Should I Pre- Mix Colors?

Should we pre mix our colors or not? Personally, I tend to not pre-mix colors. Meaning, I am more of a reactive painter in the sense that I look at the outdoor study or the photo image or a combination of both and I mix as I go along. There is nothing wrong with pre-mixing colors. If you are working a large piece, it could be very useful. The way I look at it personally is that there are so many different color routes to go along the way of a painting. If I pre-mix my colors, I am stuck with those original colors. Colors are definitely about feeling, mood, and all these things. As I go along, i may be shifting my colors. I do NOT shift my values, just my colors.

“ I am more of a reactive painter in the sense that I look at the outdoor study or the photo image or a combination of both and I mix as I go along.”

I suggest trying both. Try pre-mixing some basic colors if you have not tried it yet. If you usually pre-mix colors, try not pre-mixing and see if you can go with the flow of the painting. If you are dealing with more color, it may be harder to pre-mix. If you don’t pre-mix, you are not bound to those pre-mixed piles of color. It is all about experimenting. Some experiments work out, and some fail. But if they fail, at least you know they are not for you! If it does not feel comfortable and you feel like you are fighting it too much, it may not be the wrong thing necessarily. But, try it a few times and if it continually does not work for you, go back to what works for you. Always try to push yourself as an artist.

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