BobBlast 534 - "Bright Colors vs Muted Colors"

Weekly BobBlast Issue 534
Bright Colors vs Muted Colors
Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

I must admit, some paintings I do are intended to cheery, upbeat and and bright. And there are some paintings I purposefully create to be the opposite, which uses muted, neutral and dark colors. This BobBlast is all about how I make both Clear and Bright paintings and Muted paintings. It’s your choice—clean and bright or quiet and muddy.

Let’s start by talking about color. When paint is squeezed out of the tube, it is the cleanest, brightest and clearest it will ever be…of that color. However, as soon as we start touching the paint, it begins to be not so pure. The more we touch and churn the paint around, the duller it may become. The paint loses its initial sparkle. 

So, the more you mix and touch the paint, the duller it becomes. The less you touch the paint, it remains clean, clear and bright. 

The way you work with your brush can keep the paint bright or dull the paint down. Create mud by layering paint—I call it churning it up—wet into wet of different colors. Watch the demo to see me turn the muddy colors into a desirable neutral by adding opaque white. Keep the clean and bright colors by painting short, choppy strokes. Get in…Get out. Think of the painter Georges Seurat and “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of Grande Jatte”—all short, choppy strokes. A more contemporary painter is the portrait artist Chuck Close. 

In summary, you can determine how you want your colors to be, by practicing techniques to keep the colors bright, or practicing techniques to master cool, quiet neutrals.

Continuing with this subject, we have a fun Online Monthly Demo coming up in December:
“Using Neutrals in your Paintings”
•December 11, 2024
https://robertburridge.com/monthly-de...

Online Figure Workshop Coming Up!
•December 6-8, 2024
"Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion & Emotion"
Featuring the Model Pash
https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...

Online Monthly Demos
•October 9, 2024
“Asymmetrical Composition”
•November 14, 2024
“Painting Stemware Glasses”
https://robertburridge.com/monthly-de...

Online Workshops Coming Up!
•November 16-17, 2024
Small Scale Abstract Painting
https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...

•November 21, 2024
Painting the Illusion of Glass Vessels
https://robertburridge.com/zoomin-wit...

Online Monthly Critique Sessions
Limited to 10 artists - up to 3 images each
•September 24, 2024
•October 10, 2024
https://robertburridge.com/monthly-cr...

Traveling Bob – In-Person Workshops!
•January 6-10, 2025
Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage
Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ
Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts
contact 715-747-2054 or [email protected]
https://www.madelineartschool.com/sho...

•January 18-25, 2025
Tropical Escapaint! Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico
Casa de Los Artistas
Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 
Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295
https://artworkshopvacations.com/feb-...

Burridge Online Coaching
•Private one-on-one
Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies
Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies
https://robertburridge.com/burridge-o...