Mixing Red Shadows with Watercolor Complements

[@TheMarkEH]

Another excellent, well paced and informative video. Thank you for enlightening me about these important issues regarding shading for reds.

[@AlisonFennell]

Anytime Mark. Thanks for the positive words. It does us all good to go back to the simple basics at times doesn't it? To touch base with the fundamentals. I am loving doing these colour mixing tutorials as I know how confusing it can be at first - glad it helps - Alison ... PS - is there any issue you would like a tutorial on? I am compiling requests for up-coming subjects.

[@TheMarkEH]

@@AlisonFennell I would be interested to hear if there are both pros and cons to using different brands (or grades) of watercolour on the same painting.

[@AlisonFennell]

@@TheMarkEH I have never had negative results by using different brands of paint in the same painting - that is not a worry at all - nor is there really an issue with using student grade paint with professional grade paint. Nothing terrible will happen but - you will notice a difference in handling (student grades are less active, more inert, chalkier and flatter and of course are not bound to last in vibrancy for as long as pro paints). Bottom line is - get professional artist grade paints even as a beginner. A palette of a warm and a cool of each of blue, red and yellow plus 2 earth tones of burnt umber and burnt sienna is really all you need. In 25 years of teaching Mark it's the Cotman range in Winsor & Newton and the Georgian range in Daler Rowney that have disappointed and frustrated my students who simply cannot get the same results as professional ranges in both brands. Any hobby paints such as Reeves, WH Smith or Hobby craft etc are no good at all as in essence they are not really watercolour. Hope that helps.

[@TheMarkEH]

@@AlisonFennell Thank you for precisely answering my questions, for sharing your knowledge and experience, and for the excellent advice. I will be buying the Quiller book as it seems to give nuanced advice on specific compliment combinations that I think will be very useful.

[@AlisonFennell]

@@TheMarkEH I try to do my best Mark as I understand the frustration when you don't get the info you are looking for online. I am currently trying to get set up as a livestreaming art tutor and I am in a tangled mess and not getting exactly the info I need. I will get there in the end but I have learned along the way just what type of video is NOT helpful LOL! My pleasure and I hope you will enjoy Mr Quiller. He is methodical and clear. Once you get a handle on compliments I think you will soar. It's like finding gears in a car!

[@debbiemacrae3609]

Informative, as always! Thanks!

[@AlisonFennell]

Thanks Debbie - I am enjoying doing basics as I think we all need a refresher from time to time:)

[@brittathrane4663]

Thank you so much, I love how you make it easy, and thanks for sharing the Quiller wheel.

[@AlisonFennell]

I hope you will get a lot from trying these mixes Britta and yes Mr Quiller is a real hero of mine! What are you looking to paint mostly?

[@brittathrane4663]

@@AlisonFennell It's great to learn something useful ... I've only been painting for 7 months, so there's a lot to learn. I have learned to paint wet on dry, and now I am starting to paint wet on wet. I have mostly painted flowers, but also birds and bees ..... I look forward to paint cows, pigs, chickens, landscapes etc. It is great that you and others share your knowledge and methods online. .Thanks :)

[@AlisonFennell]

@@brittathrane4663 Yes - there is always more to learn Britta :) I am still learning now - it is good to remain a student at heart I think:) It sounds as if you have a good methodical approach to acquiring the watercolour skills. Well done and I hope that you will progress at a pace that suits and pleases you. I love to paint pigs as their shape and markings and expressions melt my heart! If you want I can email you a pig step by step that is printable. If you email me at [e-mail] I can send it to you. It is ok for all levels. Alison

[@brittathrane4663]

@@AlisonFennell Thank you so much, i will write at once :)

[@AlisonFennell]

@@brittathrane4663 Marvelous - they are being sent now Britta.

[@francoisederocher]

How very nice to see you again. I have the same palette with little sticky papers on the side;)

[@AlisonFennell]

Ah - that's kind Francoise! Great to be back and with much better lighting which I hope you benefited from. Yes - little sticky words help us artists! What projects do you have on at the mo?

[@francoisederocher]

Getting ready to sell my watercolors as a fundraiser for the Botanical garden.@@AlisonFennell

[@muhlenstedt]

Thank you very much, it was very useful !!!

[@AlisonFennell]

Glad you got something from this muhlenstedt - Alison

[@judithp6257]

Thank you Alison 😊

[@AlisonFennell]

My pleasure Judith. Were you a "black" shadow mixer ?:) !!

[@judithp6257]

The Pottering Artist - No, I’ve never been one of those, that’s one of the first things you learn - chuck your black tubes to the back of the cupboard and forget they exist! Haha. I do have trouble with shadow colours though. Maybe it’s because I can only afford Cotmans, or more likely because I’m a rubbish watercolour artist haha 😆. Red shadow is a hard shade to get right I find though, so this video was especially interesting. Diolch 😊

[@lindamcneff79]

Hi Miss Alison! Very helpful, as always. BTW, just want to also say how much I enjoy all issues of THE POTTERING ARTIST...thanks for that as well! All my best to you.

[@AlisonFennell]

Thanks so much Linda! I'm so glad you are enjoying the reading of the mag! What do you most get from them I wonder? It would help to know...?

[@pixels2u]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@montserratlavid3532]

Very nice. Thank you!

[@AlisonFennell]

Thanks Montserrat - I am happy to hear you got something from this - Alison

[@nursdurkin]

Thank you so much! Wonderful!

[@AlisonFennell]

That's the kind of response I hope for Paula! Thank you. Are you on the first steps of your watercolour journey?

[@nursdurkin]

Yes, I am having luck with some and others, not so much...like you said, “ play with your paints and get to know them”...you videos and style of paints help! 😊

[@AlisonFennell]

@@nursdurkin That's the spirit - enjoy my videos as they come. I fancy a bird tutorial soon - itching to do that! Thanks for your positive comments and yes - play away!

[@francesnorton65]

There's no such thing as a "mid" red. Reds will always be biased towards blue (alizarin) or orange (cadmium red). The mid red shown is a deep cadmium, but still is orange biased.

[@AlisonFennell]

Hi Frances - thank you so much for your opinion about this - :) Alison