AMANDA BRETT WATERCOLOUR ARTIST
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PaintBox Tips​

PaintBox Tip #13 making the perfect grey

26/2/2022

10 Comments

 
To be truthful, for me, grey is the most frightening colour – I don’t wear grey, I don’t like looking at it, I don’t have it in my house and I HATE grey cloudy days! So when I was told recently that my “greys” were greatly admired I was quite floored, this started a renewed process of investigation, what greys do I create and how do I use them?
Firstly, good quality watercolours are made from natural minerals (pigments) and due to these natural qualities, react and bounce off each other, quite fun to watch and experiment with. Manufactured blacks and greys are mostly made from a kiln firing process therefore they contain soot - for large washes they can be lifeless and dull and often dry substantially lighter than expected.
Secondly, in watercolour, our staples are our complementaries (red vs green, purple vs yellow etc). For example, to neutralise red, I add a little green, a secondary colour containing blue and yellow. When I add green to red I have 3 primaries which means the greying process is started.
I paint with tube paints and carefully select transparent watercolours, mostly I use Winsor & Newton pigments and then I add opaque or earth pigments for accents.
My favourite palette includes winsor blue (red shade), permanent alizarin crimson and burnt sienna. Sometimes I swap the blue for winsor blue (green) or French ultramarine and alizarin for permanent rose or another transparent “pink” like permanent magenta. I choose this palette because each of these colours have good tinting strength, therefore this palette, with just enough water to mix, will make an exciting and fresh dark and, with diluting, will create fantastic luminous greys. I start by making a violet, for shadow areas a cool violet (ie more blue, less red) and depending on the palette of the day, I may add burnt sienna.
For silvery greys try cobalt blue and permanent alizarin for a gorgeous violet then add just a wee touch of raw sienna or try winsor green and permanent alizarin or rose. Cerulean blue or cobalt blue plus burnt sienna, for darker greys try french ultramarine or indigo with burnt sienna. As you can see the sky’s the limit but of course this all depends on the pigments in your palette and what you can do with them – a matter of experimentation.
To start with, I mix light value greys in my palette but I make sure I can still see little pockets of the ingredient colours; in other words, sloppy, inefficient colour mixing is best, partly because it ensures there is no accidental overmixing and further, it allows the poetry of watercolour to show. After washing in a light value Grey around whites, I mix a stronger grey with the same pigments but in different ratios so that, for example, I wash a warm grey over a cool grey. I then select one of my accent colours and charge it in and then spatter some of the other colours while it’s still damp.
For me watercolour is about poetry, creating beauty and light and life. As Delacroix said 'Colour is the fruit of life' and developing a repertoire of greys will only enhance your colour work.

 
why do we need to learn to mix greys?
Mixed greys are often fresher, they’re more exciting and luminous, especially if you choose transparent pigments with which to mix your colour.
Bought greys (blacks) tend to be warm shades and can be quite dull, further warm greys advance and may confuse your message.
Greys, in realism, are needed to highlight and let saturate colours attract attention. If a painting consists of all saturate colours, it may be difficult for the viewer to understand your message, further, it could be too much for viewers. Most paintings require some sort of quiet, neutral space, to rest the viewers eye.
Often your palette’s left over paint (aka palette gunge) will have created a beautiful grey all by itself, a little water and a bold, damp brush swish through your palette will give you a great “dirty tea” that will knock back any excess whites or elements that need a little pushing into the background.
A light value greenish grey will complement a bright red or pink beautifully, as will a light value orange-grey bring some magic next to a deep blue.
 
do I use blacks?
I enjoy painting monotone paintings in black and then I add a pop of opaque colour like cad red or yellow.
A simple, monotone black sketch is a great design tool in preparation for a larger work.
Sometimes I add a tiny bit of black (neutral tint) to push a dark even darker.

have fun!!
ciao
Amanda

Picture
Blacksand, Raglan NZ. French Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna
Picture
Viaduct Greys, Auckland NZ. Winsor Blue (red), Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, cobalt turquoise light, raw sienna
Picture
Light Work, Auckland NZ. Winsor Blue (Red), Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Burn Sienna and Cadmium Red
Picture
Granger's Point, Auckland NZ. Winsor Blue (Red), Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre and Cobalt Turquoise Light, Transparent Orange

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10 Comments
Amanda Gleason
3/3/2022 20:28:06

Amanda I just love these emails even though I paint in oils. Sorry your knee is still troublesome and you’re not able to come on Sunday. My first time back after my injury in 3 months! .

Reply
Amanda Brett
4/3/2022 14:35:58

thanks Amanda. So glad my tips are useful to you - painting is painting, no matter the medium, don't you think? excellent that you're off painting have fun!! xx

Reply
Jenny Matthew
3/3/2022 21:47:51

Amanda - a really fascinating summary of the World of Grey - thankyou. I am only just beginning to realise how important this science - or art - of mixing is and also that I need to have a little more confidence to experiment. Your paintbox tips are really useful and much appreciated.

Reply
Amanda Brett
4/3/2022 14:39:11

thanks for commenting Jenny - it seems to me the more we get into it, the more we want to know!! a life's pursuit!! ciao Amanda

Reply
Rosie
3/3/2022 22:21:40

Loved this email! I love the colour grey and rainy days and experimenting with making greys so I am going to go through this email and play with the suggestions for making greys in it! Thank you for your generosity in sharing Amanda! :) xx

Reply
Jude Hazeldine
4/3/2022 14:40:49

Well, that's a keeper, lots of juicy information there. Very informative Thankyou. 🌼

Just got my Watercolour NZ mag, and bang there is the beautiful Harum Scarum. Just fabulous. Hope you're doing well.

Xx

Reply
Amanda Brett
4/3/2022 16:16:52

thanks Jude, you're very welcome!! thanks for reading and thanks for your lovely comments, always appreciated!! xx

Amanda Brett
4/3/2022 14:40:31

you and I are so opposite!! just as well, or everything would be the same!! Glad my tips are helpful, thanks for reading and commenting! xx

Reply
Christine Bonnett
6/3/2022 08:02:40

Hi Amanda, how kind of you to share your grey knowledge and understandings with us. Making sure to use a transparent colour is such a gem of information for us learners. There is so much to be aware of and learn about watercolour than just slapping a colour on paper. Thanks for sharing this abundant information for us to explore. Great to have the paintings too to see the vast range of greys and their effectiveness in a painting. Cheers, Christine

Reply
Amanda Brett
6/3/2022 13:38:48

you're very welcome Christine, thanks for reading!! I'm glad it's useful for you!! cheers Amanda

Reply



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  • Home
    • News
    • About Me
    • More About Me & Watercolour
    • What I See
  • Gallery Shop
    • SHOP New Original Paintings
    • Shop Limited Edition Prints
  • Tuition
    • PaintBox Tips featured posts >
      • PaintBox Tips
    • Video Lessons
    • Weekly Watercolour Classes >
      • Feedback & Photos
    • student's page
    • Lessons featured posts >
      • Lessons
    • Workshops for your Group
    • Watercolour Magic on Youtube
    • FAQs >
      • My faves and where to buy
      • Resources
  • Contact
  • Join My Insider's List
  • Workshop Lucca Italy June 2022
    • Plein Air Supplies