Tip: Principles of Color Mixing

1. Open your eyes to see all the properties of a color (squint only to see relative values). Since not all colors are possible in paint, try to find a color that is true relative to the other colors.
2. Plan each color mixture and decide which colors you will mix before touching the paints.
3. Squeeze paint in log strips on the palette to help keep each color pure even after it is used. Always place the colors in the same relative position on the palette.
4. Limit the number of colors in a mixture (use as few as possible). You should never need more than two or three colors plus white.
5. Don’t mix colors too thoroughly. Mixtures decline in intensity as you blend. As soon as you see the color you want stop even if the colors aren’t completely blended.
6. Keep knives and brushes clean (for instance, clean a brush before picking up paint with it, or use each brush for only one color until they are cleaned).
7. Mix with a pallet knife first.
8. Start with weaker colors then add strong colors in very small quantities to get desired results.
9. Combine primary colors to create the correct hue.
10. Add black or white to obtain the correct value.
11. Add the hue’s complement to decrease the intensity (raising the value of a color by adding white will also decrease its intensity).