Quick Tip 452 - Sargent's Warm and Cool

A subscriber questions how John Singer Sargent created paintings with dark tones that don't look muddy. Artist/art teacher Dianne Mize has a possible explanation.
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[@NataRioni]

Thanks so much! Your quick tips are absolute gems. Having the same yellow in both complimentary colours, not over-stroking - so many priceless lightbulb moments. 🙏🙏🙏

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Give it a try and have fun with it.

[@adrianlewis8446]

Another great tip Dianne. I love your colour mixing theory. I'm very grateful for your vast knowledge that you kindly share with us all

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's a pleasure to share these, Adrian. Have fun with the color mixing process.

[@chomsky72]

Thank you for the explanation. The key of not overblending the strokes as mentioned makes all the difference.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Right!

[@bettywildflower106]

Dianne! I would love to see more videos explaining old masters' techniques 🙏

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

We have several already. Go to the channel page at kzbin.infovideos and browse to find them.

[@huilinsommers4554]

Very useful explanation. Thank you so much ❤ Diane

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Have fun with it.

[@lylewyant3356]

Understanding compliments is one of the most important things I ever learned... Want to Grey a color? Add its compliment...

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great! Have fun with it.

[@kuldas9299]

Helpful as always! Thanks, Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@greenmacaroni8872]

Hi Dianne, I’ve printed out several of your website’s freebies. I printed the color wheel and put packing tape on it for protection and have used it ever since. This is another great tip that will go a long way in making my paintings better. Thank you for all you do. Hugs, Julie 🥰

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful! I'm delighted. Keep enjoying the journey!

[@mortysnerd]

Best tutorial ever!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wow, thanks!

[@phoebe893]

Such a fantastic demonstration. Really shows the power of the color wheel.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

And it is powerful when we work with its potential. Have fun with it!

[@pamelabritton1230]

This quick tip was full of valuable information. I love the brevity which allows me to listen to the full video when I have only a few minutes, and yet so informative, and easier to remember than a long video. Thank you for another useful and enjoyable quick tip!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it!

[@lafortunato2894]

Congratulations on your million mark! You definitely deserve it!❤

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you! 😃

[@elaineg60]

I began painting with Chinese calligraphy and then Chinese traditional painting for over 13yrs now. I use a VERY limited pallets compared to western painting. Black ink is the host with color the “guest”. When I began Western WC about 2 years ago, I started ONLY THEN to get flummoxed about colors I was using in my Chinese paintings…thinking I needed the EXACT shades in that Peony. I’d never heard my Chinese tutor use Chinese swear words until then. 😂 He insisted I had everything I needed-even more-with my 10 dishes of paint chips..and I’d never had any issues until I began collecting single pigment Western paints. My western tutor and my best friend, who is a retired art professor (and now calls me the Mad Scientist since I began mulling my own paints, even making some traditional paints from natural minerals, (my favorite, a beautiful warm white with just a hint of sparkle, with coral, abalone and real pearl 🥰), Prof Chen sent me from China-using western binders with my western pigments and traditional Chinese binders with those pigments. I’ve also made some with “western” pigments (PB33), used Chinese binders…because I absolutely LOVE real manganese blue. AND, I’ve attempted the opposite..with varying success. 😂. Now I know why DS adds other pigments to some of their “genuine” primateks 😂🤷🏼‍♀️. I just sent Prof Chen a few jars of my paints) Back to color wheels, both Liz, my friend and my tutor sent me Quiller’s book last year which has his color wheel in it as a pull-out. I KNOW it’s MUCH more complicated than yours, but once you learn how to use it, it’s become a necessity, whether I’m mixing, mulling different pigments together, (oh, another one I got cussed out in Chinese for? I got excited that I found my “hummingbird wing grey”, a cool, granulating grey made with PR233 and PB35. It just worked perfectly in several paintings and I made a batch with mingjiao (fish glue) and peach tree sap gum-Chinese binders. Hint: INK. To use even a primary mix to get black or grey is almost heretical in traditional painting…when I have a collection of ink sticks and a bottle of the highest quality ink. 😂 Prof Chen made a remark to just let my cat have the rest of my ink since she obviously appreciates it more than I do. 😖😹 High quality ink has TCM herbs and floral essence added to it..we aren’t sure which one, but Dr Kitty Leela will play with or sleep on a piece of my xuan with dried ink. She doesn’t want to eat or drink it, just rub all over it, sleep with it covering her head. She starts going in circles when she sees it and I have to hang my brushes way up on a shelf…or she steals them and hides them. 😸) I just got another copy of Quiller’s book for my eldest who has added western watercolor to her art repertoire. I’m trying to figure out a way to laminate the color wheel before she gets here next week.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@mountainsno]

Thank you 👍. Arty love from western Australia

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@timothytimh4321]

Your knowledge of the material coupled with your clear concise pedagogy make your videos much more accessible to me than those of other presenters of this material. Thank you for now I possess a kernel or two of understanding that stands strong in my mind ready for practical use. 👍👍👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Enjoy the journey! And thanks for watching.

[@EllenR654]

This is so helpful, you really can un-complicate things for those of us still learning the basics 😊 thank you for another awesome Quick Tip video!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're so welcome!

[@maisie6904]

Thank you Diane you’re an absolute treasure ❤

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks so much!

[@kevindoidge3211]

It would be wonderful if you could do a quick tip on “knocking back” bright colours in a painting - I can’t find how to do it anywhere plus you’re such a great teacher, one who knows her onions 😊

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Kevin, that term "knocking back" means the same thing as reducing saturation of a hue-which is the same as lowering the intensity or lowering the chroma. Simply add a complement to the color you want to "knock back" and that will do the job, IF you add the right amount in proportion to the color you want to tame down.

[@kevindoidge3211]

Thank you so much @@IntheStudioArtInstruction

[@marycaciamasser3814]

Great explanation Diane. You even touched on having the common color in your painting palette choices to create harmony in your work. This is what I learned as the mother color.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Yes, Mary. It has several names, but serves the same purpose.

[@annrubino6252]

Nobody .explains colour theory as clearly as you. Brava, Diane.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it!

[@sandygardner8611]

Excellent!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@carolynzolas3314]

This is fabulous, as ever. Mysteries explained!! I am a fan of limited palette!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Carolyn!

[@Sheena268]

Another very helpful tip, thank you Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@baulsmahoney]

You have taught me so much god bless you kind soul

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I am delighted! Enjoy the journey!

[@debrahoffman9056]

Beautiful!! Thank you so much😊

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Our pleasure!

[@irasemapanizzo]

Muchísimas gracias.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it.

[@IBnGD]

Thank you Diane!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@miltonwelch4177]

Great explanation with cool motherly accent. Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you! 😃

[@alkasarin1073]

Priceless teachings

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!!!

[@elaineporter182]

I learn so much from you Thanks

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Keep enjoying the journey!

[@dmcdaniel2009]

ALWAYS GOOD VIDEO, DIANNE ! THANKS 💛🧡❤

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@naimasaida]

Thank you so much,this vidéo IS very interesting

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are welcome! Have fun with it.

[@dominikk.rakoczy2798]

Thank you and greetings from Poland DKR🇵🇱

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Our pleasure!

[@brucefrazeur3172]

You're so awesome ! Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks! It's a delight to share.

[@hugoediaz]

Thanks!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank YOU!

[@smariegalski3641]

Thank you

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're welcome

[@irenevanderhorstbakker1949]

Thanksyou very much for your quick tips! I have a question: why do you start mixing with alizarin crimson red and why not with cadmiun red for instance? I am looking forward to your answer.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Alizarin crimson is a dark, transparent red so will give me a wider range of richer darks than cadmium red which is opaque and much lighter in value.

[@jameswoodend6029]

AC is a transparent low red and normally a bluish red which means a more movement to violet turning into a transparent violet/ if u look really hard at the clothes there is a violet tone in those whites, which probably is actually what is the AC in the mix moved softly into the heavy opaque flake white/ it was a well known technique of Velasquez to glaze the AC into the flake white

[@jaimehernandelgadoquintero4539]

Gracias

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@Mirathehermit]

nice artblog, you got my subscription

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Welcome aboard.

[@ritavercruyssen7120]

Hallo Dianne, I have a problem with making shadow in skintones, it is allways too brown or too Orange and it is allso not grey ,perhaps there is a quick tip about it ,please help , forgive me english is not good 😊,thank you Dianne x

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

If you can train yourself to see hue as hue rather than by a generic color name, that will go a long way towards your getting the right skin tone. The Caucasian skin varies in color not unlike the skin tones of all races. But the direction, temperature and strength of the light determine the colors and values we see. All skin tones are in mostly in neutral ranges, meaning they reveal very little hue. The hue we see on the same person's skill might be different in shadow than it is in light. For these reasons, but best skin tone palettes for lighter skins are found on the warm side of the color wheel with their complements used to neutralize them. On the palette there should be potential for a full value range between the lightest light and the darkest dark. I will put your request on our filming schedule, but because we film these several weeks in advance, it will be early 2024 before it appears on KZbin.

[@ealons3378]

Thanks for another wonderful tip! I’m curious if you have any advice about using WN and Rembrandt oil paints that are from the 80s, maybe earlier. The paint was stored properly and works well but the labels don’t have any information about the pigment color. Do you know if it’s safe to use these paints? Or how I can find more info about their properties?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Oil paint doesn't lose integrity with age. Often because the oxygen had been exposed to it, the linseed oil will oxidize and harden and then it's no longer usable. Otherwise, nothing to fret about for an artist-grade paint.

[@ealons3378]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction thank you!

[@BrandiWineRn]

Does it matter which yellow or red that you use? Do they both need to be Cool or warm versions of those colors. That’s where I get mixed up? Thanks

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's not whether the tube color is cool or warm that causes any result, but the hue relationship between the colors being mixed. For example, a cool yellow will desaturate beautifully with a warm violet, and a warm red with a cool green. The temperature is caused by the hues in the colors being mixed. The hue that is dominant in the mixture will determine the temperature. That is accented by colors surrounding it in a painting.

[@titikrupachannel]

👌

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@jameswoodend6029]

I got to be honest it looks more an neutral earth color called burnt umber cause of the green tone in burnt umber/ Sargent was a master of transparencies and glazing over opacity w cads / her yellows r probably cadmium yellow light

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

All the earth colors are hue mixtures of complements. The physics of what hue does to hue that causes every color we see. To grasp working with color, we must consider its three components - hue/value/saturation . We can't have color if one of those components is missing.

[@aeastman59]

so to de saturate a color you mix a bit of the color on the opposite side of the colorwheel? I wonder what the story is about this Sargent painting... its titled Kashmir but the girls look like white/european girls which is odd... maybe he thought that would make the picture more decorative or somehting? Also can you talk about Goethes colorwheel and theory of color sometime?

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I used Cashmere for a Quick Tip several years back. Take a look at Quick Tip 215 for that. Goethe's color wheel is about the symbolic perception of color rather than how color works visually. I will attempt a Quick Tip explaining this, but because we film these several weeks in advance, it will be late January or early February before it will appear on KZbin.

[@shirin8609]

The painting is "Cashmere," not "Kashmir." Also, Kashmiri people are actually quite light in complexion for Indians, just FYI.

[@misterbonzoid5623]

Dianne you're great but the colour shift between cameras in a video about colour does not work for me. Also the colours mixed on your pallette are higher chroma than those in the painting. I saw this painting at Tate Britain and the actual colours are closest to your wide shot; not the over-warm close-up.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Monitors vary in their translation of the camera's translation.

[@ladydamemarvelous-micynyc7265]

She has good solid information but the rambling on and not getting to the point is too painful.

[@mikeggggg7889]

Watch it at 1.5 speed

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Maybe that rambling has information in it.

[@Mortalwonder]

I don’t think it’s rambling at all. She’s explaining everything in detail for a beginner level. If you have patience you’ll get much more from a video like this than many other KZbin videos which promise a lot but only deliver one quick superficial take away. Learning to paint well takes patience, there is no quick fix if you want to develop intuitive understanding of colour.

[@daisyrafferty2204]

This information is pretty complicated and she explained it thoroughly. Maybe you have a short attention span.

[@elaineporter182]

Thanks!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

THANS!