Erika Lancaster- Artist + Online Art Teacher
  • HOME
  • BLOG + FREEBIES
  • YOUTUBE
  • PATREON
  • COURSES
  • MY ART TOOLS
  • GALLERY
  • Online Art Mentorship

How I Choose Colors for a New Painting- Video

8/9/2019

4 Comments

 
How I Choose Colors for a New Watercolor Painting Tutorial
Follow
*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)


​
Why is it important to plan colors before starting a painting? How is a limited color palette useful? How will learning about the Color Wheel help us create more successful and professional-looking artwork?



In the video included within this blog post, I'll be sharing how I go about selecting my colors prior to starting a new piece. I'll share my thinking process as I go through this method and will be offering lots of tips pertaining to color.

In past blog posts and YouTube videos, I have mentioned how color is an essential Element of Art to learn about as a beginner artist. 

​The reason?

When we're looking to create a visual composition, we have to think about how different parts fit together into a whole. 


And color plays a huge role in making a visual composition look harmonious and cohesive. 

When it comes to a visual composition, all individual elements are connected. Each one has an effect over how we perceive the elements around it. 

And just like how you wouldn't throw on an outfit with a ton of different colors and textures that don't mesh well together, you have to think about how things will look like in a painting when appreciated as a whole. 

It's not about one element in the piece, but how the different elements included intermix to effectively transmit the idea or message we're trying to get across. 

It's incredibly important that any beginner artist who is serious about improving their painting makes time to learn about the Color Wheel.

This is an incredibly important tool that allows us to understand relationships between colors so that we're not only able to create effective color mixtures during the painting process, but also prepare color schemes that work well.

Here's a free class on Color Temperature in which I share a powerful exercise for beginners. ​


Limiting the amount of colors that you use in a painting is also very useful because the more colors you use, the more disorganized your palette will be, the more likely color mixtures will lead to mud, and the more incoherent the end-results. 

Whatever you do, stay away from randomly selecting colors during the painting process and dedicate at least a bit of time to plan for your painting. I promise you, there's much more of a chance that you'll end up with great results. 


​
If you enjoyed this video and found it helpful, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video every week with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials and mindset/productivity tips for artists. *Subscribe HERE*


​
You'll be able to find a list of my favorite watercolor supplies here.

​

​
Picture


​

​

Watercolor Exercises for Beginners
Must Know Watercolor Pencil Tips for Beginners
Color Temperature for Beginners
4 Comments
Tex Hooper link
9/21/2022 08:07:24 pm

You make a great point about how textures can be complicated. I need to get a painter for our nursery. We want it repainted green.

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
9/26/2022 08:11:40 am

Hey, Tex!
Hope you find someone that can take care of that for you, soon.
Have a great day!

Reply
Bagels Recipes link
6/9/2023 06:19:40 pm

This is a great post thannks

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
6/12/2023 09:10:03 am

Glad it was helpful!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    ​
    Learn Drawing and Watercolor Step by Step Tutorials

    ​
    Picture

    ​
    www.dickblick.com

    ​

    ​
    www.erikalancaster.com
    is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites
    ​to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.


    www.erikalancaster.com
    is a participant in the 
    Shareasale.com Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Shareasale.com partner companies.
    ​

    RSS Feed

    ​

    Become an art email insider to receive:

    ​

    • My full Watercolor Blueberries tutorial (with downloadable outline sketch, reference photo and supply list)
    • Helpful tips and tutorials on sketching and watercolor painting
    • Artist mindset advice that I don't share anywhere else
    • News about my latest offerings designed to help you reach your full artistic potential
    • Access to the Art in Harmony Facebook group, which is full of over 2,000 amazing, positive artists from all over the world who're looking to grow together

    ​

      I'm committed to only providing valuable and inspiring content. You can easily unsubscribe at any time.

      *To subscribe you must be 18+ years of age.

      Built with ConvertKit
    Picture
    Picture
           
    ​  
    Website Disclaimer              Privacy Policy              ​Terms and Conditions
    ©  2025  Erika Lancaster.  All rights reserved.
    • HOME
    • BLOG + FREEBIES
    • YOUTUBE
    • PATREON
    • COURSES
    • MY ART TOOLS
    • GALLERY
    • Online Art Mentorship