MIXING YELLOWS. HOW TO MAKE SUBTLE COLOUR CHANGES WHEN MIXING YELLOWS TO CREATE A SENSE OF DISTANCE.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE INSPIRATION FROM ONE OF CLAUDE MONET’S WATERLILY PAINTINGS
In painting we are creating the illusion of a 3D image onto a flat 2D surface. To achieve that we use colour changes. To create a sense of depth and make the water stretch off into the distance you will note that Monet makes subtle colour changes in his water lilies.
See how the lower band of lilies are in the foreground. The yellow is a stronger yellow and the pink is a stronger pink. As you move up the painting towards the top, you also move into the distance. Therefore the lilies become softer and less vibrant. The colours become more subdued. The lily becomes less detailed. The same applies to the lily leaves.
We learn on the COLOUR MIXING TUTORIALS course that paint names can change between manufacturers and for other reasons. Whilst there are many yellows, our 3 main yellows are Cadmium Yellow, Lemon Yellow and Yellow Ochre.
As a simplification of what colours Monet has used for the yellow water lilies, he has used strong Cadmium yellow and lemon yellow and some yellow ochre in the foreground. He has then softened and subdued those yellows in the distance by using a little yellow ochre and white in with the Cadmium and lemon yellow. See in the video how this works.
Claude Monet on the right and and Georges Clemenceau on the left
ABOVE Claude Monet – Waterlilies
This painting uses a lot of soft blue greens and a lot of subtle colour changes to create the soft muted atmosphere
ABOVE A 4 minute watch on the 3 main different yellows and how to make softer shades of yellow
ABOVE A 2 minute introduction to mixing greens and how if you know what you are doing it is really easy to mix the exact shade you are looking for.
YELLOW. THE 3 MAIN YELLOW COLOURS; WARM YELLOW, ACID YELLOW AND SOFT YELLOW BROWN.
Cadmium yellow is warm and strong and vibrant. Cadmium yellow itself comes in 3 different shades from Cadmium Yellow Pale to Cadmium Yellow Medium to Cadmium Yellow Dark.
Lemon Yellow as the name indicates is a more acid yellow.
Yellow Ochre is a wonderfully useful colour in colour mixing. It could be described as a soft, light yellow-brown.
Recognized as a distinguished professional artist and educator, Emma Burnett brings decades of experience to the world of art education. With an exceptional talent for simplifying intricate concepts, Emma Burnett is a seasoned course creator renowned for making complex topics approachable. Her thorough understanding of art and keen ability to convey it in a relatable manner have empowered countless students, establishing Emma Burnett as an authority in teaching art. A driving force in the industry, she continues to inspire both novices and experienced artists alike, shaping a new era of artistic excellence
