Watercolor: Florals & Botanicals

Mixing Luminous Colors

with Joan Hansen

HAVE YOU NOTICED THAT colors seem more subdued at twilight and become brighter during the day? All the colors we see are affected by the amount of light they receive, and this in turn affects the feeling a scene evokes. As the artist, I can decide to paint a flower in brilliant sunlight or in restful shade. To use color effectively, you need to learn only a few basics of color theory.

Discovering the elements of Color

Hue means the paint color itself, such as red or blue. Its intensity is its strength, from its pure state to one that is grayed or diluted. Variations in values create depth (see page 8). Color temperature refers to how warm or cool a color appears. Afternoon colors are warm—reds, yellows, ...