The colour theory and how to mix your paints in watercolour by Paul Clark

Paul this was just what I needed. A basic, sensible lesson on colors and mixing. THANK YOU.

I’ve been enjoying your content Paul! I work allot in textiles and use the colour wheel allot but mixing paint is a whole new game! I bought some paint recently and had a list, I decided last minute to change it up and added your three main ones.. I’m excited to get back into this and escape the world. Also awaiting the arrival of your book. Cheers from Canada! Ps it’s time to get a nice aroma bowl for those Pinot Noir you drink!! It’s like the difference between using rubush paper and good paper 😊

If I don’t want to use Cadmium yellow what color would I substitute for it?

Wow! Newby…finally I understand Thanks!

Thank you. Very helpful in every way except this: you quickly introduce the concept of warm and cool colours, as does every other art teacher, as if it’s obvious but I still don’t get it. I see a glorious warm deep pink that makes me feel aglow and I’m told it’s a cool colour. I read that if it’s towards blue on the wheel it’s cool and towards yellow is warm but that is entirely counter intuitive to me and I have to learn each pigment’s temperature one by one. Is it just me? Is there an easier way to identify whether, say, phthalo blue or Hooker’s green is warm or cool or do I just have to continue writing labels on to determine this and assist with colour mixing?

Excellent tutorial !!! Thank you sooo much, Paul...

Lovely and speedy explanation of color theory. What always confused me is the word theory. What is theoretical about colors? I think “color facts” would make it less confusing. 😂

Thank you, very useful.

Paul, you are absolutely amazing . I am a beginner watercolor hobby person. You have a gift for teaching. Please don't stop making videos. I have learned so much, just watching you. Truly thank you.

Nice shirt!
Nice presentation too

Oh I wished I was your student at the beginning! I’ve been throwing into the deep end when I 1st started the lesson without any explanation! Thanks for your advice. ❤❤

Thank you Paul. Excellent tutorial 😊. Can I ask what paint brand/brands you recommend for the best pigmentation. In you video, you had W&N Cotman range. Is that what you typically paint with? I’m about to order some watercolour paints. I have a couple of the Cotman travel watercolour sets and wondered if it is worth investing in the professional range? Or another brand?

Wonderful explanation

This was so helpful! Love your easy going style, it makes me think I can do this! Thanks ever so much!

Link to book please

That was cool but you said only 3 colours then introduced several more!
I’d like a link to book! 😂

Thank you that’s great. (Three years later) 😊

Brilliant! TY

Hi Paul. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon your video's. Thank you for making the color theory more understandable. I have always struggled to understand it. I would like to blame my age for that😂. I have already been watching a couple of your video's and I've learned a lot. Thank you for the way you explain everything. Greetings Tina from Kimberley South Africa

Hi! I'm new to your site and I love your watercolor tutorials!!! I've been learning to draw with watercolor pencils & wanted to switch to painting. I was kind of drawing with the paint. Lol. Watching your tutorials has clarified many (MANY) aspects of the process for me. I especially appreciated the color theory tutorial. Besides being a great artist you are also an outstanding teacher. I love your encouraging and relaxing style ... and your humor makes me laugh. Thank You!

Thanks for this absolutely ESSENTIAL INFORMATION for any artist that wants their creation (if in color) to "stand out" or "be noticed". Harmony, balance, contrast in colors is only achieved by applying this knowledge (unless it's an accident).
I've been painting for decades and I still occasionally paint with only the three primaries and a 'grey' to remind myself of how important and useful the 'color wheel' knowledge is.

Thank you for this tutorial on color...my next painting challenge will be using the 3 primary colors and go from there! I too have a similar palette as yours incorporating other hues that I find useful. Would love to spend a week at one of your seminars but I'm in the States.

Thank you ❤🤗

I’m only two minutes and 17 seconds in and you’ve made me laugh at least three times. I’m am brand new to watercolor and I also have way too many colors. I just ordered my first set of true primary colors. As soon as those arrive, I will be participating with you in this video, but I’m still going to watch the whole thing right now. You’ve got a new subscriber. Thank you!

Finally I get the true answer to my secret question about hookers green. 😂

lies, lies, and K sheep

Jesus, i love your humor and detail loving style so much. To Bad all your vacations are fully booked…

Thanks!

so happy I stumbled upon your video- thank you- very easy to follow and understand

white & back, biut they are not colors..

Color theory presentation is beneficial thank you so much, Paul

just great, very useful!

I always mix my own grey for shadows out of blue, red and a touch of yellow.

Just the lesson I've been looking for! Thanks!
Alex

Thank you for disclosing the reason its Hooker green; I wondered if it was named for the latter you mentioned!😂😅

Thank you so much for this! I didn’t do well in my first attempt to mix my paints but I think this will help. I have never taken an actual art class, just always watch, look and go for it. 😂

Hahahahahaha, thanks for the giggles with the education; just what I needed. I shall heed your sage-like advice rather than sit drooling over all the paint charts. Your analogue like and subscribe buttons are fab! x

Magenta

Great tutorial - just started dabbling in watercolours and this will save me buying so many different colours.

Love this refresher! So helpful, Paul. My local shop sells mostly Daniel Smith.

I sorted old tubes to see what I need after watching your color tutorial. Mine are Cotman from my long ago Ron Ranson VHS tutorials & books. Ron’s colors are nearly identical to yours. And some of mine are Grumbacher (gifted to me & have odd color names).

With both Cotman & Daniel Smith, some colors say ‘hue’ — as in Cadmium Orange Hue.

You have Cadmium Orange in your palette. Does ‘hue’ make a difference?

Daniel Smith offers only Cadmium Orange Hue or Permanent Orange, which seems closest.

What are your thoughts on ‘hue’?

Many thanks for all your inspiration & teaching!

Loved this video on colour theory. Thank you for the clear explanation on mixing colours, so I've got no excuse now.

Your humor makes me chuckle 🤭🤭 thanks for the informative video!

Very well done! Thank you for the information!!

Paynes grey and prussian blue are two favourites. Brilliant colour theory tutorial. Good to be reminded of the basics Paul. I'm also a fan of pans not tubes of colour. Personal preference only.

Intense Blue over Cobalt Blue. Permanent Rose or Scarlet Red over Alizarin Crimson. And I agree on Cadmium Yellow Hue. No more beautiful green for me than Sap Green. Regards.

It requires a lot of discipline to use just three colors and not buy a palette with 24 options. I'm learning to do that. Thank you for a great video!

New here. Looking forward to catching up!

I really enjoy your lessons 🙂

that was brilliant, thank you!