What is JacketFlap

  • JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans.
    Join now (it's free).

Sort Blog Posts

Sort Posts by:

  • in
    from   

Suggest a Blog

Enter a Blog's Feed URL below and click Submit:

Most Commented Posts

In the past 7 days

Recent Posts

(tagged with 'color chart')

Recent Comments

Recently Viewed

JacketFlap Sponsors

Spread the word about books.
Put this Widget on your blog!
  • Powered by JacketFlap.com

Are you a book Publisher?
Learn about Widgets now!

Advertise on JacketFlap

MyJacketFlap Blogs

  • Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.

Blog Posts by Tag

In the past 7 days

Blog Posts by Date

Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: color chart, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 2 of 2
1. Color Me Crazy

Today I embarked on combining techniques, process, and drawing developed throughout last year. I started a personal piece, but now it's time to apply it to the real world, a custom request. I did my research and concept sketch, now ready to paint.

I had to start with my color palette. As much as I love color, my head spins very fast and gets dizzy when trying to figure out the best combination of colors. I know what WORKS, but until I see it visually, I'm a jumble of thoughts.

This is where Design Seeds color palettes come into play. They're amazing! At first I didn't really care for them because most show subtle or value changes. This time I went to pinterest and found many palettes with variety. I'm stoked!



I based my choices on the photo being used for the color swatches. If the photo works...which is usually nature...then I know the color works. I also like how you have more colors to choose from BECAUSE of the photo. They don't swatch every color. Having those extra choices are great for backgrounds.

Once I print out the palette I go to my home made glazing color chart and view finder. I search for the colors within the palette and jot down the colors I need to re-create it. This takes a lot of the guess work out so I save time in the long run.


• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •


There are two charts I'd like to point out. One is a mixed color chart. Here each square has been individually mixed and applied. Very grueling, especially if you have 20 colors in a palette like I do! I started this one years ago when I first stumbled upon this method by Suzie Short. I never finished it. :( Unfortunately my palette has changed so I can't use most of it.


The second one is a glazed color chart. Here you paint one set of color strips vertically, let them dry, and paint a second one horizontally, "glazing" one color on top of the other. I prefer this method and I grabbed it from this video by Kelly Eddington. Although it's for laying color on top of one another, not mixing, I can work from there and mix on my palette. I usually test the color out on a scrap piece of paper and alter it just a tad if I need to. Very rarely.


The other brand new approach to painting is the skin. I did a very traditional technique, wet onto wet. It's usually quite difficult since I paint so small, but thought I'd give it a go instead of my usual wet onto dry. To my surprise, it worked very well, and gives me a great base to start with. Yay! I used my usual gold, rose, and phthalo blue too. :)



• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Daily Sketch



I have discovered I'm not too chic about keeping up with a daily commitment. It's the effort that counts right? Numbering the Daily Sketches has already been off several times, so instead, I'm simplifying it more and NOT numbering them. They are dated, and that's enough for me. Just assume they'll be in each post. ;)

0 Comments on Color Me Crazy as of 1/23/2015 3:17:00 AM
Add a Comment
2. Art for April

Two new paintings using professional grade watercolors.

Finally she is finished, a difficult one to complete.

"Lady of the Field" has taken what feels like months to complete. She was put on hold to prepare for the art show/reception then afterwards...eh...just didn't feel like finishing her. The painting was in that awkward phase of painting. Nothing looks right, hard to see where it's going, etc.

And I have to be honest, I hated the mushrooms! I think I still had the mushrooms from "Lady of the Forest" in my head intending these to be the same.

Duh, they can't. They're a different kind of mushroom.

What I also discovered through this piece is that painting will take some getting used to now. I feel like I'm learning watercolors all over again....except this time actually learning from the books. Watercolor has always been self taught for me, really.

So when I got my new palette and paints, I hesitated. 

I felt like I was going to mess up and just couldn't afford to. I felt like a senior in high school thinking ahead. Thinking that the piece I'm working on MUST go into my portfolio, therefore I must NOT screw it up. Heh, watercolor always screws up...it's what you do with that screw up that makes the difference. In my opinion.

I had to remind myself that I did know what I was doing...and that I do understand watercolor. Then Brian said something profound "Babe, just use purple for the shadows." ...like I always do.

There's a difference between following the book word for word, and reading the book, then applying it to what you already know.

She finished pretty quickly after that stressful night. 

The next piece I worked on went much quicker, smoother, and my head didn't feel like it was going to explode trying to equate color mixing. Although "April's Diamond" did have it's challenges (limited palette + composition) it didn't pertain to the paints or color mixing themselves.

If you paint in watercolor and you haven't done the "multiplication color chart" (as I'm calling it) please do! It's an awesome reference, even if it's just trying to pick out a palette for a painting. :)

5 Comments on Art for April, last added: 4/3/2011
Display Comments Add a Comment