Mixing Colours: How To Ge... | The Artist's Guide To

: Rather than defaulting to black, which can "flatten" a painting, the guide teaches how to use complementary colors to desaturate or darken hues while maintaining their integrity.

The guide moves beyond basic color wheel theory to address the practicalities of paint pigments.

: Rodwell introduces a standard 12-color palette as the foundation for all artist mixes. The Artist's Guide to Mixing Colours: How to Ge...

(often referred to as How to Get the Right Colour Every Time ) by Jenny Rodwell is a practical resource designed to demystify color theory for painters, particularly those working in watercolor. First published in 1996, the book focuses on achieving clean, harmonious results by simplifying the mixing process. Core Concepts

: The book features comprehensive visual charts showing how to select and mix 132 new colors from the base palette. : Rather than defaulting to black, which can

: It explains that because physical pigments are rarely "pure," artists must understand color bias —how a red might lean toward orange or purple—to avoid creating muddy, "dull" mixtures. Practical Application

: A major theme is that "less is more." Rodwell argues that the secret to vibrant paintings lies in keeping mixes to a minimum—often using just two colors for a more harmonious result . (often referred to as How to Get the

The book is structured to help artists transition from theory to specific subjects.