Mastering Color Mixing: A Course for Artists

Millions of people have learned to draw using the methods of Dr. Betty Edwards's bestseller The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Now, much as artists progress from drawing to painting, Edwards moves from black-and-white into color. This much-awaited new guide distills the enormous existing knowledge about color theory into a practical method of working with color to produce harmonious combinations.

Using techniques tested and honed in her five-day intensive color workshops, Edwards provides a basic understanding of how to see color, how to use it, and-for those involved in art, painting, or design-how to mix and combine hues. This volume explains how to see what is really there rather than what you "know" in your mind about colored objects, how to perceive how light affects color, and how colors affect one another, and how to manipulate hue, value, and intensity of color and transform colors into their opposites. It also covers how to balance color in still-life, landscape, figure, and portrait painting, as well as how to understand the psychology of color and harmonize color in your surroundings.

While we recognize and treasure the beautiful use of color, reproducing what we see can be a challenge. Accessibly unweaving color's complexity, this must-have primer is destined to be an instant classic. Including more than 125 color images and exercises that move from simple to challenging, this guide provides a practical method of working with color to produce harmonious combinations.

The methods outlined in this book have been tested and honed in Edwards's five-day intensive color workshops, where she has helped countless artists and designers to better understand and utilize color. The book covers the basics of color theory, including how to see what is really there rather than what you "know" in your mind, how light affects color, and how colors interact with one another. It also delves into more advanced techniques, such as manipulating hue, value, and intensity, and transforming colors into their opposites.

Throughout the book, Edwards emphasizes the importance of balancing color in various artistic disciplines, from still-life and landscape painting to portraiture. She also explores the psychological impact of color, and provides guidance on how to harmonize color in your surrounding environment. With its accessible language and wealth of visual examples, this primer is an essential resource for anyone interested in mastering the art of color.

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