Plein Air Artists International: RIGHT VALUE SHAPES FREE OUR COLOR CHOICES

Here are a couple more of the results of recent experiments. If we first make sure our value shapes are in right relationship, then almost any color you choose will work fine. Whether they're bright and intense (as in these two) or somber and moody, it's the values that communicate the sense of light and reality. Many painters struggle with trying to match their color to nature or photos. A nice skill to have, but often confusing and misleading. The magic is not in the colors so much as in right values. If we pay attention to separating the value relationships, we find that we're free to use any colors we choose! And, hey, that's fun painting!