The second session of the Trihue watercolor class was held on Wednesday, January 24 and Sunday, February 11. Trihue glazing homework was critiqued, and the class discussed answers to the color pretest. Valerie Richter and Dick demonstrated the new homework assignment, Composing Color Relationships, by glazing various saturations of the three primaries in sequence. This post contains handouts, photos, videos, and other resources.
Week 1 homework: A wide variety of hues are created by glazing the three pigments in different saturations
Homework from the Sunday class.
Week 2 assignment
[gview file=”https://dicknelsoncolor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/THWC-Stripe.pdf”]
Demo photos
Valérie’s demo
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- Step 1: Stripes of yellow, in varying widths and saturations, also leaving some white paper
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- Step 2: The first layer of magenta has been applied to the stripes
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- Instead of stripes, varying saturations of yellow have been stippled irregularly over the paper
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- The first layer of magenta has been applied to the stippled yellow
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- Step 3: After several layers of magenta, the first layer of cyan has been applied
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- A closer view. This study exhibits luminosity achieved through halation and vanishing boundaries. All colors are harmoniously related.
Dick’s demos
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- Work in progress by Dick Nelson. Demo piece, with layers of yellow and magenta at various saturations.
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- Work in progress by Dick Nelson. Demo piece, after addition of cyan toning.
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- Work in progress by Dick Nelson
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- Dick advised cutting off a 1-inch strip, then adding your cyan stripes. Later you can line up the strip and see the progression of color change.
Videos – class demos
We have 10 short videos, totaling about 23 minutes. Thanks to Valérie and Dick for the demos, and to Patt for capturing!
First: Apply yellow
Second: Apply magenta
The “Million Dollar Idea”: Vanishing Boundaries
Third: Apply cyan. Enjoy luminosity thanks to halation and vanishing boundaries
In the video above, Dick mentions Kit Gentry’s application of this principle, and Susan recommends looking at his website for explanations and examples. “Breakthrough” is Kit’s first major work after his Color Relationships class with Dick where he purposely applied the idea of vanishing boundaries in a painting.
Dick’s demo: Toning and lifting
Stripe Movie
Simple stripes of different widths, in the three primary colors yellow, magenta, and cyan, overlaid, create surprisingly complex color combinations and juxtapositions.
Class photos
Wednesday group
Sunday group
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- Homework from the Sunday class.
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- Dick asked Chelsea to isolate the gray value scale on one of the homework sheets.
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- Dick discussed examples in the Albers color book, both what was working and not working in terms of color interaction.
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- The fold over panel with cut outs shows that the colors are the same gray tone.
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- When you reveal the full color plate, the eye is tricked into thinking there are two different gray colors.
Color transparency example
A full color image
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- There are four color transparencies that create the full color image
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- The yellow transparency is laid down first
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- The magenta layer on top of the yellow creates a mostly red image
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- Cyan added to the magenta and yellow creates a believable full color image
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- A full color image
External resources
Animated stripes example
Tips from Valérie – brushes; wax to seal finished work
Valérie sent the following in response to some questions that came up during the session.
The red handle brushes I was using.
The UV/waterproof/archival spray that I use after a watercolor is finished is the Krylon from Ben Franklin (when you don’t want to frame under glass).
Dick uses another one but this one is easier to find and cheaper.
I am still testing them, I read that the Matte leaves a dull white finish (I haven’t noticed) and that it is better to use the Gloss.
Can’t tell the difference so far!
Wax to seal watercolor – I found this link on youtube and I bought both brands. Again can’t tell the difference between them.
I like to use the wax much better than the spray (spray stinks, toxic, and a pain to apply outside etc…). Still testing the difference and long term efficiency. Not sure it is UV or archival.
Can’t find the wax on Maui, and stores won’t ship so you have to find someone who will ship it for you or bring it in her luggage!!!
Gamblin Cold Wax Medium and Dorland’s wax medium
Update: Mary was able to order the Dorland’s wax medium shipped via Amazon Priority Mail, but they would not ship the Gamblin cold wax.
From Firmiana – Build your own Trihue color wheel
Firmiana made a Trihue color wheel based on a YouTube video by fashion designer Zoe Hong, and says she “is fun at the delivery of sharing color theory.”
Here are some of the titles in her Color Lessons playlist.
- Color Theory 1 Basics
- Color Theory 2 Mixing colors (this is the one where she shares the color wheel mixing)
- Color Theory 3 Tints, tones and shades
- Color Theory 4 Mutes, undertones and neutrals
Firmiana also brought in a CMY Primary color mixing wheel that she found on Amazon (many color wheels are incorrect).
Mahalo to Valérie Richter for Wednesday photos and videos, and to Holly Duane for Sunday photos.
