M. Joy Lemon-Complete Color Mixing with Primaries

https://www.mjoylemon.com/

Which red creates the most vibrant purple? How do I mix a natural looking green? What is the difference between a tube black and a chromatic black? And what about flesh tones?! Whatever your preferred medium, get the answers to these questions and more as I walk you through a little color theory, the properties of individual pigments, various color exercises, and mixing from life, all with the use of a limited palette of six primaries split between warm and cool. This class will help you gain knowledge and confidence so you will be able to mix your own specific and desired colors while painting.

Complete Color Mixing for Artists - Materials List

mixed media or watercolor pad of paper*, 8 x 10 inch or larger

ruler

pencil and eraser

brushes - soft synthetic, small to medium size for painting exercises

palette or palette paper (tape)

palette knife

paper towels

container for water (water based paint) or container with odorless mineral spirits (oil paint)

paint** - your choice of oil, watercolor, acrylic or gouache: one warm and one cool of each primary, plus white, 7 tubes total.

Warm and Cool Pigments

It is possible to achieve almost every color necessary using a warm and cool of each primary. It keeps the palette simple, cuts down on cost, and forces one to quickly become proficient with color mixing. When buying, the pigment code will be listed on the paint tube and though the name of the paint may differ among brands and mediums the pigment in the paint will not. For instance, Quinacridone Red’s pigment code is PR209, Alizarine Crimson is PR83…they are different pigments but both are cool reds, both semi transparent, both staining, etc.

Only purchase professional grade paint! Though initially more expensive, they have a significantly higher pigment load and less filler, are much more intense/vibrant, and you won’t need as much to cover. Below are common pigments and the pigment index number split into warm and cool for each primary, and all are lightfast (won’t fade).The pigments in bold are ideal, though any will work:

Yellow:

Warm:

Cadmium Yellow Light (or medium) PY35 or PY37

Hansa Yellow Medium PY74 or PY97

Transparent Yellow PY150

Winsor Yellow PY74 or PY154

Cool:

Lemon Yellow/Hansa Yellow Light PY175 or PY3

Azo Yellow PY128 or PY151

Nickel Titanate Yellow PY53

Bismuth Yellow PY184

Aureolin Yellow PY40

Red:

Warm:

Cadmium Red Light (or medium)/Cadmium Scarlet PR108

Scarlet Lake PR 188 or PR255

Vermillion PR106,

Naphthol Red PR170 (also PR9 or PR112)

Pyrrol Scarlet PR254

Permanent Red PR188

Cool:

Permanent Alizarin Crimson PR177 or PR179

Permanent Carmine/Crimson/Permanent Rose PV19

Quinacridone Red PR209 or PV19

Blue:

Warm:

French Ultramarine Blue/Ultramarine Blue PB29

Cobalt Blue Deep PB74 (considered a neutral blue though behaves as warm)

Cool:

Phthalo Blue (green shade)/Winsor Blue (green shade) PB15:3

White:

Titanium White PW6 (do not use Zinc White/PW4), Lead White PW1 is great but much more costly.

Optional:

Though easily mixed from the above primaries, a neutral dark brown is a nice compliment and often used to mix a chromatic black, so consider a tube of: Burnt Sienna/Transparent Brown Oxide PR101 or Burnt Umber/Raw Umber PBr7

If you are doing a lot of greens for foliage/landscape; you may want to add the following greens, both of which make a wonderful black when mixed with a cool red: Chromium Oxide Green (warm) PG17 Viridian (cool) PG18 or Phthalo Green (cool) PG7

For the purest and most vivid violet if you are painting florals: Dioxazine Violet/Winsor Violet (cool) PV23

Notes:

*for oil painters: you can paint on mixed media paper easily and with good results or, for a more archival application due to the oil, you can bring a pad of vellum instead or apply a few thin layers of gesso to the paper beforehand (lightly sand between layers). We will be using approximately 10-8x10 sheets.

**you can also bring your preferred pigments/paints and try them in additional color exercises.

***If you are making a large paint purchase for the workshop and uncertain about the above pigment information, contact me via email for assistance.

Franciscan Life Process Center  

Art Workshop Registration and Cancellation Policy 

A $150 deposit or payment in full is required for enrollment in any workshop.  Full payment of the workshop is required 45 days before the start date of the workshop. 

Registrations made after 45 days require full payment and are non-refundable. 

Cancellations must be received in writing and submitted 45 days before the start date of the workshop for a full refund, less deposit and processing fees.   

The FLPC does not provide make-up workshops or issue refunds for workshops missed due to illness, emergencies, or other events beyond their control.  If the workshop is cancelled by the FLPC payment will be fully refunded including deposit.   

Purchasing a workshop ticket is a binding agreement to the above terms and conditions.   

This policy is effective January 1, 2025. 

Art Workshop Overnight Room Rental Agreement 

Thank you for making a reservation at the Franciscan Life Process Center (FLPC). Please understand that confirming a reservation of our rooms is a binding agreement for the terms and conditions below.   

 Please review the following carefully: 

1. Check-in is between 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Check-out is no later than 9:00 AM on the day of your departure unless other arrangements have been made. Bed linens and towels are included. 
2. Animals are not allowed in the building.  Documented and identified service animals may accompany a guest in FLPC buildings.  
3. Guests are responsible for any damage to the rooms or FLPC building.  
4. Guests are most welcome to use the trails for walking or running. Please use only the marked paths around the FLPC (a map can be found in the room). The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist residences are private property.  The farm and gardens may not be accessed without permission.  Animal interaction must be accompanied by a staff member or Sister. 
5. Any accidents or injuries occurring on the FLPC property should be reported to the FLPC Director as soon as possible. 
6. FLPC does not allow smoking on the grounds or in any of its buildings.  
7. Alcohol is not permitted when any person under 21 is present. The possession or use of any controlled substance is prohibited on FLPC grounds. Visibly intoxicated persons may be removed from the FLPC grounds at the discretion of FLPC management.  
8. Firearms and weapons are not allowed in buildings or on the grounds of FLPC. 

Cancellation Policy 

A deposit of the first overnight fee is required for a room reservation. 

Cancellations must be received in writing and submitted 2 weeks prior to the arrival date for a full refund, less a deposit.  Cancellations after 2 weeks are non-refundable. 

If the reservation is cancelled by the FLPC, because of unforeseen events and/or an emergency closure, the deposit will be fully refunded.   

This policy is effective January 1, 2025.