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What paint colors do I need to get started?


When I first went into the art store to buy my Fine Art supplies I really didn't know what I was doing.. which is why I want to pass some of the things I've learned along to others.. 


 

Adding some Extras..

Of course there are some extra colors you might like, to make life more simple..

  • Yellow Ochre
  • Raw Umber
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Sap Green

But these are entirely up to you.. as I said you will be able to make these with just the primaries. But some shortcuts are always good.

Painting flowers?

Buying extra paints also depends on what it is you might like to paint. Landscapes need more earth tones like the ones above, but if you are going to be painting flowers then you might want to include some more yellows, blues and greens in different hues like:

  • Transparent Yellow
  • Indian Yellow
  • Naples Yellow
  • Cadmium Orange
  • Phthalo Green
  • Phthalo Blue

It is worth mentioning that a Phthalo Blue in Winsor & Newton will be different to a Plathalo Blue in Rembrandt.. and it can vary quite a lot.

So some good homework would be to make yourself a color chart of the colors you have so you can see how each color looks on its own with nothing added on a white background.

Below is the color chart of the Watercolor paints I have collected. It is really handy for looking up colors quickly then grabbing them out of the box.


-and yes, I do have a few more than the standard 8!! I am seeking counseling..


While there are hundreds of paint colors for artists out there, there is a basic group of colors that will, when mixed together give you any shade you might want.. with a little practice!   

It doesn't matter if you use Acrylic Paints, Oil or Watercolor Paints.. The colors you need will be the same.
You need 3 primary colors in two hues, one cool, and one warm.

Reds

  • Cadmium Red (warm)
  • Crimson Alizarin (cool)

Yellows

  • Cadmium Yellow (warm)
  • Lemon Yellow (cool)

Blues

  • Cobalt Blue (warm)
  • Ultramarine Blue (cool)

For Tints and Shades

  • Titanium White
  • Ivory Black

I have given you an example of the name of each color, and you should be able to find them in most brands in either Acrylic, Oil or Watercolor paints.. but if not, you can substitute colors, just make sure you have something that looks cool and warm.

Sometimes you will be able to buy a starter box of artist or student colors which can be great value, but it might be missing a warm or cool of a particular color. You can buy the box and pick up the extra color from the individual paints stand in that brand. Easy.

 

 

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might want to check out..



    
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