Winsor Newton Watercolour

Watercolour Painting - Choosing Your Colours   by Steven Cronin

So you're stood in your local art store having decided you'd like a dabble with watercolours and you've made it to the paint section. In front of you lie a multitude of colours and you can't possibly make a decision with such little experience in painting.

Well, let's start to narrow it down a little. First of all were going to go for the student quality paint. Winsor and Newton do a great Cotman budget range in large 21ml tubes that I use myself. They're of excellent quality and will put you in good stead as you begin your watercolour journey.

I only use seven colours for all my paintings - Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Light Red, Ultramarine Blue, Lemon Yellow, Payne's Gray and Alizarin Crimson.

Limiting your palette this way will help you get more intimate with your colours and you will quickly learn how they react when mixed together. With experience you will instantly know which colours to mix to replicate any colour that you see in nature.

My first colour, Raw Sienna, I use more than any other on my palette and is present in practically all my paintings. I start off many a sky with a light Raw Sienna wash and it's also prominent in much land detail. You'll find it an excellent companion.

Burnt Umber is a good earthy colour and really comes into its own in winter scenes as the earth sticks out from the snow. Mixed with Ultramarine Blue it's possible to get a whole range of greys, useful for cool shadows.

Light Red is a strong, fiery colour and only used in moderation - too much and it will dominate your palette. A tube of red will last an eternity! Never use it on its own. Mixed with Burnt Umber it's an excellent substitute for Burnt Sienna. Used with Ultramarine it will produce some lovely warm shadows.

Ultramarine Blue is predominant in many of my skies. It is also used with Lemon Yellow to produce a whole range of greens. Note there is no green on my palette, I prefer to mix them myself.

Lemon Yellow is an essential colour for my greens. A little with more Ultramarine will push your trees towards the horizon. As you come closer add more Lemon Yellow to warm the mix up for the foreground.

Payne's Gray can be used with many of the colours to generally darken the mix. I like to add it to Lemon Yellow to create rich, dark greens for foreground trees and foliage.

Alizarin Crimson is the second of my red colours and just like the Light Red, a tube of this will go a long way. I probably use it most with Payne's Gray for cloud shadows in the sky. Used with Ultramarine Blue it makes a cracking sky colour in winter scenes and looks lovely against the white paper as the shadows dance along the snow.

These seven colours have stood me in good stead. I generally try to use as few as possible to keep the colours harmonious in the painting. Often, especially in winter scenes, I'll restrict myself to just three - Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and Ultramarine Blue. Remember - practise makes perfect. Happy painting!

About the Author

Steven Cronin is artist and author of oil and watercolour painting tutorial books aimed primarily at beginners. Visit his bookstore at http://www.LearnToPaint.net
Winsor & Newton Artists' Watercolor

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