| While
it may seem logical that to lighten a color you add white to
it and that to darken it you add black, this is an oversimplification.
White reduces brightness so although it makes a color lighter,
it removes its vibrancy. Black doesn't so much add darkness
as create murkiness.
• Why can't I add white to lighten a color?
Adding white to a color produces a tint of that color, makes
a transparent color (such as ultramarine) opaque, and cools
the color. This is most noticeable with red, which changes
from a warm red into a cool pink. You can add white to lighten
a color, but because this removes the vibrancy of a color
you'll end up with a washed-out picture if you use white to
lighten all you colors. Rather develop your color mixing skills
to produce hues of varying intensity. For example, to lighten
a red, add some yellow instead than white.
• But there isn't a white in watercolor...
Watercolor paints are transparent, so to lighten you simply
add more water to paint to let the white of the paper shine
through.
•
Why can't I add black to darken a color?
Black tends to dirty colors rather than darken them. Of the
most common blacks, Mars black is the blackest and is very
opaque, ivory black has a brown undertone, and lamp black
a blue undertone. Think about how much is truly black in nature.
•
Aren't shadows black?
No, shadows are not simply black nor a darker version of the
color of the object. They contain the complementary color
of the object. Take, for example, the shadow on a yellow object.
If you mix black and yellow, you get an unattractive olive
green. Instead of using this for the shadow, use a deep purple.
Purple being the complementary color of yellow, both will
look more vibrant.
•
I can't figure out what colors are in the shadows...
Simplify what you're looking at by placing your hand or a
piece of white paper next to the bit you're having trouble
with, then look again.
•
Haven't painters always used black?
The Impressionists didn't use black at all. Take a look at
Monet's paintings of Rouen Cathedral in full sunlight, in
dull weather, and in blue and gold to see what a genius can
do with shadows (he did 20 paintings of the cathedral at different
times of the day).
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