Beginning Color Mixing by Kimberly Adams

Beginning Color Mixing by Kimberly Adams ISBN-13: 9781633224902 Paperback: 128 pages Publisher: Walter Foster Released: April 3, 2018

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Perfect for aspiring, beginning, and intermediate artists, the concept- and technique-driven approach makes this challenging subject approachable for artists of any skill level.

Loaded with techniques on how to use and create color for vivid artwork, Beginning Color Mixing explains every key aspect of color mixing. You’ll see basic color theory, hue and saturation, value, temperature, and color relationships and learn to wield color to create mood and atmosphere.

Each key concept is clearly explained, allowing you to master the core techniques and put them into practice immediately whether you’re working in oil, acrylic, or watercolor. Featuring plenty of step-by-step exercises and expert instruction, this is a resource no painter’s library should be without.


My Review:
Beginning Color Mixing is an art techniques book on how to pick what colors to use to create vivid, colorful artwork. The author creates colorful, finger-painted, Impressionistic landscapes. Her technique is to use vivid colors straight from the tube (mainly oil, but also acrylic or watercolor) and place dabs of color next to each other to create eye-catching paintings. (This book won't be of much help if you're looking for instruction on mixing your own colors on a palette; it's about placing color on the canvas.)

The author briefly covered tools, materials, etc., and then discussed the basics of colors and color theory. Then she talked about the main colors--reds, pinks, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, purples, neutrals, black and white--as well as the specific paint colors that she uses to create a range of red (or other) colors in her paintings. She also gave tips about specific paint colors that look good together and how to use color to draw the eye or unify the painting.

She was very easy to understand and her demonstrations were clear and well-illustrated. She provided 4 step-by-step landscape demonstrations (lighthouse and ocean, clouds and a field, fall trees, and more trees) in her Impressionistic style. Overall, I'd recommend this book to any painter who is drawn to her vivid, colorful paintings--like the one on the cover.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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