Lesson 1, The Colors

Watercolor Sampler

Returning to the studio from vacation, I was dismayed by my almost-empty watercolor tubes. Ugh. This means a significant output of $$$. After some thought and cuddling up with the idea of laying out money though, Daniel Smith sent me an email about a BIG SALE! Usually, these sale emails get deleted but this time I thought: Research and Smart Shopping.

After a very careful combing through, I found this set, heavily discounted. It is pretty much the set of colors I use with acrylic paints and the palette I used for oil paintings way back then. 

Yellows: Aureolin (Cobalt Yellow) and New Gamboge (a rich yellow with just a touch of orange)

Greens: Sap (indispensible primary green), olive green (neutral) and Gold Green (yellow green)

Blues: Phtalo (Red Shade), French Ultramarine, Cobalt (Primary) Cerulean Blue

Quinacridone Rose (Blue Shade), Permanent Red (primary, more opaque), Alizarin Crimson, Quinacridone Violet and Quinacridone Magenta

Earth Colors (Dead Palette) Quinacridone Gold, Raw Sienna and Burnt Sienna and Quinacridon Burnt Orange.

Missing from this palette is Yellow Ochre - usually a standard in my palette but with the Raw Sienna and Aureolin, I can easily mix that

Also a black was missing. Easily mixed with the blues and oranges but I added Indigo for its deep value and blue cast.

Tomorrow I'll show you how I laid out my palette. 

Comments

[Susie Land]

Thank you for the color selections helps here.

I just started getting Daniel Smith's emails and there are so many watercolors to choose from, it's kind of overwhelming.
So you got a set? Like pre-chosen colors?
Oh please, what 'set' did you buy?

Thank you so much for your help and can-do-it attitude. It helps me with this stupid fear of making a mistake thing....

[Diana Trout]

I did get a set, Susie. Here is the link
http://www.danielsmith.com/Item--i-285-250-190
It was pretty much exactly the palette I use in my acrylic painting, which is pretty much the palette I used years ago for oil painting. The quins (in watercolor) were new to me. It is a very good palette for landscape and you could mix for portraiture. It includes the primaries, secondaries, and what is called the dead palette. Steady all round! By the time I replaced what I needed it was worth it for me to get the set at their huge discount.
Perhaps I will post next week sometime on a basic palette, extended palette and really 1st class palette! Great question

[Susie Land]

Thank you, Diana, that's very helpful.
I had gone to DS and found another set (more expensive, of course) and didn't see this one.
With the 20% off sale this is a nice deal.
I've never heard of dead colors, what a cool thing to learn!
And I really appreciate all the watercolor helps here, you make it look fun (I know it is, but I get so worked up over making a mistake....duh!).
I love your encouraging style.
Thanks again.....

[Marilyn Weyman Kegg]

Ha ha! Now you're sucked into the DS watercolor family, too. Welcome! I cannot get enough of them. I just added Quin Coral which I think is going to help me get some very exciting pinks and oranges. Watch out for the milky colors. I think they dull down mixes. And check out the Moonglow, a soft purply black. Many yummy colors there. Congrats on your choice!

And thanks for your tutorials. I always enjoy them so much.

[Diana Trout]

Thanks for the Moonglo tip. I am almost out of WN black. So that sounds like a great replacement! Sounds like the color I mix when I want a very dark.

[Tory Burch Shoes]

So cute! I already like you on FB and also get your posts on Google Reader. :)

[Diana Trout]

THanks Tory! Glad you are enjoying this