The Colour Mixing Companion (your No-fuss Guide To Mixing Watercolour, Acrylics And Oils)

Discover how to make successful colour-mixing choices in watercolour, acrylics and oils.

This is a clear, comprehensive guide to colour mixing in the three most popular mediums: watercolour, acrylics and oils.

This portable, pocket-sized companion introduces simple colour theory and colour wheels, with templates provided so that readers can paint their own. The Colour Mixing Companion then shows the reader how to mix the perfect colour in all three mediums through a vast array of swatches and explanations of colour relationships.

There is vividly illustrated guidance on complementary, warm and cool colours, tone, using a limited palette, dull and bright colours and factoring in local colour, followed by an array of essential colour mixes using widely available paints.

The Colour Mixing Companion is a beautifully presented and practical guide to understanding and mixing colours; artists from beginners to more experienced painters will find this a handy, comprehensive guide. 

The contents of this book have been compiled and refreshed from the hugely popular Colour Mixing Guides, which have sold 40k copies globally.

Introduction 6

MIXING WATERCOLOURS 8
Materials 10, Colours used in this section 14, Colour 18, Colour tone 30, Using a limited palette 32, Dull and bright colours 38, Local colour 40, Colour mixes 42

MIXING ACRYLICS 62
Materials 64, Colours used in this section 68, Colour 72, Colour tone 82,Using a limited palette 84, Dull and bright colours 88, Local colour 89, Colour mixes 90

MIXING OILS 110
Materials 110, Colours used in this section 115, Colour 118, Colour tone 128, Using a limited palette 130, Dull and bright colours 134, Local colour 136, Colour mixes 138

Glossary 158

This is definitely a ‘no fuss guide’, what an ease to wander through the pages. I love the size of the book, just longer than the length of my hand and just wider so it sits comfortably in my hands.The quality of the paper is really good and feel like they will withstand a lot of flicking through to where I want to look.

I like the inclusion of the colour wheel templates, they will come in useful. I like the exercise examples and the right and wrong explanations. There’s a nice section about oils, which I’ve yet to try, solvents and mediums which will be my go to reference when I do get around to trying oil painting.

I absolutely love the colour swatch pages and I definitely want to create my own. This book will be a great colour reference guide for me in my painting journey. I’m not a complete beginner at watercolour and acrylic painting, there’s still a lot for me to learn from this beautiful book.

The Colour Mixing Companion is designed to provide a no-fuss guide to mixing watercolour, acrylics and oils – and is small enough to fit in your pocket. Information included on complementary, warm and cool colours, tone, using a limited palette and dull and bright colours. A useful section on essential colour mixes using widely available paints is also included. This is a well-presented and practical guide that will appeal to beginners as well as more experienced artists

Julie Collins studied Fine Art at the University of Reading and has been an artist, writer and teacher since then. She has written a number of colour mixing guides and artists'' problem-solving books and also writes for The Artist magazine. She works from her studio in Hampshire, UK, where she explores her passion for painting, drawing and crafts.

Julie has won numerous prestigious awards for her watercolour paintings, including, most recently, t