Mix or Use ready colors from Art Materials Stores

Mix or Use ready colors from Art Materials Stores

1. Mix colors => 2 or more kinds of different particle size distributions.

If particle sizes distribution is not narrow => Light can not be reflected evenly.

Or we say MORE light is scattered away then reflected to the viewer's eyes.

Therefore : mixed colors lose freshness (effect of less light). Generally dull. This is especially evident in watercolour.

Ready made tube colors, (comparing the same brand and quality paint) have one size distribution which is generally narrow and more definite. In the manufacturing place, particles were sieved. Certain size range is selected. Narrow size distribution implies even reflection. Results : More light is reflected into viewer's eyes.

2. Pure and Chromatics colors like Cadmium colors are generally more expensive. WHY buy these colors to mix and get dull colors that are readily available in art stores at MUCH MORE affordable prices?

Don't get me wrong. Mixing colors is a very good thing. It is a constant exercise of eyes and mind. And a palette can't fit in all the colors from art stores.

For me, I have some ready tertiary colors like burnt sienna, yellow orche, burnt umber, black, raw sienna, transparent oxide red. These colors help me adjust colors a lot faster then using pure chromatic colors like cadmium colors and pure blues and greens. And they are a lot cheaper. *** Not sacrificing any quality at all!!!

*** So why mixing colors:

My opinions:

1. Too many colors on the palette instead of helping us, it confuses us. And less experienced painters with less confidence in tones and temperature struggle a lot seeing too many colors.

2. Fewer colors help unifying the painted image naturally because the mixed colors belong to the same family.

3. It is especially good for painters who are tonal orientated with fewer colors. Tonal orientated painters can focus more on tonal relation.