Quick Tip 124 - Warm Blue/Cool Blue

A subscriber asks how to differentiate warm blues from cool blues. Art teacher Dianne Mize explains.

[@robertbirchfield5655]

Dianne. I'm a professional artist of over 25 years. You can google me to see what I do. I have to say...after attending one of the world's prestigious art school in NYC and reading every art book I could get my hands on and watching every video I could...I also have a color wheel tattoo so this is serious lol. You are sooooooo good. I've learned more from you than any one single person. THANK YOU!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wow, thank you, Robert.

[@LittleMew133]

Cool, which school?

[@robertbirchfield5655]

@@LittleMew133 SVA

[@swmient]

You took a complex topic and made it understandable. Excellent. Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

If I made it easy to understand, I've done my job. Thanks.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

A WORD FROM DIANNE - As you can see, this Quick Tip stirred up a lot of discussion about cool vs warm as related to yellow and red. This debate has been going on for decades. I remember such discussions among my college teachers at least five decades ago. My side of the debate is from the old school where temperature of hue is based on what is felt rather than being analytical. It comes from observing what happens to the color of metal being heated by a blacksmith--First it turns sort purplish, then as it gets progressively warmer, it becomes red, then orange, then yellow, then white. It is from this principle of the color fire that those of us who see yellow as the warmest hue find our theory. Those who base color theory on the Kevin measurements or on the wavelengths of the spectrum consider red or orange to be the warmest. It's a matter of perception as to which school of thought one subscribes. Such debates keep us engaged, though.

[@mosiotv]

Thanks for comprehensive explanation, but there is still something that I can't understand, if you classify the hues according to the Kelvin scale, one should accept that blues are the warmest because they have higher °k. Is this classification applicable to color wheel? If so how? Thanks again.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Mosia, the Kelvin scale measures the temperature of the light source, not the inherent temperature of hues. The temperature of the light source WILL effect that of hues which they illuminate, but that's a part of what we observe when we are painting.

[@angelomariano9494]

Based on that sequence, white should be considered the warmest? "The metal get purplish, then red, then orange, then yellow, then WHITE" I thought white makes colors cooler...

[@milania7817]

ANGELO MARIANO omg..come on she's referring to "color, " on the color wheel ..white is not considered as a color.

[@richiejourney1840]

Milania RTIZTHERAPY white is a color on the wheel...right in the middle called a “neutral color”. It works both ways in “temperature”: reflecting light and thus “cooler” in feel yet also increasing value creating “warmer”-just one way of looking at it. ANGELO MARIANO-White is “officially” “cool” because it is BIASED with blue. But look at its “neutral dual” role in “temperature”. It creates a “cold” snow and yet also creates a “warmth” on parts of items not in shadow which includes the snow that is not in shadow. “Temperature” is a bad thing to use for teaching COLOR BIAS and mixing. “Temperature” is personal and relative in many situations and confuses people and it is value related as well. We can plainly see all this in the comments.

[@LynnePriceStudio]

Yes! Another way to determine whether ultramarine is cool or warm is to look at the overhead sky on a sunny day. You wold use ultramarine to paint the overhead sky. Near the horizon, you would use warmer colors like thalo blue. The sky is warmer at the horizon and becomes cooler overhead. In fact, you can apply roygbiv from the horizon to the sky above.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for sharing this. Excellent observation.

[@LynnePriceStudio]

You're quite welcome!

[@Rosy1981nz]

Sorry but how does this determine if Ultramarine is cool or warm? as we know the temperature of the atmosphere isn't a factor in why the sky is blue or determine how blue it is.

[@jackhsiehhautecouture]

Love these videos. Helps me paint.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad to help

[@chrishayman1747]

My head is hurting . At least now I have a reason for being so confused about the temperature of blues. It’s not just me☺️

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Think about temperature like this: a campfire. Yep, the hottest part of a fire is white, the next-hottest is yellow, then orange, then red, then purplish. The opposite of that is that when we get too cold, our skin will turn bluish. We perceive warm/cool according to our felt perception of heat/cold. A blue that leans towards green has yellow in it; one that leans towards violet has red it it. Therefore, the one leaning towards yellow is warmer than the one leaning towards red.

[@adelewallace3774]

Thank you for this..as i struggle in this dept ..has helped me a lot watching this :))

[@thealchemistdaughter3405]

Thank you so much, really helpful as always..I really struggle with blues, especially when mixing with other colours, your tips have cleared up a few things..thanks again, great channel ❤

[@CarlottaART]

Great quick tips Dianne! Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@noumine]

such an eye opener for me. thank you for this! great tip!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@carollenolin7249]

Thank to exist! You are sooooooooooooooo good, your tip are so well done. THANK YOU

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@yeshonestly4268]

Thank you. Your videos are very helpful and are the best. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks. They are fun to do.

[@karenlee29]

Terrific--Thank you, Diane!!!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You bet. Thanks for watching.

[@HeidiFieldAlvarez]

This is fantastic. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@ekalavyasinghania7364]

Excellent Ma'am, Very helpful!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@chandermohansingh11]

Excellent presentation...thanks😊

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Most welcome 😊

[@janellepowell5766]

This has been very helpful. Thanks a lot! 👍🏻😍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're welcome 😊

[@hediewiebe2128]

I have learned much from your explanations. Very helpful. Thank you! God bless.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@ndiehl9207]

Thank you! This is the first time after many tries I've understood the warm vs cool for blues!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

So glad you found this one helpful.

[@sunbear2206]

Thank you so much! I’m a struggling new artist and this instruction and comments made so much sense!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@user-jj8kg5ef2t]

Thank you Dianne, for your selfless contribution to these free videos. For me, it is like going back to academy again and you have trigger me to re-think what my mentors has taught me years ago...... Really thankful to you, and have a happy New Year ahead.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome! And Happy New Year to you, too.

[@mariegamber]

What a wonderful, lively discussion. :). Your video makes a lot of sense to me - It is determining whether a a color is warmer or cooler when compared to another color and in relationship to the color wheel. You video was very helpful!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

When I bring up temperature of color, it always produces a lot of discussion. Fun stuff!

[@d.m.6065]

I was taught hat warm blues are those that contain a bit of red, and cool blues are those that contain a bit of green (opposite red and therefore cooler)

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Colors that contain a bit of green contain a bit of yellow because yellow plus blue make green. The temperatures of hue at most strongly influences by the amount of primary hues in the mixture.

[@d.m.6065]

Thank you, Dianne for taking the time to answer and also for all your wonderful videos.

[@agenthito]

Right, how do we skip over green to yellow in terms of which way blue is leaning; we cant just go straight to yellow-green is still a "cool" color.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Bryan, in the spectrum color is continuous. Once color merges into another. The temperature changes are gradual just as are the hue changes.

[@milania7817]

A real Person doesn't make sense what your indicating. Look at the "tube," of paint as well...if it has yellow in it it's warm ...and red..cool ...this is important to know when mixing the primaries as admixtures.

[@paulwhite760]

LOL you picked a good one to stir up the gallery Dianne. The same blue can look warm and cool according to surrounds , so I don't worry about it. Is the blue redder or greener ? People associate red/orange/yellow with fire and hence warmth...but on a hot summer's day in australia ( 43°C _110°F) when you look up at the sky near the sun , the colour is a muted purple . In Art Spectrum oils there is a colour called tasman blue that depicts our sky . In Langridge oils the zinc blue and video blue also reflect the colour when the UV will toast you. Langridge and Art Spectrum are both made in Melbourne. Langridge has more pigment in it than michael harding oils with the video blue being quite pungent. The coolest colour by my experience is the blue green of the sea on the south coast . That water comes straight up from Antarctica. Warm or cool probably is a personal response to many memes in one's head. Of course we don't want to piss off Santa in his red suit, now do we ? ...but he does live at the north pole ! In metals heated, blue hot comes after white hot. I think I am beginning to get dizzy going around in colour circles.Cheers

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

A big smile here, Paul. Back in the day (the 60s, actually) when I was in art school, only the traditional pigments were available. Acrylics had just entered the scene so their color choices were pretty much the same as those of oil and watercolor. Thalo blue and ultramarine blue were the two with both the widest value range and purest hue, so they were the ones that caught the debate of which is coolest/warmest in hue. And so on the debate goes four decades later...

[@richiejourney1840]

In the Studio Art Instruction A really HUGE smile on me! Temperature is so differently relative in personal situational understanding (fire, science, geographic regions, psychology), visual relationships in painting (seasons, light, shadow). The relationship of color and temperature is amazing! Never a dull moment (unless of course we are painting a “dull moment in time” in which yet again...color and temperature play roles!) But since no one can decide upon a universal single usage SHOULD we TEACH IT WHEN REFERRING TO “HUE BIAS” when referring to combined hue saturation proportions (Main hue Red that contains more yellow than blue or Main hue Red that contains more blue than yellow {or whatever ones “primary” definition is-a whole new issue}) as many do? Even if we could all come to a universal starting point, using “temperature” as “hue bias” can still be confusing. Example: IF Yellow is the warmest and Blue the coolest. This actually means that if you told me to “warm” up my blue that I can go in any hue direction because we defined blue to be the coolest and therefore a movement toward Red or Yellow is “warming” then I will be really confused when told to cool down the blue which in my mind I can only then head toward the cold darkness of black. It would be the same for Yellow. I can “cool” it heading any direction but to “warm” it...? I don’t talk “temperature” when talking about hue “proportional bias”. For me temperature is SITUATIONAL RELATIVE and in general is VALUE related. Thus when I begin to teach color temperature in relation to the color wheel and color in general (JUST LIKE YOU) it is light to dark for warm to cool and yellow to violet as warm to cool. Since my love is Landscape genres Yellow is like the Summer equinox and Violet is the Winter equinox. It is the difference between Day and Night, when the Sun rises and sets, where Winter meets the Spring thaw. Violet is the moment where Fire & Ice violently and beautifully and equally collide and struggle for dominance. Yellow is mellow and flows with time and season. But as far as that goes it is MY GENERAL perspective. I am amused when people say that my shadows should be warm in a cool setting. Unless they specifically mean to use a DIRECT COMPLIMENT to “cool” down my hue-I’m gonna have to say, “ I have yet to meet a shadow that is warmer then that which is in the light. Even if we are talking about a wind break-if the hue is the same but in shadow it is cooler in hue not warmer-even though I might “warm” the “cool” hue a bit by adding a “warm” hue instead of a cool black or cool blue. I am now reminded of a famous saying one of my high school science teachers would always use at the end of his lectures, “All clear? All cloudy? Or partly confused?” To which I would reply, “It’s always cloudy in this class.” To which he would reply, “Mr. Journey. You owe me 10 minutes after school.” To which I would reply, “Will the clouds be gone by then?”. Next thing I knew was the Principle was the next one in line to try and “clear” up this mess. LOL. But you make things clear. I like that. But now-for some strange reason-I feel like I owe you 10 minutes after this.....

[@MsPbUTUBE]

Yours was the best visual explanation and tip on how to decipher cool vs. warm blues. Thanks so much. I love all your tips, even oil tips. I love watercolor and always have a problem planning my painting. Would love it if you could do a Tip on that. Thanks, Dianne

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for that, Brenda. I will put this suggestion on our schedule. Since we film these several weeks in advance, look for it in the late spring to early summer.

[@deedee3614]

Thank you so much Dianne for putting this together. I was being really frustrated on how to get violet, but this video helped me to understand how to create cool and warm blues. Thanks once again for the good work.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure to share. Thanks for watching.

[@lindas.martin2806]

Great tip for beginners and anyone that paints and did not have as knowledgeable teacher as you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@windywednesday4166]

This is amazing! I'd heard people talk about warm and cool and I just didn't see it... I see it now! Wow! Thank you so much.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@lynngordon3146]

Excellent info thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Nicawe]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@lindab7383]

Great tips

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@yourmajesty3569]

I know nothing about blue apparently. Yet this lovely instructor gave me the best lesson I've ever had. On blue.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@prestonmarker4729]

Awesome Video

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@roseeartworksnl7992]

Trying to learn more about acrylic colour to choose my colours to purchase and mix, I found you! I subscribed as teacher you can teach me much. Thank You so much Dianne!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Enjoy the journey.

[@mangeshdani6411]

Thanks Ma'am 🙏

[@kimduong6575]

This is the best explanation ever. Thank you, Ms. Mize.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@MsLaBajo]

I have no idea how to think about color and this video helped me tremendously to build a visual vocabulary for types of blue. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful! It also might help for you to watch the video of my November chat kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3WQhat9a8aCobs

[@lynnie57]

Very helpful!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great!

[@nelidagarcia7412]

Good lesson

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@zeeshanbukhari6016]

Excellent

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks

[@BJones-yw4dd]

Thank you very much for all your efforts and expertise! I'm taking lessons from the wonderful Irish artist, Roisin O'Farrell and she uses a so-called split palette, with a warm & cool version of each primary. Your examples here are borne out by her choices for her cool blue (Ultramarine) and warm blue (Cerulean), with an occasional mix of the two to make a more neutral, true blue, very similar to Cobalt. Thanks again for all you do for budding artists!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for sharing this. I love it when my teaching is reinforced by other artists.

[@shadowstarr7]

I liked your demonstration for determining the warm/cool of a pigment color, in this example blue. You are not the only artist who uses this system of color from a scientific viewpoint. I also use this method because a warm red goes toward yellow thus less 'cool'. This has always made much more sense to me. It truly is that 'center of the flame'. Over the years, I have noticed that many artists from Europe teach that a reddish blue is warm/ greenish blue is cool. Maybe it's a case of geographic atelier location and the trickle down effect of students become teachers over the many, many decades - sort of like the telephone game. I don't know. The main point here is: Wonderful demonstration and thanks Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Over the years it's been interesting for me to watch the trickle down effect of teaching. Some will grab onto one teacher's theory and hang onto it as dogma their entire lives whereas others will explore beyond one idea to discover others.

[@milania7817]

In the Studio Art Instruction oh your so right. I'm sure you've seen it all. I am as self taught now for 3 yrs. It astounds me how many painters on KZbin don't even know color theory nor composition. Many just practice and can paint but don't further themselves with learning ...painting is forever learning I think. Your demonstration is clear...I hope many watch this...thank you.

[@Gemini5362]

If you look at the 'physical composition' of Ultra Marine Blue and Cerulean. Ultra Marine is composed of Blue and Red so it is BIAS towards WARM (because its obvious that red is the 'hottest' color on the wheel, hotter than than yellow). Cerulean is made up of Blue and Yellow (Yellow is not a hot as Red) so Cerulean is BIAS towards COOL.

[@richiejourney1840]

Markus Yo Markus Yo If we are going to get “scientific” on color and temperature then Red is the coolest and Blue is the hottest. At least that’s what Florida State University say’s... micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/lightandcolor/colortemp.html which they based on a Black Metal Radiator Theory. It’s all relative for everyone though. Back in Dianne’s camp they based it on black metal heated in a Blacksmiths fire which only reached “white” hot temps. Even so, color itself is not hot or cold it is just what you associate it with. Even FSU say’s that “color temp” is confusing for Artists because one is based on a scientific observation of heated metal and the other is mostly based on the Natural World Observation. Based on the Scientific Study some colors seem to not exist. There is no Green for example. So are we to say that Green has no temperature? Or shouldn’t we be saying all color is 5500K since white light contains all color? Or maybe its 0 Kelvin since black absorbs it? Who is right and who is wrong? Everyone is. It’s all RELATIVELY ASSOCIATED.

[@felipediazvlog]

VERY HELPFUL THANKS!!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@robhead22]

Excellent! Ty

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're welcome!

[@chambzors1]

Thanks nanna

[@mangeshdani6411]

Thanks Ma'am

[@carmenbootArt]

I am so happy i found this video just behoren i started a painting ..under the zee.. my blue background wil be more Alice thanks to this wonderful tip. Thousand thanks.🎨🤗😌😍👏🏼💝

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great! Have fun playing with blues.

[@gerardc4588]

Great, thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are welcome!

[@konanoobiemaster]

you should be charging money for these videos :) thank you very much Diane!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

People would have a fit if we did. 🙃 We do charge for the full length lessons at diannemize.com but I enjoy knowing I can also give these Tips.

[@MimiStudio22]

I am very grateful that you offer these tips at no cost. They often give me a lot to think about such as this discussion Next step after the Quick Tips, is to view the videos. Nicely thought out resources leading to in-depth instruction. Can't thank you enough.

[@ibanez2010]

I will never in a million years understand how people see Ultramarine as warm; it's about as ice cold of a color as it gets! Perfect for cool violets and cool shadows. Great video.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks. That one has always baffled me, too, but there are folks that will argue to the grave about it.

[@phyllisjeanfulton]

Thank you. 😊

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@veronicaaaaa3430]

Where can your personal art be viewed? I love your tips, very helpful. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks Veronica. You can see my work at diannemizestudio.com . Also, if you happen to be in the north Georgia mountains, at the InSide Out Gallery in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia.

[@ooXChrissieXoo]

I love your reason behind yellow being the warmest color, and it makes sense. Every time I teach my students about color temperature, I always have to remind them to be open minded, and it is indeed still an on going debate, and nobody know the definite answer. I honestly didn't realize that's the order which metal changes color when heated, but then yes molten iron is yellow/white and not bright red. Very interesting.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

In the long run, it's how color works in our paintings. We don't have to make a decision as to whether red, orange or yellow is the warmest. But some folks just enjoy debating 🙂.

[@wizanzaini]

I think "color bias" term will solve the debate on warm or cool colors. I will just apply this. Thank you for the videos! You have been very helpful. Goodluck and be happy (always) 🙂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes! Thank you!

[@fiorella_vane]

Gracias por el video 🙂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@KerryFreemanMelbourne]

Wow . My colour theory just got dumped on its head. Cant wait to get to painting to try this. Thanks.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Happy painting!

[@milania7817]

Kerry Freeman sorry but I lol reading your comment. ..classic. ..

[@painterlybrushes4035]

helps a lot thanks

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it helped

[@carolineguf2711]

Thank you! So many people I watch on the ArtTube call blues with yellow “cool blues and those with red “warm blues”. !? I was starting to think my intuition was wrong. Why do so many label it differently?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It depends totally upon perception, Caroline, and on how people are taught.

[@lisengel2498]

Interesting discussion of the experienced quality of relatively warm and cool. I think it is about the tonal quality and e.g. if you talk of different temperature of yellow, to me a yellow leaning toward green feels relatively cooler than a yellow leaning toward red. But no matter what we call it it changes the vibrational tone of a painting.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Good point.

[@dubs3400]

A very helpful video Dianne. Question: what fluid do you use to clean your brushes, and what do you use to thin your paints? Thanks so much for your guidance!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I don't think my oils. They are just like I need them to be straight out of the tube. If I need a passage to dry more quickly, I will use a bit of Liquin, or if a tube color has for some reason become stiffer than I need it to be, I'll had a drop or two of linseed oil to loosen it up. For rinsing my brushes while working, I use refined odorless mineral spirits, but always dry the brushes thoroughly before dipping them back into paint.

[@Beachbumartist]

Great display of blue colors . I learned alot as i have never had that many different blue tubes of paint at once.I was wondering if you know the color that Guy Harvey uses on his paintings for the underwater paint? I can't figure it out. He seems to use it for just about all the paintings. It seems like a royal blue brilliant or something. If you happen to look would you let me know please? Thank you, keep up the great wortk.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Guy Harvey is not using just a single blue, but a range from the blues leaning towards green to those leaning towards violet. He is also mixing other colors with his blues in some places.

[@susangoh6551]

I was wondering if you have a color temperature chart? Gamblin has one but I am interested in getting more data. My sight is a little challenge when it comes to color. Love your videos!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I've not tried to develop a temperature chart because there are so many variables to reading temperature of color. Temperature becomes important only when mixing more than one color. If side by side, one color feels as if it's leaning a bit more towards yellow or red than blue, it is warmer than the other one. It's more about perception than intellectualizing. And too, individuals perceive differently.

[@susangoh6551]

Thank you...I appreciate you taking time to reply. I loves your videos.

[@joantucker4731]

GOOD VIDEO!!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@TheNethertyp]

Prussian blue is the color that shifts the most towards the green when it's mixed with white or other opaque colors. By itself, it is a deep violet-blue, but when mixed with white it becomes a blue-green. If the Prussian blue is by itself, almost all of the green light gets absorbed because the light is reflected a lot of times between different pigments, but when it's diluted, more of the green light can escape.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for adding that characteristic of Prussian blue.

[@montygemma]

This warm/cool business with the blues confuses the hell out of me. At art school in the UK you are always taught that Ultramarine leans towards Purple so it's warm and Pthalo leans towards Green so that makes it cool. I bought books by Mitchell Alaba who describes it the the same way as taught here and at first I thought it was a misprint , but since then I've found other publications mostly American using the same system.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes, Adrian, these conflicting theories do make it confusing. It's a matter of which is warmer, violet or green. isn't it? Then that triggers the question of which is warmer, yellow or red since it's red mixed into blue that causes violet, and yellow into blue that causes green. No matter which of these theoretical positions one takes, in the long run, whether either is warmer or cooler matters only in how it is used in painting.

[@Danybardawil]

Thank you for all your tips Is it possible to have one on the Prussian blue how to use it and for what

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Prussian blue is a PB27 pigment, one of the earliest synthetic mineral pigments, but lacks stability (i.e., it tends to darken when exposed to light over time), so is used less and less by artists who want stability in their colors. It is a greenish blue, slightly less saturated than Thalo blue and is used when a greenish blue is needed in a mix. Like all pigments, it has no specific use.

[@jonyoder2356]

I’ve learned quite a bit from your videos. I have to admit that I subscribe to the red is the warmest color though; and ultramarine blue is warmer than a cool greenblue. It’s a subject that I’m sure we can all agree to disagree on. I was watching a video made by the folks at New Holland paints and they were saying that ultramarine blue was a warmer blue than cerulean blue which I myself feel is true as well.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Jon, it might indeed be a matter of perception. Perhaps it would be better and clearer if we simply label them blue leaning towards red (ultramarine) and blue leaning towards yellow (cerulean) and not even make it debatable. After all, they do work together when interpreting a blue sky.

[@rupalimalhotra9585]

Dear Denize Mam In blue I have heard about ultramarine blue, prussian blue and one more blue which u showed right now which is close to sea colour like turquoise. But haven't heard of Rambat blue. But have also heard of Cobalt. Thanks Rims1

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I think you heard "Rembrandt" rather than Rambat.

[@insearchofanswerz]

The best explanation ever..❤️ thank you. Can you please write your website name, I seem not to get it maybe because English is not mother tongue. I will be very thankful ❤️🙏

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

The teaching website is diannemize.com

[@kimcavagna2082]

You can cool any of those warmer blues with purple

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Not necessarily, Kim. The red in purple makes it warmer than blue.

[@S24W2]

Thank you very much, very helpful! Am I right in saying there is controversy regarding whether blues closer to yellow are warm or cool?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Oh yeah, there's a big controversy that's been going on for decades.

[@S24W2]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction thank you

[@jerryhall5709]

I like to think of it as snow. Purple in the shade and towards yellow in the sun.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Mmmmmm

[@nettymolloy6864]

Every colour has a warm side and a cool side. This show me the opposite of the way I use colours. In Hairdressing green is Ash cool colour, to tone down reds in brown hair and brass/ orange in Blond hair. For warmth one would use red to orange or red to purple depending which way of the side of red you want to go. In my painting I use the same method. You really got me shocked and confused at the start but thought ok I have just learnt something else. Thanks.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Expansion of how we think is always a positive thing. The sages say when we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.

[@monika.71]

Aye aye aye! Firstly I never saw yellow as being warmer than red! That in itself was a lightbulb moment. But that makes sense because if I looked at the warmer green which looks like olive, that colour is definitely warmer than the blue/green!! Soooo, going towards the red is cooler. The warm blue and the cool blue still confuses me though and I will just keep in mind that the more purple it looks the cooler it is.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Your perception will become more sensitive over time.

[@prestonmarker4729]

Hi I have another question I'm very curious to know what acrylic paint colors would be in the blue-violet family?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Oh my, there are so many brands of acrylics, and the exact hue registration sometimes differs a bit from one brand to the other. Try the Pigment Index. You might begin here: www.artiscreation.com/violet.html#.Xu4JgW5FzMU

[@prestonmarker4729]

Thank you Dianne.

[@rupalimalhotra9585]

Yes Mam I have never ever heard of this rambat blue. I I do have heard of prussian blue , cobalt blue and and pathalo blue. Which blue is this one? Thanks Rims1

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

So far as I know, there is no such color as rambat blue, so that's probably why you never heard of it.

[@anniedarkhorse6791]

Thank you for this video. I've always thought of Ultramarine Blue as Cool, as you have said but other people in videos are saying it is a warm blue. It's very confusing.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Annie, it doesn't have to be confusing. Just think of which one is furthest from yellow on the color wheel and that tells you which one is cooler.

[@dimitrispapadimitriou5622]

I agree with you. In general, all blues are cool, but some ( like ultramarine) are cooler than the others. When I want a sunny sky, I'll use mostly cerulean or sevres blue or, similarly , phthalo ( plus white). Ultramarine gives a higher altitude impression to me ( or a cloudy weather when mixed with more white). Cobalt blue also , being in the " middle", feels less cool than ultramarine. Prussian blue, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult to specify: As you said, if mixed with white it looks on the blue grey/ green side. Alone, as a dark glaze, it reminds me of the early night sky, so .. It's a matter of psychological perception, it seems. Yellow/ orangey stars ,like our sun, are associated with higher temperatures than red dwarfs. That's , perhaps, the origin of our perception of yellow/ orange as the warmest colour. Our sun is the most bright and warm thing that everyone sees everyday. On the other hand , the energy of the light is proportional to the frequency, so blue light is more energetic than both yellow and red, yet we perceive it as cool ( due to the colour of the ice, perhaps). So the warmness of the colour is mostly psychological; the relation to physics is not so straight forward.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

In the long run, cool/warm in a painting is relative. It's the visual relationship of color that causes us to perceive it the way we do. I like to think of it as sensory perception--our eyes are sensory receptors. They receive and we humans respond accordingly. That response is a combination of physical, psychological, emotional & spiritual.

[@kalpanabhambhani9286]

Plz can u tell how it will help in painting, ur explanation is very precise and good, I always look forward to ur videos, coz u don't drag n come straight to the point

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

See my answer to your previous question.

[@mosiotv]

Hi dear Dianne thanks for the QT. I'm totally confused either! Up until now I was thinking UMB is a warm blue or at least much warmer than phthalo blue but you say the opposite 😕😕😕 and about the wheel, as long as I learned till now is that in separation of warm and cool hues the warms are from yellow to red violet this means the warmest should be somehow red orange and the coolest blue green, why do you believe yellow is the warmest while it's on boundary of division? 🤔😕🤔😕

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It is the physics of color. The idea of temperature of color is based on the tactile sensation of fire vs. ice. It is a matter of physics.

[@milania7817]

Mosio Masoud look at the placement of the colors on the color wheel as well...think of it as a scale going towards yellow warm...green is closest to yellow on the wheel

[@Thestripper1]

Thank you for this video but oh my did this confuse me even further. I've read a lot of color theory by Jane Blundell who explains it as that when a blue that goes towards red it gets warmer than a blue that goes towards green which is cooler. However, a green that goes towards blue is cooler than a green that goes towards yellow.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

If it lean towards yellow it is warmer than if, to the same extend it leans towards yellow. Color theory must be understood from the relationships of hues on the color wheel which is based on light. Yellow light is warmer than red light. We can experience that by observing fire. Where the flame is the hottest is closer to the source of the flame. Further from the source it turns orange, then red, then red-violet.

[@BrandiWineRn]

Hi Diane , your teaching has been just invaluable in my art journey. I keep hearing ppl say that all highlights are cool and all shadows are warm ?! Is that using comparative temperature meaning that the highlight may actually be a warm color but it’s cooler then the shadow? I’m confused and any straightforward answer would be great. Also is it true that the sun only produces cool versions of the rainbow??

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Anybody saying all highlights are cool and all shadows warm are misinforming you. The temperature of highlights and shadows depends primarily upon the temperature of the light source. And no, it is not true that the sun produces only cool versions of the rainbow. I'm tempted to ask you who is spouting this kind of misinformation, but I suppose that would be unprofessional.

[@BrandiWineRn]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction this is the person I heard on utube and video which really confused me kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYHSlnZ7pLGknLM

[@rupalimalhotra9585]

Dear Mam u suggest which colour is good for painting sky. In ur earlier exercise u told pathalo blue is good for seascape and cobalt blue is weaker blue is good sky. Secondly I would like to send an Attatchment of what mistakes in painting sky from dark to light I have made. And would like to send painting done in Book. So that u can guide. Where I am at fault. But how to send is problem. Since I dont have ur email. Thanks Rims1

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Rupali, please understand that I get dozens of requests from artists who want my response to their work so this is a service I for which I must charge a fee, else I'd get nothing else done. On our website diannemize.com in the right column of the landing page, you can click on "Schedule a Coaching Session with Dianne" and schedule a session for me to help you with your work.

[@agenthito]

What about testing the Blue-Violet (Ultramarine) as a swatch juxtaposed with a Greenish Blue (manganese or Pthalo); Warmth should advance and Cool should recede. So wouldn't the hue that advances be characterized as "warm". I do also keep in mind that color is always relative so all this is not really relevant because it will come down to what's adjacent to the blue. I was taught that technically if yellow green is cool then blue green is cooler as is contains more blue and if red-violet is cool then blue violet is cooler (this is graduate school info).Gamblin's website lists Ultramarine Blue as warm and Cerulean and Prussian as cool...

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Bryan, I smile because I remember such arguments from graduate school, too. It comes down to human diversity in perception. Somewhere there is research showing that humans will perceive of the same two juxtaposed colors advancing and receding differently. For example, when shown side by side ultramarine and pthalo at the same value, people can't agree on which one advances and which one recedes. As you say, it is all relevant.

[@anndelorge8451]

Is the sun next to the horizon? I think I’m rather dyslexic when comes to things like this.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

As it goes down and comes up, yes.

[@jody7919]

What’s hard for me to grasp is this: Yellow is the warmest color, warmer than blue and warmer than red. Therefore, a spectrum yellow would be the warmest yellow and it would be cooling down in both directions. As it shifts toward green it’s cooling down because blue is cooler than yellow but since red is also cooler than yellow, as yellow sifts toward orange it’s also cooling down. But,...we call Indian yellow or Cad. Yellow deep warm yellows? Is that just for convenience or am I missing something?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Warm and cool are relative. Overall, the reds/oranges/yellows on the wheel are warmer than blue or the other colors on the wheel containing blue. But when one of those warms is placed side-by-side with a cooler version of itself (i.e., yellow with a bit of blue added), the color with the blue added is cooler than the one without blue. I'm doing a livestream workshop tomorrow (Jan. 29, 2020) on this very subject. Go here ( diannemize.com/workshops/ ) for more info. If you want to take the workshop, but can't attend, you can take it via replay.

[@dawnetaverner1382]

That was BRILLIANT!!! Thank you so much!! No w my big fight is to move oils to acrylics and I’m not doing well at all. I can’t control the paint at all and I’m finding the sound and sensation of brushes scuffing and scrubbing on the canvas distasteful. Is that a part of painting with acrylics or am I doing something dreadfully wrong?? Anyone?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Dawne, acrylic dries very fast, unlike oils. So the first thing you will need to do is to learn how to either work faster, change you sequence of application, or retard that drying. Also, most oil brushes generally don't work with acrylics unless they are synthetic because hog bristle does not like to be wet with water. So you'll need to switch to synthetic brushes. Try doing those two things and your transition should go more smoothly.

[@prestonmarker4729]

Hi when I try to make a dark cyan with phthalo blue it turns green is there any way to darken phthalo blue without it turning green?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thalo blue is already about as dark out of the tube as you would need to go. Try adding a bit of alizarin crimson.

[@OneDawkinsFan]

What does it help to call a blue warm or cool? Why not just call it greenish or reddish?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It doesn't help to call a blue warm or cool. In fact, to call the blue greenish or reddish makes more sense, but the warm/cool nomenclature has worked its way into our conversation.

[@milania7817]

OneDawkinsFan it helps when you want to mix the primary colors as admixtures. ..if you want to mix an orange...which is warm...you'd want a yellow that leans towards the warm..which would have red pigment. ..and a warm red that has yellow pigment. ..if you use Hansa Yellow light which has green and a napthol red has blue...the orange will not be a true orange ...both have cool pigments ...

[@Gemini5362]

It has major implication for mixing color!

[@prestonmarker4729]

What colors could I mix to make ultramarine violet?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Try ultramarine blue + either dioxizine purple or cobalt violet.

[@prestonmarker4729]

OK thank you, you are very helpful!

[@rimumalhotra7724]

Dear deniz how to make sky blue light to dark tones. I have prussian blue, and ultra marine blue no pathalo blue. Many people make sky blue with titanium white and ulttramarine, blue and pathalo blue. Is there any way u cami colour to get pathalo blue. Pls reply me soon Thanks Rims1

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Rimu, you seem to be struggling with this. Please see my response to your former question. Of the two colors you mentioned, Prussian blue is the closest to thalo. Prussian blue is not as intense as thalo, but it will serve the purpose. Why don't you experiment with creating some mixing experiments using Prussian blue + while in 3 different values, then add a bit of ultramarine blue to Prussian and use this with white for three different values. You might even try taking the experiment further with Prussian +titanium white + a tiny bit of yellow, and another with a tiny bit of violet.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

P.S. Spelling correction---white, not while

[@rupalimalhotra9585]

Dear Mam After cobalt and prussian blue whichich u maxed with white which is third colour u mixed. Pls let me know. Thanks Rims1

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Rupali, I don't really understand what you are asking for. Can you be more specific? Thanks.

[@fabianamesaros6383]

Whay dont you mix with zinc whaite,Miss Dianne?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Zinc white is a more transparent white than titanium. All the whites available to us each have a distinct characteristic so that we can choose which one will work best for a particular task.

[@fabianamesaros6383]

Yes,i known,also i tested,don,t turn color in pastel tons,you don,t consider is better to mix with zinc whaite?Wich is particular task if i don,t disturb to much.Color warm with zinc whaite end cold color with titanium whaite???

[@user-jj8kg5ef2t]

@@fabianamesaros6383 Besides Zinc-white being a little more transparent, it is also cooler, with a suggestion of blue..... BUT, the true reason is, because zinc-white turn grey with age (CHEMISTRY: Zinc white is made of zinc oxide, and it turns grey with acid). A more scientific thesis can be found here: espace.library.uq.edu.au/data/UQ_347180/s42197843_phd.pdf?Expires=1608923882&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJKNBJ4MJBJNC6NLQ&Signature=G1DKzjB8gyDDQj28VEDSSZcoMfYvaUOFPNt5L-T-bN4yYHYBHjRtI0VOohJp7EHqRkYkphj7mCR2V8buoRMH2qKCafzB2ijwc8ohgcJi9ojFhDNKFf2WsYlEKt7o0jJmA25j2eRP83i5HFRzg~kpuiDLwFcJGuOjSLQuHAOkT-bpQ4oz0yWZUSioUJi4qtM4oMp8YoUX-5GasYeyWI~5IsN25~mNZ4mRyodHKuK9m2SFdugt6BLJJlWkKvJ2e728WcEGx2lsR5yPVIPvE0IIb2m~t~agzwhFjpFyYe7MjKaFb0QJfaHXIiP-n8jL0jPU~2pgjXbaGT-9vfhJKSpx0A__

[@anndelorge8451]

Why does the top of the blue sky look more ultramarine blue and the bottom look greener or warmer?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

The yellows from the sun rays mix with the blue of the sky.

[@anndelorge8451]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction I learned to paint from observation over the last 50 something yrs. Next to no formal instructions. I love what and how you teach basics. It’s so exciting now knowing why I’ll be painting what I paint. Thank you so much.

[@kalpanabhambhani9286]

I don't understand what difference it would make while painting

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Check out Quick Tip 112 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGm6lWR-qqmAhqc - and Quick Tip 265 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmWYY5ihet2caMk . Warm and cool are components of color. When the light is warm, as images move into shadow, that shadow area becomes cooler. What I did not point out in QT 265 is that when the sky is overcast, the light is cooler, causing shadows to become warmer. In realistic painting, we observe these principles in order to effectively communicate light and shadow and the character of the light source.

[@nelidagarcia7412]

How can I make Navy Blue?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Try either Ultramarine Blue or Cobalt Blue with a bit of Ivory Black. Depending upon your perception of Navy Blue, you might need to adjust with a bit of Alizarin Crimson.

[@japievandermerwe3553]

Does the same rules apply for red and yellow?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's not so really a rule, but a principle. Red and Yellow are both warm hues. Mixtures of either that lean towards blue will cause them to cool down a bit.

[@japievandermerwe3553]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Thank you thats very helpful. Do you have instagram?

[@mikariekki5708]

I am super confused now... in the Old Holland video, they state that ultramarine is a warm blue (from the reddish tone) and manganese blue is cold (tinted with green and looks turgose). kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXeoqYOoqtZrnNk&ab_channel=OldHollandClassicColours I was always tought that ultramarine is a cool blue, however when mixing colors with lemon yellow, you can clearly see how the green color becomes cooler when mixed with managanese (cool) when compared to ultramarine (warm).

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Mika, that debate has been going on for decades. See this post I did in my weekly newsletter: archive.aweber.com/awlist4319336/CKKPw

[@mischabe3]

But ..but...Some artists say Ultramarine Blue is a warm blue. I think Dianne is right, though. I agree Ultramarine Blue is a cool blue.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I know, Sachie. Whether Ultramarine is warm or cool is one of the longest, most unresolved arguments among artists and color theorists. It doesn't matter except how the color works in the painting. My 60+ years working with all the colors I discussed in this Quick Tip cause me to read ultramarine as cool when in the presence of thalo or cerulean or Prussian. In the long run, it's the relationship of one color to another that determines its temperature.

[@mischabe3]

Thank you, Dianne. I always went with my feelings and felt Ultramarine Blue was a cool blue until someone said it was a warm blue, confusing me. I thought, is there something wrong with my colour perception? Your technical explanation on this subject has cleared up my uncertainty. I really enjoy your tutorials. Thanks, again ❤️

[@davidkihlberg6231]

Green=cool color. Red=warm color. I can understand that people reacts.. Best regards /David

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

The cool/warm characteristics of color confuse a lot of people.

[@justtheletterV274]

Yellow = warm color, Purple = cool color,