Mixing Complimentary Chart Limited Palette: Red Blue Yellow Series 1 - Part 3

Now we are getting to the substance of what the three colours: Alizarin Crimson Hue (AC), Ultramarine Blue (UB) and Cadmium Yellow Light (CYL) can do.    

Below is the grid with measurements on it to make your own Complimentary Colour Chart. The page size is 20x28cm (8x11in).

The first complimentary combo I started with is Orange to Blue.  I chose to mix an orange half way between CYL value 9 and AC value 2.  I mixed a value 5 which created an orange with a yellow bias.  You might choose to mix a more red orange colour when you do this exercise.  It is completely your choice. ​

Notice that there is 4 steps between the orange and blue.  In each row step 1 is the pure mixture of paint, then adding white a bit at a time to create 5  more steps.  ​

Now we are on to the Purple to Yellow complimentary mixes.  I used 1 part AC and 1 part UB to create the purple.  Interesting the lovely different colours that we are creating out of the same three pigments.   

The last set is Green to Red.  I used the CYL and UB to create a value 5 mix of Green.   It is very easy to over power the green, which means I need to be very careful with the addition of the red paint. 

​Notice the the first little addition of red created a darker green.  This is something to pay attention to.  If you want to darken a colour just a bit, adding a richness to it, then you add in the complimentary colour.  It works for any tube of paint.  I have used this over the years with great effect.  ​

See that didn't take long, but look at the amount of information we have now.  WOW. We are ready to tackle our first colour study.  Join me in the next video for the colour study.