5 Steps to Easy Perfect Color Mixings - Simple Tips for Perfect Watercolor Color Mixing

Mixing the right color can be stressful and confusing at times. Here is a fail proof 5 clear steps to mix any colors easily! Just by following these 5 steps, you will never struggle again in mixing colors.
Video explaining the Color Wheel Palette in more detail: • Color Theory Ep. 3 | C...
List of colors you can use in the Color Wheel Palette: otokano.com/color-wheel-palette/
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[@veystone2580]

I love this 4 video series! I watch them and rewatch them. 😅

[@PanteraRocha1]

As a musician too, im Glad you named the colors with chords, way better way to debate about harmony.

[@tarotbysemaj2424]

@PanteraRocha1, Your comment makes me wonder if you are one of those gifted with Synesthesia, as you make such a great connection. So many musicians see music in colour so it makes sense to me, and it totally "Clicked" in my head for the first time more concretely with your comment. Well done and thank you for broadening all of our potential.

[@MassimilianoDeliso]

Love this video, Amazing job as usual, with the content and the explanation, so happy to hear you are releasing your own palette for sale, can’t wait to see it and perhaps own it! Cheers!

[@kmeldrom6932]

I think I need to increase my Patreon level. You have taught me so much, in such an understandable way, that my brain just clicks in and I get it (and sometimes not, tbt) but how you present watercolor gives me the confidence to keep going. This is such an informative explanation, thank you. VERY excited about your upcoming palette release (Manganese dot card is lovely, thanks). I’d LOVE to see a series of how to pick colors to make different palettes - like impressionistic, pointillist, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse (converting other mediums to watercolor), tropical, marine, high chroma, etc. Many of us have tubes of paint and personally, I want to do this but can’t get my head around it so I’m not making the best use of my supplies. They don’t need to be brand specific. ❤ I’ve watched your series on color theory - need to watch it again - and understand neutralizing, but can’t quite get which color to pick to set up specific palettes. Sounds silly, but that’s it in a nutshell. Great video! Look forward to more. And good to see you. 🦩❤️

[@christicovington]

Thank you for being you and taking the time to make your videos for us. You're so pretty and I enjoy your voice. Much love from Nashville TN USA 🇺🇸

[@lindyhawthorne2164]

I've had a brilliant idea for you....not that you have any spare time at all I am sure. Ive been struggling for two days just to try to mix the correct azalea leaf colour from an online image that Im wanting to try to paint....and getting nowhere. You could invent a color picker for watercolours but actually listing what colours to mix to arrive at the selected colour from the photo/picture. BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!!! ha ha ha.

[@AyaSmith]

The problem with that concept is you can make any color from soooo many combos. Even phthalo blue, a simple yellow, and quinacridone rose could make almost any color. I can do the same thing with countless versions of the primaries… I think a better idea for you is to grab a piece of paper, cut out a hole, place it over the subject and try and match the color you see (without the distraction of other colors beside it). This is a DIY value finder and very helpful!

[@AyaSmith]

Oh that’s what she did 😂 yeah, it’s really the only way to do it.

[@lindyhawthorne2164]

@@AyaSmith thanks. I have done that. However, if I need to mix colours, Im not good at knowing what colours to mix.

[@tavenchristensen3157]

WOW!!! Crazy Good information ‼️ - Love the way you made the Indigo WARMER! Good trick. :) (Well… it’s not a trick.) Good Color Theory‼️ I learned a lot. THANKYOU Oto 🥰

[@Miastrong930]

Thank you. In my limited experience you are the best in what you do. When I get a notification for your video I know it will be good. Sometimes I have to wait until I can give it quality attention. It is always worth the wait. Again, Thank you so much for taking the time and all the work you do in making these videos.

[@tarotbysemaj2424]

I always appreciate that you bring the most systematic ways to approach doing swatches. Your idea about the "hole" really made sense to me along with the mapping. Had to crack up @12:35, where we all learn "It's a bit of a Slap-dash, really." 😂 😃 😄 😁 🤣 Haven't heard that since my early childhood in the UK. Thanks for always bringing the most cogent content. I so appreciate all that you share in the world of watercolor. Still hoping for those palettes one day!

[@berolinastrassmann]

Such genuine joy at 16:12 "oooh I am liking that" at 16:12 - I can totally relate to that. Mixing colours is such a zen, in the moment experience. Thanks for sharing, Oto!

[@someoneknows9635]

Oh my,,, just found you!!! Amazing!!! So happy

[@nicolesawyer9495]

Thank you so much. I love your brain. Im happy.

[@Miastrong930]

Forgot to say, looking forward to your pallette. Like your videos I feel certain it will be worth the wait.

[@DarkMoonSanctuary]

Thanks for the info. Good video

[@zaarteestdanaportiermorvan2453]

I can’t wait to see your pallet!!

[@kristiw.1823]

Love watching your process!

[@kathylarson7601]

Excellent!

[@jenniferabbott6757]

Excellent Job, Oto! Cannot wait for your color palettes to become available!! 😍

[@cristinalattuada5322]

Wonderful demonstration, thank you ❤

[@melissaaldosari8024]

Such excellent information Oto! Thank you so much for all your hard work! I can’t wait for your pallet release! Woohoo!💜💜💜

[@agold1702]

Very helpful! Thanks

[@joycesnodgrass7068]

Thank you! Very helpful🥰

[@cherylj.harris4967]

I find this very helpful! I’ve been needing this very useful video and demo. Will be looking for your palettes.

[@silviabou5635]

Great video!!! Thanks for the nice and clear explanation.

[@lynd4188]

Outstanding!!

[@Angie-pl3uw]

Super clear as always!

[@tessellatiaartilery8197]

Great explanation. Thank you very much.

[@keeponkeepinon9363]

Thank you so much for this EXCELLENT video tutorial !! So many things I never knew, even after learning color theory and watercolor painting in college!! I love your "color theory palette" and this is all brand new to me ❤️. Thank you again for all your truly valuable tutorials 🙏🏻

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

Very helpful description and demo! Thank you 😊

[@vivianmar7765]

This is helpful. I will try this method. Thanks for sharing.

[@janetwalsh7025]

i love all your videos! They are very informative and you explain everything well!💜

[@nellkrams3698]

Great video! You have really explained how to mix colors to achieve the exact color you want. Thank you!! Now to go and try this …. and really learn my colors better.

[@leannac2743]

Can't wait til you have them for sale!

[@appleknocker56]

Ty for this video! Medium beginner & enjoy mixing colors & making these lil cards of my mixes will really help! Another tip that helps me with ref photo’s is have two lil cards (one with bigger square & one smaller square) and can put on red photo to isolate a color!

[@hendsaeed779]

I really learned a lot!! Thank you so much for this video :)♡

[@addasenta]

Great video! Being able to apply color theory gives you a much better grip on your painting. A tip for a cheap color circle palette: a white stoneware diner plate with a brim. Put the colors in a circle on the brim, complemrntaries opposite and use the center for mixing.

[@christinebravomom5711]

Wonderful information!

[@sandrafenton1207]

Thank you, helped a lot

[@VeretenoVids]

Ooooohhh a Dr. Oto Kano palette! TAKE MY MONEY!! 😄

[@Miastrong930]

Looking forward to the color wheel palette you will be selling.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

I found this very helpful & interesting, especially the card with the hole punched in for matching. Definitely easier to check out the matching/blending colors well. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@nathaliacalmon]

Love it! So great to see your process, and the logic behind it. Just needed this video. Because its rare to see people talking about other things in the process of mixing besides knowing the color theory. Like making enough paint (it's always a challange to me argh) and let it dry _ I never ever tought about this, and now it seems so obvious! But just because of you ;) And it's a relief to see that all of us sometimes put too much of a color in the brush and than "omg too much of the neutralizer" lol Question: do you have the habit of saving the colors you've made, or have any tips on how to do it? Like when we were afraid of making too little and accidentally made too much an an especific mixture? And really, thank you so much for the content as always!!

[@trinidiana]

Hi. Can you do a tour of your art studio for us?

[@Yolan1]

thank you for all of your excellent and informative videos. May I ask what wonderful book you are using? Thank you!

[@lightwavz]

I loved the hole-punch method! And I have bunny-egg plate envy. Extreme bunny-egg plate envy 😁

[@ericakauffman5786]

❣❣❣ I was going to ask when you are going to design your own for sale!

[@sandracath7218]

It looks like you have an amazing watercolor tube racks on the shelves behind you … is that what I am seeing and can you tell us how to get those upright tube holders?

[@user-ru9uy2ei4p]

Have you tired the Stephen Quiller Palette? I have the Plastic palette and the Traveler's Palette. I hope to buy the porcelain palette someday. They make color mixing easy, because the complimentary color is always across from the color you are trying to neutralize.

[@delphinewood7519]

Very helpful for an inexperienced watercolorist. Thank you!

[@deelirious222]

Have you an update on the colour wheel palette?

[@tessayllon]

I have Winston and Newton, do you know which colors for this brand?

[@lellemaris3731]

Such a great video, Oto - thank you! I particularly like these little hole-cards. So handy! There's one point that confused me, though...and I'm just asking to make sure I don't muddle things in my brain...when making that Indigo color, you said you wanted to tweak it to give it some warmth. For me, this meant to add a violet...because red leaning Blues are warm...yet you added a more yellow phthalo blue. Which is cold, isn't it? Or did you give the Indigo some warmth because it is leaning more towards the yellow after adding the Phthalo? For me, the warm and cool undertones in blues are quite confusing and counterintuitive 🙈

[@OtoKano]

You pointed out a VERY good point. I think that was a mistake on my part. I still get very confused about which blue is warm and which blue is cool. Blues are so hard and I still have to think carefully before getting it right. In this case, you are entirely correct. Warm should mean ultramarine violet. I should’ve said I want it to be cooler - thus the phthalo blue. This video is proof that it warms and cools of blues are counterintuitive because we associate the phthalo blue colors to be the sea of warm countries, and the ultramarine blue to be seas of cooler countries (for me at least, others will have different interpretations).

[@lellemaris3731]

@@OtoKano thanks, Oto! For me it's much the same...Phthalos look so much like the water on an Carribean beach that I always associate them with warmth...but colour theory disagrees with that 🙈 Blues are the only colour I really have to stop and concentrate and think about it. All the others are pretty straight forward.

[@ms-ge3uc]

This video is so helpful. Thank you for such a clear explanation of color theory. How do you decide what secondary color to use to in a mix?

[@mydogeatspuke]

The same way you choose which primary colour to use. Just break the secondary colour down into its primary components. Also, practice. If you used the wrong secondary colour after swatching then you'll know it won't work in that mix for the future.

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Easy "value" amounts of paint by paint/water texture: Tea: Light Value Coffee: Light to Mid-Tone Value Milky: Mid-Tone Value Creamy: Dark Value Butter/Tube Direct: Darkest Value with no paper shining through 😀

[@mydogeatspuke]

That's for gouache not watercolour. Watercolour is transparent (mostly) so the paper will always show through. If it doesn't then you've used farrrrrrr too much paint and way too thickly.

[@everartokelli]

True, the values and opacity of Robert's list is more suited to gouache, but there are many artists that do a Tea Coffee Milk version for watercolor, based on percentage of water. I've also heard Tea Milk Honey, more based on the liquid nature of each viscosity, i.e tea is very watery, milk is medium watery, honey is thick but still transparent. Would love to hear other artists' versions.

[@mydogeatspuke]

@@everartokelli nope. Not a thing.

[@everartokelli]

It is a thing, lots of versions on youtube, Joseph Zbukvic uses a version close to Robert's called the watercolor clock which uses paper dampness with tea-->butter consistencies.

[@mydogeatspuke]

@@everartokelli butter is not a liquid. It's not a thing.

[@lindyhawthorne2164]

That was very informative, thank you. Im wondering what made you know to chose phthalo blue to add lastly to the blue mix ????

[@mydogeatspuke]

As she said in the video, the ultramarine and trans red oxide were mixing a bit too cool to match, so adding more ultramarine would have just made it more blue not warm. The phthalo blue was warmer than the ultramarine, so it added a touch of blue but mostly it gave that warmth that was missing. She didn't want to change the colour, and adding another colour would have done that.

[@lindyhawthorne2164]

@@mydogeatspuke Oh....thank you...very involved for my brain....but always learning. thanks a lot.

[@mydogeatspuke]

@@lindyhawthorne2164 it just takes practice and understanding your colours. That's why so many people suggest you learn with a more limited palette, so you instinctively know how to nudge a colour in another direction without changing it completely. Ofc there's nothing wrong with having a 600 pan palette of convenience colours, but there's something very satisfying about mixing a colour just right. You'll get there if it's what you want to do.

[@eileencollins3126]

Lindy, what I saw in the video is that she was mainly using Ultramarine Blue, which is color B on her wheel. She decided that her color needed to be a tiny bit warmer to match the color in the picture. To nudge the color a bit warmer, she took Phthalo Blue, which is color C, the next one on her wheel to the warm side, to bring the color a bit warmer. If she had wanted it a bit cooler, she would have chosen color A, the violet color.

[@lindyhawthorne2164]

@@eileencollins3126 Thank you. Warms and cools are still somewhat baffling to me, but Im getting a bit better.

[@qdmiya]

I have difficulty locating the warm and coldness of neon colours. If I don’t have opera rose/ bright opera on the palate, I don’t think I can get it by mixing. It seems brighter than any colours I can think of.

[@hannahthufvesson]

It's not possible to mix neon colours, so you're very right in that! A note regarding neon colours is that they fade quickly when exposed to light, so if that's important for you, if you want to sell your art for example, that's something to keep in mind. 🙂

[@patdarlington3297]

Are you still on Patreon? I could not access your page and I don't see any recent videos on youtube either.

[@carolwade8627]

When making a colour wheel palette, is it better to stick to one brand of paint.

[@OtoKano]

not at all! You can mix and match brands.

[@crystalinedreams6039]

i didn't know you could speak chipmunk! cool lol tfs this awesome vid - have a nice week.

[@katarinaholik]

I love the idea of this video but it would be much clearerif you took example and work with the example from the beginning.

[@awatercolourist]

First!