday object as an art piece when there is light hitting on. Thank you!

[@joz3568]

By the way, what is low intensity green means?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Jo, glad you liked the video. Not this week (perspective) but next week I am doing a video on how to paint greens so will talk about low intensity greens.

[@joz3568]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition look forward it.

[@johndeyloff4473]

I paint in watercolor, and always seem to have very saturated colors everywhere! This is a wonderful lesson that I will have to try to apply to my watercolors! Thanks so much!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome John

[@vineyardsailing1923]

Seems like pulling from the middle and having a bit of that color in many if not all of the other colors is also a way to create unity and harmony. Thanks so much for doing these videos!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you are enjoying them.

[@brigittefortier1211]

Merci, I needed that explanation.....Thanks for your tuesdays wonderful classes.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome Brigitte.

[@deniseracine6788]

I have been painting, teaching and studying oil painting over 40 years and have never heard anyone, ever suggest working back from the neutrals towards the pure colors. Excellent idea! I am impressed!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Denise. I really appreciate your telling me that.

[@kenneth1767]

Wonderful sense of light. Made me think of some of Hopper's interiors. What starts out looking very neutral ends up quite colourful when everything's in its place.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Ken. Glad you liked it.

[@shannonmay6300]

So funny that I watched this today as literally yesterday I was applying some finishing touches to a painting and had to rub them out as the color looked muddy on the canvas while at the same time, it looked a beautiful hue on my brush. I did not come to the thought you shared here but resolved by pushing my color closer to the ones already in my river to get away from the muddy look. Really appreciate all you share with us.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted you found it helpful.

[@donnaoshea3936]

This is the first time that I have heard an explanation of "muted vs. muddy colors". It is nice to know that I have stumbled into the right direction when mixing muted colors. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and skills.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome Donna.

[@daviller74]

you have just described what I have inadvertently been doing for the past few years. I appreciate the confirmation.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Great to hear. All the best.

[@rosannedistefano4249]

Loved this finished painting …. Such an interesting composition

[@sydene54]

portrait of the shoes: love it! most pop contrast

[@alisonhendry2928]

Wow! I could stare at this painting for hours being mesmerized by the light and shadow and shape. A chair, some boxes, table , shoes and light. Masterful. Once you have that ANYTHING is beautiful. My watercolour fingers are being teased back to oil to try something like this with goopy paint. It would work with watercolour, but ohhh I am tempted to pull out my oils..and go searching for mundane beauty. Thank you. Happy Tuesday!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

glad you liked it Alison and yes, the oils!

[@Tizaheijting]

I just can't believe that you made something THAT beautiful out of that photo. You really have an in-depth understanding and analysis of what you see that I'll never be able to gain (too old already). But, wow, what an eye. You really make things look so easy. Great inspiration!!!

[@Ladysmyth]

Ian is a truly amazing teacher. I took his courses last year (he is doing another set next year!) and he taught us to see the way he sees, and suddenly my world looked entirely different. It's startling and exciting to have your perception of your world shift like that!! You are not too old! If I can learn it at 70+, so can you!

[@Tizaheijting]

@@Ladysmyth Thank you soo much, Diana, for your encouraging words! :D I'm located in The Netherlands, so it's going to be difficult to follow his classes 'in situ', but I watch and re-watch his videos all the time to try to learn that capacity of abstracting the 'real' world into shapes and colors. Am so greatful that he still shares his knowledge every week without tiring, determined to make us just a little bit more aware, teaching us to understand the beauty, harmony and contrast of the world around us. Amazing! This painting with the boxes in front of the solid coach is a gorgous abstraction of shapes and colors. I'm amazed. You're lucky, Diana. I would love to see how your work progresses. :D

[@Ladysmyth]

​@@Tizaheijting the course I took was Skyped around the world..we had members from Hawaii, England...I don't recall all. I suspect the classes will be the same time as last time, which for you means 5 or 7 pm Saturday or Sunday. It also included group and personal critiques and a group forum where we could learn from each other. Best money you could spend on instruction.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Patricia, I agree with Diana, you're not too old. I'll be talking about the courses late in the fall and if they seem like a fit for you I'd be delighted if you could join us. The meetings are weekly on zoom. All the rest is online so you can be anywhere. My very best wishes.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Diana.

[@ursulabecker5373]

GREAT demo!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@carolynlobkowicz8737]

Thanks for the neutral puddle mixing idea and a great demo.

[@---Dana----]

Thank you for such a great lesson! You are a wonderful instructor. ❤

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much Dana.

[@tonyab4727]

I cannot say thank you enough!! I've been struggling with colour! I love muted colours and this ABSOLUTELY makes perfect sense to me! It works!!!

[@joshtavenner8083]

Just what I was looking for and I didn't even know it! Thanks for all the knowledge!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Josh.

[@DannySabraArt]

Really lovely painting! i think i'm attracted to it as a subject of mundane objects that illustrate the beauty of light. I also think its so cool how you modulated the lighting in the reference photo to have a single focal point. Very cool!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Danny. Glad you liked it.

[@sachet22]

Wow, I love your finished paintings and the wonderful, easy-to-understand way that you explain color mixing and shadows both lighted and not as well to help the viewer see beauty in simplicity. I am subscribed and have begun to study the idea of trying a more representational approach.

[@swetapadmamajhi6600]

Amazingly explained Video! Wanted to learn this for quite some time! Thanks so much! :)

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Great! Delighted it was helpful.

[@marieradi-nahas767]

Thank you so much for this video. So much to learn.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you found it helpful Marie.

[@tdbeekman5850]

ohhhh.. just Love this painting 🙏 💕

[@tinawaters482]

I tried muted colours today . Turned out great ! Thanks so much for the tips !

[@jayne3944]

Your painting is so beautiful!! I LOVE muted colors!! I also LOVE the light and shadow in your paintings. I am excited about your teachings on perspective next week ... a COMPLETE mystery to me, perspective is!! THANK YOU IAN for allllll your EXCELLENT videos!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much. I am working on perspective now.

[@craigseaborn4222]

Excellent tutorial working on a painting of the Coach House at the Vaughn Estate , my wife was at Sunnybrook for her yearly check up at the Odette Center

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I remember the coach houses in Toronto from when I grew up. I always wanted one for a studio.

[@marihart-qbc]

Lost of warmth with those muted colors! Beautiful painting. Thank you very much for this lightning lesson.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Joanne.

[@ignominius3111]

Ian, thank you for moving me in the proper direction visually. Your elucidation in words and in paint has allowed me make up for more lost time than I care to remember. With your help I have finally been able to compose my painting and paint what I see.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Very glad to hear it. Thanks for letting me know.

[@mandybell7884]

Beautifully done ! Thank you for the quality & great lesson !

[@MsJLAG]

Another winner! The arrival of your video is the highlight of my week! That vibrant blue and yellow I bet are actually quite muted when looked at individually- made bright by their neighbouring muted colours. I just love the vast family of greys! This is a stunning painting- I would love to see more domestic subjects.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So glad you liked it Judy. I'm struck by the sunlight hitting things around the house. So often the photo just doesn't convey enough and from life the light only lasts a few minutes. But I like doing them. Glad you liked it. Thank you.

[@frankt722]

I have waited years for your level of instruction regarding color mixing. Most especially on how to support the eye-brain connection toward great design. It is ultimately great design supported by a color theory that makes perfect sense. Thank you Sir Ian!

[@zvarda]

Thank you so much for your beautiful demonstration and very clear explanation.💐

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful Varda.

[@mattwalter5184]

Beautiful painting!

[@janelintern6969]

Yes, interesting, subtle colours - all looks 3-dimensional. Thanks, Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Jane. All the best.

[@laurataggart8018]

Thanks 🙏 Made my day!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it Laura.

[@Coco2345ful]

Mind bogling for me. Hope to watch this again, too!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed it Dee

[@LightthroughLeaves]

Ian, your demo painting demonstrates what I frequently tell my students-that you can make a beautiful drawing or painting of humble things. Lovely.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

It's a good lesson I need to keep reminding myself of too. All the best Elizabeth.

[@lorraineferraro8946]

Thank you Ian. And that is a beautiful painting.

[@debramorr2136]

Really helpful and you explained how to accomplish painting muted colors really well and very easy. In the past I have tried to use a purchased tube neutral warm or a cool gray and mix my colors into them. I always came away with a muddy mess that did not look cohesive. Your method keeps the colors harmonious which is what I am after in my paintings. This is one of the very best demonstrations on how to mix muted gray's with out them becoming muddy. I love it! Thanks so much!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Debra, I'm glad you found the video helpful. By adding a neutral to all your paint it's true the whole effect gets not really muted but dull. All the best.

[@LaurieSequana]

Makes beautiful from the ordinary, yet again!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Laurie.

[@rolisonpaint3]

thanks so much, neutrals have been my bugaboo- so I have avoided them. This really helps.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I always think that in fact it is the master of muted color that really knows how to make a color pop. Too much color can of course make the end result noisy and that in its own way then diminishes all the colors. Glad you liked the video.

[@realmahadeo]

Very neat and balanced painting! Hard to believe that "muted-clean" contrast can work so well! Thanks for sharing Ian!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're welcome Andrei.

[@aliciamolloy5948]

Awesome! Thank you so much Ian for such a clear wonderful explanation 🙏🙏

[@LukenUSee]

I very much enjoy your clear and thorough explanations, the examples, and the way you demonstrate your concepts. Thank you for what you're doing!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're very welcome!. Like the tag Luken U See!

[@LukenUSee]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition 😉

[@nadeemahmed2083]

Very very very helpful.... Thanks for sharing this gem ✨

[@w.l.691]

Perfect timing- just considering how to get from really vibrant intense area to muted colours without a helpful shaft of light and the penny has dropped! Thank you Ian!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Excellent. Glad to hear it.

[@carolinegreene372]

Something I’m a bit unclear on is that you talked at the beginning about the difference between muddy and muted, and how the temperature of the colours is important to consider. So, if you mix that central pile of neutral, and then take another colour from the 'outer' circle to modulate the neutral for painting a particular area, that colour could be warm or cool, so isn’t that the same way we end up with mud rather than muted? In your painting they don’t look muddy, I have to say, but I’m not sure why, if they’re mixes of maybe four colours by that point! I’m now almost completely up-to-date with watching your videos, by the way, and I’ve learned a lot already. Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Caroline, delighted you've been watching all the videos. The issue isn't about the color being muddy on the palette. The issue only happens when you put the color on the painting in relationship to other colors. That is when you can get a color looking muddy because the color temperature is wrong in relation to the colors around it. You can mix all the colors you want on the palette, but it is that color then put on the canvas that has to work.

[@carolinegreene372]

Aha, I see what you mean! I’ll go away and think about that and have a play around with some mixing. Thank you for the explanation.

[@sallyfinch540]

CRAAAAAZEEEEEE how fantastic this is! Truly a beautiful piece of art from a rather ordinary still life.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Sally.

[@trevorsooley8337]

Thanks so much Ian. I’m pretty much addicted to your KZbin videos. I see everything now in a whole new light (pardon the pun). Also purchased your book - Mastering Composition Techniques & Principles To Dramatically Improve Your Painting. I would certainly recommend it to anyone who is watching your videos and want to improve their painting. Thanks again Ian and keep doing what you’re doing.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Trevor, I'm delighted you are enjoying the videos and my book. I like that "a whole new light." All the best.

[@julieismert4874]

I am always amazed to see how you show light even though it is not "really light" since you are, as you state, using muted colors to achieve the effect. Always informative and helpful, thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you liked it Julie. All the best.

[@dipakgupta8470]

I really learn a lot from your tutorials. Thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you like them!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted that you find them helpful. All the best

[@marygawley2637]

Thanks for this tip on muted colours ian. The puddle is a great idea. The painting of such ardinary everyday things is amazing. Looking foreward to the one on perspective. Thanks sgain.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it Mary.

[@gaylemartin6498]

This was fantastic, Ian. Thank you! Love the painting! g

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Gayle, so glad you liked it. Nice to hear from you. All the best.

[@meiredeabreu8665]

Gorgeous!!!! Love it! Thank you so much!!!

[@MSDFairfield]

This is one of the best both helpful and engaging, I have always struggled with colour relationships. The simple subject becomes a satisfying dramatic composition without the use of high key blasting colour or primary intense colours all over the place fighting with each other

[@jenndunham686]

I just want to let you know I’m barely a few pages into Creative Authenticity and I’m actually bummed that I have a date with a friend tonight to go to a truly wonderful park, because I want to continue reading! Thank you so much for writing this book 💙

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

So delighted you are enjoying it Jennifer.

[@coloradocorri]

I watched some of your videos specifically focused on composition, though most have that component worked in anyway, months ago. They were excellent! Last week I decided to watch EVERY video you have published on your channel, and I just finished! They are all very helpful and I so appreciate the effort and motivation it takes to develop, edit, and publish so much valuable content - THANK YOU! Now that my binge watching is complete, I will keep up with your new ones and use others as reference, but more importantly, it is time to put more miles on my brushes 😄. I have lots of head knowledge and need to develop more brush knowledge! In any case, please keep them coming and I wish you continued growth and success with your channel!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Corri, well that's an accomplishment seeing all the videos. Now as you say, the brushes. Delighted you have found the videos useful. All the best.

[@mohandoctor1930]

Fantastic sir..! Truly amazing 💕💕

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Mohan.

[@patricetaylor6134]

I always struggle choosing a scene to paint, so I marvel at how you can take an image I would have never thought was interesting, and turn it into a beauty. Really fantastic demonstration as always.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Patrice.

[@Tatokala]

Problem is when you are able to turn every thing into beauty you never ever get ready. and there is work more and more, over and over.

[@JC-lk1mz]

I just came across your channel and you have already become my teacher. Clear concepts very well explained and your short videos are full of good teachings. Thanks a lot!! Already subscribed and joined your email list.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Welcome. Glad you are enjoying the videos.

[@mmca9323]

I love your videos, I always come back to them. Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Happy to hear it! Delighted that you found it helpful.

[@apianarosa]

You make the dullest subject come to life and gain beauty, can't wait for next week.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Albertina.

[@davidshimp5116]

Brilliant, thank you so much. The way you explained taking from the pool of muted, always-modulating colour in the middle of your palette changes the way I think about colour mixing. This is also a great way to challenge the temptation to always paint the exact colour and value in reality, and ultimately create a more interesting, harmonious result! Do you have any videos that explain more about muddy vs. muted? I liked that explanation but would love to see it demonstrated.

[@annmarielopiccolo-carlsen7263]

Excellent demonstration…….I never considered a muted color as a muddy color. I think of muted colors more like half tones, without the intensity. I like the distinction you make between muddy and muted colors……in essence, that a color appears muddy because of incorrect color value and the placement of that color next to another color. The eye reads the result as “muddy.” Muddy colors for me result in the blending of colors in the painting when applying the paint. Usually this occurs because of uneven pressure or too much pressure in laying paint in over an existing layer, wet-in-wet. Also, when I have tried your tip of mixing into the puddle, I struggle with too muddy of a color, especially since the darker color seems to overpower the lighter ones…..adding the lighter colors then create a more chalky appearance. I either get the correct value or the right color, but rarely both. Your demonstration shows your mastery of color, value, and color placement. Always a provocative and insightful Tuesday tip…….thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Ann Marie, I'm delighted you enjoyed the video. The idea of muddy as you say, is one of relationship with a color on the canvas. If you are pushing wet paint into wet paint you may well get a mixture that becomes muddy now beside the color on the canvas. I've certainly seen that happen. But think color temperature when you find it getting muddy and pull the muddy color towards the temperature of what is beside it.

[@didiartandnature4255]

Great video! Could you maybe expand in another video about muddy colors? You said when you mix two colors with different temperatures? Thanks for all your amazing lessons!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Didi, it isn't that muddy colors are what happen on the palette. THey are only muddy in relation to other colors in the painting. I said that when you have an inappropriate temperature shift of one color next to another it can look muddy. I mean not always of course. But often if your color is looking muddy look at the temperature shift in the color next to it on the canvas. On its own it can't be muddy. Unless you are saying it looks like the color of mud. But that isn't what we mean by a color looking muddy usually.

[@VWLivin]

Awesome. Can't wait for next week.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you enjoyed it.

[@attiliadin]

Thank you..it's fascinating to watch you at work. You are a true teacher... wonderful tonal work. Loving your videos.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you very much!

[@nettacanfi5475]

Great concept, mixing out! Thanks.