Colour Theory and Colour Mixing Basics: Say Goodbye to Muddy Mixes

Welcome to Colour Theory and Colour Mixing Basics! If you’ve always loved the idea of mixing any colour that you want to, but have struggled to get it right, then you’re in the right place.

Colour is one of the most exciting but also most intimidating parts about creating art. Being intimidated by colour mixing, unsure of how to go about it and with a palette full of colours that you tried mixing but just ended up with a muddy mess, it’s easy to see why many artists just choose to buy pre-mixed colours. 

However, at the end of the day, mixing your own colours :

1. Helps you achieve unmatchable harmony in your paintings
2. Helps you create unique hues that are truly your own
3. Gives you a strong foundation of knowledge that automatically makes you a stronger artist
4. Is one of the best art flexes there is. Let’s be real

You are capable of mixing your own colours, and blowing your own mind with the range of colours that you mix.

This class gives you the tools to :

• Understand various pigments and how they respond to each other
• Understand the power of just your primary pigments
• Understand the relationships of complementary colours
• Simplify the creation of complex shades of grey (which don’t use black + white)
• Mix any colour you can imagine
  

When I started working with gouache, I absolutely fell in love with the medium. It can be so versatile and such a pleasure to work with. That’s why it’s my medium of choice, but you can apply most of what we learn in this class to any other medium like acrylics and oil paints or even watercolor. 

Materials you’d need :

• Gouache or any other medium of your choice. Colours :
  • Warm Red (For example, Scarlet Lake or Vermillion)
  • Cool Red (For example, Alizarin Crimson or Permanent Rose)
  • Warm Blue (For example, Ultramarine)
  • Cool Blue (For example, Phthalo Blue or Cerulean Blue)
  • Warm Yellow (For example, Cadmium Yellow Deep or New Gamboge)
  • Cool Yellow (For example, Lemon Yellow or Spectrum Yellow)
  • Black
  • White
• Hot or cold pressed paper or a sketchbook
• Round brushes in mixed sizes - I’ll be using size 2, 4, and 6
• A water jar
• A waste cloth or paper towel
  

Who am I?
My name is Shivani and I am an artist, art educator and creative entrepreneur. 
I’ve had a paintbrush in my hand since I was a kid, and over the last few years I have been consistently developing my art practice, with watercolor and gouache being my favourite media to work with! I’ve learned so much about gouache through my own practice, that I can’t wait to share with you. My favourite subjects to paint include all things nature, and traditional Indian art styles. My art is at the intersection of nature and culture. 

To learn more about working with gouache, check out my Gouache 101 class, or my Gouache Florals class. 

You can check me out on the below links :

• My Instagram page
• My Youtube channel
• My Etsy Store
• My personal website