Quick Tip 121 - Good Color Harmony

[@jessicathompson1456]

Excellent-I have always been able to draw and sketch and copy colors. But choosing colors myself has been such an elusive creature. This helps so much! I’ve looked and looked online and begged people to let me hang out w them to get some understanding of color harmony/choosing colors they don’t clash. This is the first time in years and years and years that I’ve understood harmony and “picking” colors. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure, Jessica. Have fun with it. Also, you might enjoy the replay of our May 21 Chat - kzbin.infoT4pjetybVko?feature=share

[@jtpaar1732]

This was an excellent tip that I've never come across before, but really got me thinking how to choose the 'mother color'. Very much appreciated, Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@rosalindlowndes7813]

Thankyou for the free tips Dianne, they are so interesting and helpful. Loving your generosity!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😊

[@kristineanderson2737]

I have misunderstood the mother color concept until I watched this video. I am so glad I found you, Dianne. You are my hero. I am going over to your website now to see if I can find your full video on this subject.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I love it when something I teach gives an ah ha moment.

[@elizabethbarnes3969]

What a marvellous teacher you are. Thank you for this lesson which I intend to put to good use in my next painting.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great. I always love knowing that the teaching is working.

[@deborahtrate2092]

Thank you for explaining “mother colors”. A few years ago I purchased a how to book explaining and demonstrating mother colors. I had never heard of this before. What a beautiful difference the use of mother colors make. I must say that you explain and demonstrate in such an easy way. I’ll keep watching.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Deborah!

[@Classicretail]

Thank You so much Dianne! I've painted for 10 yrs. Your teaching is so relevant and spectacular I'm not going to try to describe it. I've fallen in love w/ every part.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Greg!

[@harpaint]

Thanks! I will start using this information in my painting. I appreciate how clearly and simply you communicate in your videos!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Happy painting.

[@rayhudson9042]

Both my Daughter and I have learnt so much from you, you are very gifted and generous. Love and Respect xx

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's my joy to share.

[@pam.t.4316]

Thanks very much Dianne. Great tip. I look forward to the next one.

[@christinebrown5233]

Very interesting lesson,Diane. Thank you so much for these free tips.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@jackiebyers1272]

I loved that you showed examples of doing it with 2 different colors. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I really want emerging artists to know that there are ways to explore principles rather than rules to follow. Thanks for your comments.

[@Igor-ug1uo]

Oh wow,I’m surprised that I was using your advice not even really knowing what I was doing :) I like starting with mixing purple and then using it to produce any other color I use for the painting. Thank you for the video!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great! And thanks for watching.

[@belindahall5220]

Great video and very insightful! Many thanks, Diane!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome! Thanks for being a Studio Insider member.

[@deborawagner7657]

So helpful! Color harmony is my biggest hurdle when creating a painting. Quick Tip 121 and 122 are perfect lessons for me. Thank you so much!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm delighted those tips are helpful

[@kathleencormier5748]

You are wonderful! Learning and soothing at the same time. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Kathleen.

[@GMthunderbreak]

Thank you for this info. I've run into the idea of Mother Color often recently, my colors previously has been very floaty. I think this is the key to ground it.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it was helpful!

[@shankarsalian4882]

Thank you madam for sharing such a wonderful color harmony idea.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure 😊

[@shirleyfargo455]

This was a great lesson! Can’t believe I just found it. I am eager to try this quick trip. May be just what my painting needs to look more professional. Thank you so much.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful!

[@daughteroftheking614]

This was very helpful as I've been wanting to harmonize my colors in my paintings. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Give this a try. I think you will find it enlightening.

[@Sarmisthablogs]

Thank you Lady. You are amazing.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks! It's a pleasure to do these.

[@verafurci6117]

Thank-you for another very helpful tip!

[@robingerke5311]

Vera Furci 2

[@michelaakers4743]

Your knowledge is incredible!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I appreciate that!

[@Dollartrees]

I am learning so much from you! Thank you, Diane 🤍🤗

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Happy to help! Thanks for watching.

[@coyaxx2770]

you're tips are always full of good stuff i didnt know I needed to know, thanks!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

A pleasure.

[@nomnom537]

I'm so grateful to discover you!!😍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks! I'm grateful you did, too.

[@Lululemon2023]

Very straightforward, easy to understand and remember.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great and thanks.

[@synnvelande8919]

WoW for soooo long i have been wondering about that ! Thank you for teaching that !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for all your comments. It's a pleasure to share.

[@joanfeltovic4168]

sooo educational will check # 26 on Mother color...t.u. miss Dianne

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@tutu1547]

brilliant--- easy to understand and integrate into practice. excellent explanation

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks. Have fun with it.

[@mosiotv]

Thanks a bunch dear Dianne. 🌹 That was really nice and useful demonstration, very well explained as always 😊👍👍thanks for the QT and eagerly waiting for the next. 🌹🌹

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Always a pleasure.

[@mariegamber]

This was a wonderful tutorial. I can hardly wait to try it. I know this will be helpful.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😊

[@sarahmurphy6759]

Great tips. I will be teaching an oil painting class to some adults and I plan on using this idea!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great! I love passing it on.

[@ravenfox13]

You have a wonderful gift of teaching, you have explained this in the best way possible. Thanks so much for sharing 😊💚

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you!

[@LoonyIdea]

Thank you very much for sharing so much valuable knowledge!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@necatisevinc9060]

sweet lady...thank you...God bless you....

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you! You too!

[@sivahfelt5154]

I really learned alot from this video thank you🥰

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You’re welcome 😊 Enjoy the journey.

[@junebell3216]

Love your quick tips, I have learned a lot in a shorter time about much that was not clear in my mind many thanks.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great!

[@janquerbes5196]

I really enjoyed this quick tip, you are always enlightening 👍🏻

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks and glad it was helpful!

[@christinaosterberg5108]

Very very interesting lesson. Thank you so much!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@parvaiznaseem8831]

Extremely helpful Video!! Thanks so much for your help!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@deborah3811]

Thank you Diane! The color harmony makes so much sense, it brings the painting completely together.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure

[@annbornstein45]

Thank you Dianne..very helpful.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😊

[@marycaciamasser3814]

Wow this was so helpful. The Walter Foster book #63 discusses mother colors but not as clearly as you have here. Thank you Dianne. I’m going to head to Quick Tip #121 to learn more about this and then check Lesson #26 as well. Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm delighted you are finding these helpful.

[@umtempopraviver]

Hi, Dianne! You are the best!

[@brianross4740]

Thank you for this very valuable tip Diane

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@MarenGermany]

Thank you very much. I liked this video a lot. I am struggling with color harmony as of yet, but I am improving. Your video was very useful. Thanks.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Always a pleasure. Very soon we will be launching a new course called Controlling Color Harmony. Stay tuned for that.

[@celticqaidbear]

Great lesson, it's almost like Analogous or complementary color on the color wheel.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's all related.

[@sudeeshkirankiran6161]

Great video....👏👏👏thanks a lot...😊😊😊

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Most welcome 😊

[@DRPIreland]

Thank you Dianne. I'd like to see a course or quick tip with advice about using straight colors of red as opposed to variations like burnt sienna. The earthy tones are much nicer than straight red for the types of paintings I do, but I'd like to learn more about using the pure reds.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Donna, I will put this on our Quick Tip schedule. Meanwhile, red like all hues, is more brilliant when it is within an environment of variation of intensity and value.

[@DRPIreland]

Thank you

[@mischabe3]

I will try this, Dianne. Thank you ❣️

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😇

[@sunorthcott6641]

Wow I didn’t know about a mother colour ... so fascinating... thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Try it Susanne. It's almost fool-proof for keep color harmony.

[@LuC1800]

Thank you... I love your tips❤️❤️❤️

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@irener1892]

Wonderful tips!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@Lance2094]

Thank you Dianne!

[@joeaccordion]

Very good subject. Thanks for explaining it.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@UConceptPublishing]

very good explanation and demonstration. thanks

[@elizabethschaeffer3584]

I find this will also apply to my watercolor paintings. Thanks

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes, indeed. So many elements of painting are universal among all mediums.

[@westercrew]

great suggestion. I definitely will use it.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great.

[@colinwang6396]

Very clear explained , so if on location , is it good to mix such mother color first then mix with other color

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Not necessarily better. Some colors you use already have the mother color in them. For example, if the mother color is blue, all the greens and violets contain blue already, so controlling the mixes as you go works just fine.

[@Jchathe]

Thank you, I found it very helpful 🙏💖

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You’re welcome 😊

[@ChristaArts]

Thank you! This is such a helpful!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@David-wy9jl]

Thanks Dianne, a suggestion for a quick tip would be how to paint shadows on a white subject in sunlight, how to paint bright sunlight highlights in general, how to paint bright sunlight shadows. Do you always use the same base color for the shadows only darker or some sort of violet, etc. Perplexed, David

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for your request, David. I will put this one on our schedule. Meanwhile, shadows are light blocked from whatever they are on, so they begin with the local color of whatever that is. From there, they get darker, cooler and take on a bit of their complement. So they begin with the local color.

[@milania7817]

In the Studio Art Instruction thank you for your comment I was looking for an answer to this. I will buy your lessons this yr. Maybe you can do a video on your lessons and how it works if we buy online and on youtube. I think having the entire library is well worth it .thank you so much.

[@randiveiberg9770]

one never knows what one never knows! thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Exactly! My pleasure.

[@hawraah.3405]

I love your chanel..

[@danwhite5339]

I like Bob Burridge's color schemes where he has designed a color wheel based on Holbein acrylic paints and you use the wheel to find the mother color that he calls the dominant color, the focal color, and 2 spice colors...4 colors that harmonize. There's a bit more to it than that, but I always get pleasing results when I use his "formula".

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

As long as it works, use it. What counts in the long run is the results and that we understand how we got there.

[@heartchitect1960]

Are you using oil based paints and can these same teqniques be applied to Watercolor painting? I am a beginner of Watercolor and being very patient with learning.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes, I am using oil paint for this Quick Tip. Watercolor and oil techniques are very different, but the composing principles apply the same in all mediums.

[@lisafred1362]

OMG.. I never thought I could do these amazing color schemes I am practicing. Trouble is, I don't know which scheme I like the best.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You don't need to have a favorite. Just enjoy the one you are using at the moment.

[@helgacobian2114]

Thank you so much, Dianne. I got it now.What about analogous colors? do they have to be together on the wheel ? can be any ? Please explain?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Analogous colors are those that are closely located on the color wheel, having a primary color in common. For example, yellow orange-yellow-yellow green-green are analogous. Hope this helps.

[@helgacobian2114]

Thank you, again! I have it clear now. Your tutorials and you are great to learn from....

[@heximport7304]

Thanks a lot for your great teaching. I have a question. When we go plain air painting , should we trust the colors we see in nature and paint them or we should use a color scheme to paint , which means we alter the colors we see.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's a matter of choice. If a person is painting en plein air for the first time, it's better to read and translate what you perceive so that you hone your skills. But once directly responding to color comes easily, reinterpreting or enhancing by using a color scheme is not only exciting, but also expands your options.

[@elisalau3452]

Thanks so much for the tips. But how can we create our own harmony colour palette? How to choose the colour ? How many colours will be appropriate in a painting ? Sorry I am a beginner in playing with colours , I always rely on reference before

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

There are standard color schemes that work for creating color harmony, but if you learn to use the color wheel as your guide, that's a good start. I have a course on my website called Cracking the Color Code which teachings you how to think with color. You can find it at diannemize.com/product/colorcode/

[@swmient]

Excellent.

[@kidnewton]

I am wondering if you could harmonize colors by waiting until the end and then glazing one color over the entire painting?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Paul, you could, but part of the fun of creating a painting is watching it harmonize all the way through the process.

[@rezahosseinzadehnasser993]

Thanks for your great teachings. One question: when using color scheme, say split complimentary, could we also use their mixed colors too , or we should use only their tints and shades?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

When using any color scheme, each hue, value and intensity of each of the scheme colors becomes a part of the whole. The terms tints and shades refer to the values of what's in shadow and what's not in shadow. If you think in terms of hue, value and intensity and study color from that viewpoint, you will discover many more possibilities.

[@rezahosseinzadehnasser993]

Suppose I am using color scheme of three colors yellow, red and blue. Can I use a combination of say yellow and red? I mean can I mix yellow and red on my pallet to produce orange and then use it as part of the color scheme? If so then what is the meaning of limiting my pallet to only the three colors of my selected color scheme?

[@ramshaqadir3101]

Great tip.. thanks for dis !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

A pleasure.

[@scrappus77]

This tip was the answer to why my colors weren't working together for me. I was so confused because I'm not an artist and didn't know how to describe the problem I was having.

[@mattwalter5184]

Well, she made a darn good video despite your shortcomings.

[@caycarlson162]

Starting my first landscape painting in oils of a Mediterranean alley patio painting and I don’t have the shapes and values in. Do I start with the sky?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Cay, where we start depends upon how much of the sky is in the landscape and how many images are overlapping it. I think it's wise first to determine where the light source is and where it is causing shadows. It works best technically to lay the sky in next IF there is a lot of it in your composition. That makes it easier to put in images that are over lapping it.

[@1disneyana]

Love you tops. Thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm humbled. Thanks for being a subscriber.

[@funwithFred]

Wonderful!

[@reneekroyer5104]

Wouldn't it be simpler to choose 3 primary colors of choice, mix those 3 together, and use those as the mother color? Just add a touch of that mother color into any other color you want to introduce? Would that work the same for color harmony in a painting?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Not really, Renee. Tube colors have characters such as transparency and tinting strengthy that give a wider range of possibilities, depending upon the desired color mix. You have more potential when you learn what hue does to hue, the make selections accord to those characteristics. For example, neither ultramarine blue nor cobalt blue give a true green, but Rembrandt Viridian and cadmium yellow will.

[@reneekroyer5104]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank you, that is really interesting. I do not own any Rembrandt paints (or pastels). Do you have any videos on what you mentioned -- learning what hue does to hue? I really don't know much about color mixing; I just kind of go with what looks right to me, but I would like to learn more about this. Thank you.

[@wishbone569]

Could the same harmony be achieved if applying colour mixtures over a warm or cool under layer ?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes. As long as the cool or warm layer is not totally obscured. The principle is for the entire piece to feel as if it is under the same color of light.

[@sameernagi]

Thank you ma'am for your quick tip. Instead of adding a mother color to achieve color harmony, how about doing an underpainting using a single color. Would that also help in harmonizing the colors of the painting?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

An underpainting of a single color is just another way to add a mother color.

[@DS40764]

Thank you for your instruction, but how would one know what MOTHER color to use and can you simply use a neutral, like a brown or Gray in order to keep things simple?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

There are several ways to decide on which mother color to use. A color that's in your reference is one way, a color that you randomly decide upon is another. But it's best to use a hue from the color wheel since the role of the mother color is to communicate that the whole scene is receiving the same color of light. That's the key.

[@apostalote]

What if you use an underpaid ting to establish a mother color?

[@apostalote]

*underpainting

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

That works, too. There are many roads to Rome.

[@kathycrocker3953]

really good info thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for watching.

[@marjaengelhardt5206]

Your amazing, you explain very good

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@neetam3186]

Could White/black colors also be used as a Mother color?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Not really because neither is a hue. It is the hue in the color that harmonizes.

[@NeetaMhatre]

In the Studio Art Instruction Thank you Dianne !! 😊😊😊😊😊

[@milania7817]

Dianne do you have a video on painting snow...or could you talk about this...what colors are used when painting snow...also with sunsets and sunrise. ..do all the elements in the scene take on the colors of the sky...like highlights on trees should be yellow. .orange. .I would think a sunset and sunrise is different? I maybe should know this and go outside to look...sorry if my questions are ...like if the sky is blue in a snow scene would the snow only have blue and not any other colors...I think this youtube artist has me confused. ..not you another...thank you Dianne I'm learning so much from you...does your full lesson talk about these ...? I commented before watching this.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Whether doing snow scenes, sunsets or sunrises, the color must be harmonious meaning everything needs to feel that it is being lit by the same color light source. I have a number of full length lessons covering color harmony. Take a look, meanwhile, there is a Quick Tip coming up that addresses snow scenes. Stay tuned. There are a lot of comments in this section about other KZbin artists. My advice is to check out the artists' credentials and see if they know what they're talking about. There is a LOT of misleading on KZbin. Remember, self-taught indicates that the teacher is a self who is teaching without knowing what they are teaching.

[@coyaxx2770]

i'm not sure how to ask this: could you please explain how to 'harmonize' my brushstrokes? or keep them harmonized? or how to break rules harmoniously, like for different styles of painting, realism, impressionism, portraits, etc? mine keep morphing, lol.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

CoyAxx, I'm not sure what you mean by "harmonizing" your brushstrokes. I have an entire series of videos (diannemize.com) on brushstrokes. You might try one of the to see if it begins to answer your question. Downloads are only $7. DVDs are $10.95.

[@coyaxx2770]

In the Studio Art Instruction Wonderful news! thanks for the reply

[@ruthwoll7855]

Your paints seem to flow well right out of the tube. Is it the brand you use, or do you add some medium or turpoenoid?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

We have a Quick Tip coming up about that. I rarely add a medium to my paint. The brand is a big part of it, but there are times when the oil will settle out in the tube, causing the paint to stiffen. In that case I will loosen the paint with a drop of linseed oil before placing it on the palette. Check out Quick Tip 115 for the brands I use.

[@makeupartistaurora]

how to decide to add the mother color is purple not any other color?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

See Quick Tip 238- Mother Color

[@MrMalcovic]

I have Bootsy Collins saying "mother color" in my head... :D

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😅

[@hosseinbyat2431]

painting from photos on your computer, how do u match the values?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Photos taken in bright sunlight will distort the values, making shadows darker and bleaching out lights. Quick Tip 285 will be coming out next week (Sept. 2, 2020). I believe it will answer your quesiton.

[@janey2562]

How do you decide for your mother color?can you have white for your mother color? Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

White is not a color, but a lightener for colors. Any color you detect within a scene can be a mother color, but so can a complement or analogous hue of one of those colors. For example, suppose a scene has in it red, orange and green. Any one of those could be a mother color, but so could yellow because it is contained in orange and green. The mother color acts to harmonize the entire piece so we can be flexible in choosing it.

[@janey2562]

In the Studio Art Instruction thank very much for taking time to explain and give answer to my question. I am learning a lot from you.

[@pennyyork8675]

How do you really make a real sky blue color

[@monishikhasartstudio]

Thank you for this very easy to understand lesson. I was wondering if painting on a toned canvas, contributes to colour harmony and can the toned background be used as a substitute for mixing a bit of the mother colour into the other colours.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes. James Gurney does this often when doing his little on site studies. It works better when you allow the toned canvas to dry, otherwise there is a risk of it getting muddy.

[@monishikhasartstudio]

In the Studio Art Instruction Thank you 😃 I do follow James Gurney's channel too, and that was exactly what I had in mind when I asked the question.

[@harryfisherman]

I paint landscapes from photos. Anything on values would be a help. Thanks

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Harry, browse through these Quick Tips. I have a lot of tips on working with values. I also have a number of full-length lessons about working with values on our main website-- diannemize.com . The full length lessons are $7 each when purchased as a download or on DVD for $10.95.

[@rupalimalhotra9585]

Dear Masm Do u have video how to use fan brush Thanks Rims1

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Quick Tip 72, Unlock Your Fan Brush

[@kathycrocker3953]

excellent

[@tiborkoos188]

Thank you very interesting

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for watching.