Comments on: Color Black by Ruth Read

By: How to make your own color wheel | Arted 4 Life

How to make your own color wheel | Arted 4 Life — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:18:25 +0000

[...] Color Black by Ruth Read Some artists like to use color black straight from the tub. That is ok, however, you can really spice it up if you add or mix in a few other colors such as for black hair, or shading you might try burnt umber or Vandyke brown. [...]

By: Evoltage

Evoltage — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:19:45 +0000

Once again, I find myself speechless on this blog. This is happening way too often. But the pictures just leave me in awe. Keep it up.

By: Ruth Read

Ruth Read — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:06:35 +0000

Marilyn,

That is a great trick I also use, but I can’t help myself, I add color sometimes to the purple. A great trick is to use Purple for the black part of the eye. Or if you are glazing it can be the glazing after the color is on the eye. What I like to do is use purple or French Ult. for the shadows. If you are painting green something you can use blue or purple glazing and it is shadow. Or if you are using orange you can use purple glazing for shadow. I do an incredible amount of glazing.
On my Gorilla I glazed alizarin Crimson under the body so that it would feel alive, just like some artists do for portraits.

So what other tricks has your teacher got for us? We are listening.

By: Marilyn

Marilyn — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 20:14:42 +0000

I certainly agree, Ruth. Black can be so much more interesting when made of other colors. I already do that with brown. One of my workshop leaders told us she uses purple as her black. Thanks for the tips for colors to mix. I plan to try your suggestions. Very interesting post!

By: Daria

Daria — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:01:35 +0000

I have also been attracted to colors all of my life. Colorful displays affect me like a powerful magnet. Because I’ve never painted anything – probably since eight grade – I didn’t think of them your (artistic and creative) way, though. I do agree with you strongly that colors can actually reveal the secrets of life to us – if only we let them…

You’re more than welcome, Ruth! Your article is fun and revealing for artists and art lovers alike and I really hope that other artists will join in and contribute their own art secrets, tips and tricks.

By: Doroteja

Doroteja — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:53:00 +0000

Thank you Ruth! I will definitely be mixing my own black from now on. This was very informative. I hope it helps others too.

By: Ruth Read

Ruth Read — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:06:04 +0000

I have learned that color is never what it seems. Just black or just orange, Oh orange! Now there is another color. If you look deep into a color you can figure out life! LOL!!!

Thank you Daria for posting this article. The photos you used to compliment this article are awesome and fit really well.

By: Daria

Daria — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:47:34 +0000

Thank you Ruth for this lesson on color black, you managed to expand my “color horizons” quite a bit. I feel a little bit ashamed to admit that until I read this explanation of yours, to me color black has always been “just black.”