How to Paint a Color Chart
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When someone purchases their watercolor paints for the first time, I ALWAYS advise to paint a color chart.
“Why?” you may ask.
Color charts are a great way to see what colors you can achieve by mixing the watercolor paints you already have. As a watercolor beginner, many fall into the thought that they have to buy ALL THE COLORS of paints. You would be so surprised what colors you can create with just a few paints.
So in today’s tutorial, I am going to show you how you can make a fun color chart for yourself!
Supplies Needed:
140 lb. Cold Press Watercolor Paper (I am using Canson)
Round watercolor brush in any size you choose. (I am using a Princeton Heritage 4050 Round 6 brush)
Paint Palette or Old Ceramic Plate
Waterproof Pen (Sakura Pigma Micron 03 Pen)
Ruler/Straight Edge
Watercolor Paints. I am using two different Dots & Dust watercolor sets, Elementary, My Dear & At the Boardwalk
2 cups of water
Paper Towel (Optional)
Using your waterproof pen, create a grid on your watercolor paper based off of the number of paints you have. Since I am using two different paint sets with each one holding 5 different colors, then my grid was a 5 x 5 (25 boxes).
Label the side with the colors from one set and the top with the colors from the other set. If you choose to do a color chart with just one set, you would write the same names of the top and side.
Now you are ready to paint! Take a look at the top left box. For my chart, I will be mixing the colors “Tiny Umbrellas” and “Teacher’s Pet.” Take equal amounts of each color and mix them on your clean palette to make a new color.
Swatch that new color in the box.
Rinse out your paint brush in your jar of water and move down the column. This time I will repeat steps 3 & 4 the colors “Sunset Kisses” and “Teacher’s Pet.”
Repeat this mixing process with all your colors until you fill the chart completely.
And voila! You are finished with your own color chart!
Some things to keep in mind is that you always want to rise your brush between mixing color combinations to ensure you have the purest look at what color you will make. Also, if you water begins to get very dirty or murky, then make sure to dump it out and fill it with clean water.
If you happen to try this tutorial out, please be sure to tag us using the hashtag #dotsanddustfam on social media and Instagram.
Want to learn how to paint a color wheel?
Check out this past blog post!
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