Quick Tip 282 - Black Cat Black

An artist wondering about how to paint the fur on their black cat portrait leads to a Quick Tip on creating varying hues and values of black. It's not just for cats.
www.diannemize.com

[@harrietruffy3515]

Really helpful...I knew conventional black is pretty flat, and I knew compliments could be used to make a form of black, but you added so much with the concept of which colors are opaque and which are dominant, etc. Thank you for this!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Always a pleasure.

[@friedastewart1105]

Every time I watch your tips I learn something and get excited about new ideas to try. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@gwenritch]

I love using these mixtures! I love how you say “a little bit” so sweet...thanks for this great video

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for watching!

[@101mosioatunya]

This is the best exposition of the use of mixing colours to make black that I have ever listened to :-) I have always been told not to use black straight from the tube and only add it to other colours to get dark tones. Thank you again, Diane.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Black can also be used to change the character of color. For example, ivory black mixed with hansa yellow light yields an olive green. It's just a very dark neutral.

[@barbarataylor6808]

I really enjoyed this quick tip on black. I had never tried the different mixtures of hue to make black. This video lesson was great. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks, Barbara.

[@delmar5652]

This tutorial was awesome, thank you Diane, you always teaching important tips.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@claraedouwesdekker6389]

As always, a wonderful tutorial. Thank you.

[@debrademoulin3667]

Thank you for another great lesson!!! I love your videos!!! 😀

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@debbiekey5255]

Great tip! Black variations have always been a challenge. Love the idea of using multiple mixed blacks to achieve warm/cool in my painting. Thank you so much for your tips! Each one has offered excellent instruction that helps me become a better amateur artist! ❤️🎨❤️

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Debbie. It's a pleasure to do these.

[@marionfinney7933]

Thank you dear Dianne !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@Doppy34]

I want to paint mylittle black Podenko soon, and this is so very helpful. I saw all the colors in his black coat and I thought that I would never get it right. Then I also saw your answer to Jean Tutu about the difference between opaque and transparent colors, and that also opened up my eyes. Thank you so much for this great tip.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@linda7345n]

Excellent!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Many thanks!

[@michellebrown66]

Thanks for passing on your skills and wisdom!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Keep enjoying the journey!

[@shirleypolo6272]

Thank you Diane!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@lizday8140]

Oh, that was fun!!! So informative and well-spoken, Dianne.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@elainevechorik2171]

Excellent lesson. I needed this! Thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great! My pleasure.

[@angelasmith2163]

Thank you, Diane. I haven't painted animals before, but my daughter wants me to paint her black kitten. I'm a seascape artist so this will be interesting. Your video is of great help.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it.

[@annamay2152]

I just love your videos...very talented artist...so informative...great teacher...thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you so much!

[@lynn_thinks]

Thank you, Diane! I work in watercolor, yet still find your tips super helpful. Cheers! 🎨🖌

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great!

[@ercantutun323]

Thank you Dianne! My go to black is utramarine blue and burnt sienna or burnt amber. I discovered in your tip Q.. Burnt orange. Thats s a color I never purchased before. Does it produce better more lively blacks ? And why do we prefer transparent colors while mixing black? I sometimes cheat with mars black which is opaque. And One last thing I ve seen stuff about lightfastness of Alizarin crimson which is sais to fade with time. What s your experience on that? Would this happen with the black mixes too? Eg blacks turning greenish over time?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

The traditional Alizarin Crimson is unstable, but mostly noticeable in light mixtures. I know there's a lot of hype about it, mostly born out of opinion rather than experience. I have a painting done in 1965 in which alizarin crimson is the mother color throughout. It has stood up well over the years because I have kept it out of ultraviolet light. However, today's paint chemistry has given us alizarin crimson permanent which I have moved to. About your other question: Because of the way pigment responds to light rays, transparent colors have a depth that opaque colors do not have. The transparency allows the light rays to penetrate the surface layer where as the opaque color reflect it off the layer, making it appear flatter.

[@joanistotler8804]

Nice options!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad you like them!

[@ptaylor4923]

Been struggling with a portrait. This really, really helps. Thanks again.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it helped!

[@lucywilde9240]

Thank you very much for this tutorial! I am about to attempt to paint my sister´s black cat and gosh... It´s daunting! but with this tutorial at least I have some tips... wish me luck! hahaha Greetings from Spain!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You can do it! Have fun with it!

[@CarolNaha]

Thanks Diane, this will help me fix an old painting where the black looked flat. Take care!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great!

[@Lance2094]

Thank you Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@jaimehernandelgadoquintero4539]

Gracias

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@rainyday7517]

This video helped me to understand why the varieties of colors are used. I didn't understand why more artists don't use primary colors alone.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great!

[@DS40764]

Hello. I have painted my black cat Selma. The composition and drawing of her is great, but I used just values of black and it's just okay. I 'm going to try your tip (in watercolor) Thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it!

[@mari-lm4ox]

oooo values of black… good idea

[@haydenolberding1925]

Diane, shall I eat paint? It looks quite scrumptious!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Probably a better idea to let it be eye candy 😊

[@elsevandergoot5491]

Very useful ! thanks

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it was helpful!

[@211kmeyer]

Great demo! When you are painting for yourself, does your palette look similar... do you have multiple colors mixed like this? I’d like to see what your palette looks like halfway thru one of your paintings.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You can see that if you watch our KZbin video, Notan: How and Why. My main studio palette is a lot larger than my teaching palette, but with a few exceptions, the colors I use are the same.

[@211kmeyer]

Thanks Diane. I watched that Notan Tip again. I was more interested in the mixing area - curious to see how you keep those paint values and mix them as you go. Not like most in-process palettes I’ve seen!

[@kimlanoue2033]

In the Studio Art Instruction what kind of a palette do you use for painting in your studios? I noticed that many artist have these very large grey, possibly glass palettes. Are they made to order or purchased? Geneva has one but it’s on back order and looks similar. Love to know. Thank you. Kim

[@barbarataylor6808]

Is there another color to use with Ultramarine Blue and Quinacridone Burnt Orange? I don't have Quinacridone Burnt Orange?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Both burnt sienna and burnt umber will behave very much the same way as will Rembrandt's transparent oxide red. The only difference is that the earth colors (burnt sienna and burnt umber) won't be as transparent as QBO.

[@fbpliegorrivero8869]

Fantástico! 👍 👍 👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!