Color mixing lesson for beginners - the Watercolor Color Wheel

Published 2017-07-06
Learn how to mix 12 colors of the rainbow using the primary colors, red, yellow and blue. This is the first watercolor lesson I recommend for beginners. The color mixing can also be applied to other paint mediums, like acrylic, and oil. Step one is to draw a circle and divide it into 12 pie slices, label it, then we will start with Yellow and move around the color wheel. I will show you how to create a gradated wash that goes from dark to light, however, you can paint it in with a solid color if you want. Enjoy!

Supplies
Watercolor Paint (red, yellow and blue)
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor Paintbrush (Round 6 or 10) Use what you have;)
Water
Paper Towel
Pencil and Eraser
*Optional Supplies - a plate to trace, and a ruler

How to divide a circle into 12 slices
   • How to divide a circle into 12 equal ...  
*this may make you dizzy....this was filmed in the early days when my phone was recording while hanging from the ceiling. I am working on a new one

Extension Lessons
Make a color chart showing the difference between the secondary colors you mix and the pre-made colors in your set.
Create a watercolor painting using color combinations in the color wheel (Complimentary, Analogous, Monochromatic)
Create a color wheel that shows the color relationships that is not round

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Music
1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky

This tutorial was created by McCall for Mr Otter Studio

All Comments (21)
  • When I started painting I went out and got a lot of tubes of expensive paint but then I saw the vibrant results you get with a simple set. Thank you for the painting lessons but also for the common sense.
  • @livefreeinhim
    This was a GREAT re-introduction project to watercolors and getting to know my paint and the color wheel. THANK YOU!!
  • @maisecatx7341
    Excellent video on colour theory, one of the best, your voice is clear and your narration is concise. Thanks ❤
  • Such a great tutorial! I painted one along with you and enjoyed your lesson :)
  • @thomasallen3700
    this was a very helpful video I started sketching a few months ago and went from badly drawn manga to well drawn realism and now I am looking to start adding in color, I thought learning how to mix the colors and get certain shades of color would have been difficult but now that i saw this video it makes perfect sense :)
  • @Juhani139
    It may be worth mentioning that it is impossible to mix a good, vibrant purple using this technique (that is, using your existing red and blue, which gives one a washed out, almost gray-ish purple). It would have saved me a bit of grief to have known this when I started out with watercolour. Just go ahead and buy a nice artist grade violet. Also, maybe mention what red, blue and yellow you are using here. Not all reds, blues and yellows are created equal. Always a good idea to go ahead and follow the color wheel up with a mixing chart. Good, clear tutorial, thank you.
  • @neldaflores6362
    This came recommended in a group I’m in on Facebook. Great video for this beginner!! Thanks!
  • @nuivrae
    Thank you so much. I've watched quite many videos on color theory and color wheel, but only this one made things look so much easier to understand. Truly helpful for beginners like myself :)
  • @mahdita12
    i learned a lot and i think it's essential to make a color wheel of your paints! will make one today :)
  • I waana make a different design colour wheel but well speaking about colour mixing in this video is flawless thank you so much .
  • @luckyhiker3434
    You are an amazing talent with exceptional technical and communication skills. I really enjoyed listening and watching your content! I am looking forward to seeing more from you.
  • @kalyanjain4429
    I like the way you explain and give some tips ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
  • I don't know how to explain it, but it seems easier in my ocd brain to mix the first blends as 50/50 of each primary, then adding more of the primary closest to the position on the color wheel to each other. Either way, it's a great fun learning project. The colors are amazing!
  • @kalyanjain4429
    I was very bad in painting but I first saw some of your video I liked it so much that I saw your very video published and know I di great pating