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1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor: Achieve precise color when painting landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and more
1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor is the definitive color-mixing resource for oil, acrylic, and watercolor artists. This user-friendly spiral-bound book is tabbed for quick and easy reference and includes two removable color-mixing grids—one for oil or acrylic, and one for watercolor.
Follow these four simple steps to mix more than 1,500 color It’s that easy! You’ll also learn about color theory , color value mixing , graying color naturally , mixing flesh and portrait colors , and rendering skies and clouds .
Also available from Walter Foster's best-selling Color Mixing Recipes series : Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic , Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits , and Color Mixing Recipes for Landscapes .
Follow these four simple steps to mix more than 1,500 color It’s that easy! You’ll also learn about color theory , color value mixing , graying color naturally , mixing flesh and portrait colors , and rendering skies and clouds .
Also available from Walter Foster's best-selling Color Mixing Recipes series : Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic , Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits , and Color Mixing Recipes for Landscapes .
176 pages, Spiral-bound
First published August 1, 2012
About the author
William F. Powell
59 books9 followersWilliam F. Powell is an internationally recognized artist recognized as one of America's foremost colorists. He has written and illustrated more than 30 instructional art books.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 28, 2021
Color mixing is a very difficult task for a realist painter, as the paints as they come out of the tube are rarely those that we find in nature. This volume contains tremendous amount of information and makes this difficult task much more easier saving precious time.
You search up a subject, and identify its colors (dark medium and light tones) with the number assigned, under the colors you find the recipes that show how many parts or what percent you need of the basic colors.
There are recipes for portraits and landscapes, for oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, also basic color theory notices.
Really very useful.
You search up a subject, and identify its colors (dark medium and light tones) with the number assigned, under the colors you find the recipes that show how many parts or what percent you need of the basic colors.
There are recipes for portraits and landscapes, for oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, also basic color theory notices.
Really very useful.
October 2, 2019
Excellent, color mixing for one specific color.
May 13, 2013
This book is very helpful with knowing and understanding colors and the small differences in each. This book in particular helped me with painting portraits. It was very nicely organized. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 7, 2021
Let color abound
William F. Powell was an internationally recognized artist and colorist. His book "1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor. Achieve precise color when painting landscapes, portraits, still lives, and more" was already published in 2012. It is the combination of other books authored by him: "Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic...," "Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits...", "Color Mixing for Landscapes...", and "Color Mixing Recipes for Watercolor...", all published by Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster.
Powell states: "In this helpful guide, you will learn how to mix more than 1,500 paint colors across a variety of media and subject matter For the best results, please read through the next four pages of information and instructions carefully" (p. 4). After the introduction and color theory he presents four chapters that deal with color mixing (oil & acrylic, watercolor, portraits, and landscapes), three chapters with color indexes (for oil, acrylic, and watercolor, for portraits, and for landscapes and an oil/acrylic conversion chart. The color mixing segments of the book contain information about color recipes, value recipes, and graying with complements (for oils & acrylic) / intensity recipes (for watercolors) / specific information for portraits (mouth, ear, nose, eyes) and landscapes (skies, clouds, trees, mountains). The color index that is included in the end of the book is a great help to find the color one wants to paint. There are actually three indexes: one for oil, acrylic, and watercolor, a second one for portraits, and a third one for landscapes. The book also includes a reusable color mixing grid for oil and acrylic as well as one for watercolor are included at the end of the book. It would be helpful if the grids could be downloaded so that artists could print them on various papers for easier reference for their own color mixes. One also has to note that there are not 1,500 paint colors for every medium but that this number is a total for the three media being used. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book for artists who want to paint with one or more of the mentioned media as well as for mixed-media artists.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#1500ColorMixingRecipesforOilAcrylicWatercolor #NetGalley
William F. Powell was an internationally recognized artist and colorist. His book "1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor. Achieve precise color when painting landscapes, portraits, still lives, and more" was already published in 2012. It is the combination of other books authored by him: "Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic...," "Color Mixing Recipes for Portraits...", "Color Mixing for Landscapes...", and "Color Mixing Recipes for Watercolor...", all published by Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster.
Powell states: "In this helpful guide, you will learn how to mix more than 1,500 paint colors across a variety of media and subject matter For the best results, please read through the next four pages of information and instructions carefully" (p. 4). After the introduction and color theory he presents four chapters that deal with color mixing (oil & acrylic, watercolor, portraits, and landscapes), three chapters with color indexes (for oil, acrylic, and watercolor, for portraits, and for landscapes and an oil/acrylic conversion chart. The color mixing segments of the book contain information about color recipes, value recipes, and graying with complements (for oils & acrylic) / intensity recipes (for watercolors) / specific information for portraits (mouth, ear, nose, eyes) and landscapes (skies, clouds, trees, mountains). The color index that is included in the end of the book is a great help to find the color one wants to paint. There are actually three indexes: one for oil, acrylic, and watercolor, a second one for portraits, and a third one for landscapes. The book also includes a reusable color mixing grid for oil and acrylic as well as one for watercolor are included at the end of the book. It would be helpful if the grids could be downloaded so that artists could print them on various papers for easier reference for their own color mixes. One also has to note that there are not 1,500 paint colors for every medium but that this number is a total for the three media being used. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book for artists who want to paint with one or more of the mentioned media as well as for mixed-media artists.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#1500ColorMixingRecipesforOilAcrylicWatercolor #NetGalley
May 24, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor is a tutorial guide with recipes for palette mixing by William F. Powell. Originally released in 2012 this reformat and re-release is due out 15th June 2021 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint. It's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is a no-nonsense bare bones mixing guide for oil, acrylic, and watercolor media. The mixing diagrams are specific and useful. The charts are arranged according to medium and color and contain specific values and ranges for 1500 colors from the base colors for each medium (Burnt sienna, Burnt umber, Cadmium orange, Cadmium red light, Cadmium yellow, etc). They are grouped together in their own chapters and aren't confusing to keep separate. The color blends are -not- specified by brand of pigment.
The author has also included an overall tutorial on watercolor mixing specifically for portraiture with a good overview over values and tones for skin colors across a wide range of skins.There is also a tutorial on color theory, an appendix. with a legend/index for typical mixes for things such as trees, sunset sky, stormy sky, etc.
This is a very useful book. It would make a good reference for maker's spaces, studios, library acquisition, or the home studio. It's worth noting however that the content for the -other- re-releases in the same series from the same publisher contains a large overlap with the content here. If only one volume is to be purchased, it should be this one.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
1,500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor is a tutorial guide with recipes for palette mixing by William F. Powell. Originally released in 2012 this reformat and re-release is due out 15th June 2021 from Quarto on their Walter Foster imprint. It's 176 pages and will be available in paperback format.
This is a no-nonsense bare bones mixing guide for oil, acrylic, and watercolor media. The mixing diagrams are specific and useful. The charts are arranged according to medium and color and contain specific values and ranges for 1500 colors from the base colors for each medium (Burnt sienna, Burnt umber, Cadmium orange, Cadmium red light, Cadmium yellow, etc). They are grouped together in their own chapters and aren't confusing to keep separate. The color blends are -not- specified by brand of pigment.
The author has also included an overall tutorial on watercolor mixing specifically for portraiture with a good overview over values and tones for skin colors across a wide range of skins.There is also a tutorial on color theory, an appendix. with a legend/index for typical mixes for things such as trees, sunset sky, stormy sky, etc.
This is a very useful book. It would make a good reference for maker's spaces, studios, library acquisition, or the home studio. It's worth noting however that the content for the -other- re-releases in the same series from the same publisher contains a large overlap with the content here. If only one volume is to be purchased, it should be this one.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
April 9, 2021
This book provides colour mixing recipes for use in a variety of mediums (oil, acrylic, watercolour).
It explains how much paint you will need, and provides a mixing grid for you to use. It also shows how a colour changes with the addition of white, water or blacks.
The book is like going to B&Q and looking at their colour swatch cards, telling you the paints and their quantities required to achieve the same colour. If doing portraits, the book includes a chapter on skin, lips, eye colours for you to get the correct shading along with tips on how to paint the warm and cool areas of the body parts. Similarly for landscapes, the book contains mixes for clouds, sky, trees and mountains. If you know the object you wish to paint, say beaver fur, there is an index at the rear of the book that provides the recipe number that is most suitable for your painting.
this is a thoroughly excellent book on those who wish to get the correct colour without having to guess at the quantities required to get the mix correct.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
It explains how much paint you will need, and provides a mixing grid for you to use. It also shows how a colour changes with the addition of white, water or blacks.
The book is like going to B&Q and looking at their colour swatch cards, telling you the paints and their quantities required to achieve the same colour. If doing portraits, the book includes a chapter on skin, lips, eye colours for you to get the correct shading along with tips on how to paint the warm and cool areas of the body parts. Similarly for landscapes, the book contains mixes for clouds, sky, trees and mountains. If you know the object you wish to paint, say beaver fur, there is an index at the rear of the book that provides the recipe number that is most suitable for your painting.
this is a thoroughly excellent book on those who wish to get the correct colour without having to guess at the quantities required to get the mix correct.
I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.
February 15, 2021
Every artist should have at least one color mixing book. I have three of William Powell’s color mixing books. His are all very useful and I like his color mixing chart to measure out your paints. I have a print copy and electronic copy of 1500 color recipes. Some of the color swatches are different when you compare the book to the electronic version.
I would recommend 1500 color mixing recipes over the one for portraits and the one that is just oil and acrylic. The reason is there is so much more information in 1500. Not just the watercolor recipes, 1500 includes landscape recipes. I was surprised to find that it included all of the information from the portrait color mixing book.
I highly recommend William Powell’s 1500 color mixing recipes for oil, acrylic, and watercolor.
I received this galley from NetGalley.
I would recommend 1500 color mixing recipes over the one for portraits and the one that is just oil and acrylic. The reason is there is so much more information in 1500. Not just the watercolor recipes, 1500 includes landscape recipes. I was surprised to find that it included all of the information from the portrait color mixing book.
I highly recommend William Powell’s 1500 color mixing recipes for oil, acrylic, and watercolor.
I received this galley from NetGalley.
April 3, 2022
This is a fabulous book for any artist to have. It’s content is just out-of-this-world! This book provides you with 1,500 color mixing recipes for oil, acrylic and watercolor paints. The recipes are exceptional, easy to follow, and will help anyone, beginner, intermediate, advanced painter to formulate a vast array of colors for painting landscapes, portraits, still life’s and other. The book also includes 2 plastic color grids that you can use, clean, and reuse again and again. I HIGHLY recommend this book! It’s a wonderful reference guide for any artist to have in their arsenal of books. This is my number 1 favorite art book in my collection of art reference books.
March 16, 2021
Color mixing can be challenging and this book will guide you but it also contains a lot of information to process. I don't believe this book is made for beginners. I mainly wanted to learn information for watercolor paints but the book will provide information for oil and acrylic as well. The book is mainly used as a reference and guide to color mixing.
Thank you for an eARC from NetGalley for the purposes of writing this review.
Thank you for an eARC from NetGalley for the purposes of writing this review.
March 31, 2021
A lot of different colour swatches, but not much information on the pigments that were used, just the paints. As manufacturer's change their formulations and paint names, this might not be much help. Not a lot of technical information either (e.g., lightfastness). As I was more interested in the color rather than when to use the recipes (I am not a portraitist, for example), the recipes were of limited use to me.
March 15, 2021
Loved this book it has so many helpful mixing tips. There are very detailed color grids on how to mix colors to achieve a huge variety of applications. This book is perfect for anyone wanting to truly customize paint colors,. Any artist who is new to color or would like to mix colors will find this book a phenomenal resource.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.
January 5, 2022
A beautiful book with loads of colour mixing ideas and illustrations. The only drawback is the number of 'prime' paint colours the author assumes you can afford to buy in order to start mixing. If you're on a tight budget, this book will tantalise you with results you can't achieve.
Recipes made with more basic ingredients would be helpful. But still a nice looking book.
Recipes made with more basic ingredients would be helpful. But still a nice looking book.
September 24, 2021
A good resource for the artist and great to see good size colour samples of each mix. However it would benefit from some updating with regard to colour alternatives from different brands, as different brands of paint have different names and formulations.
December 22, 2017
Not so easy to use for practical purposes.
February 21, 2020
A must have for ANY artist
March 17, 2021
Excellent reference book. Ordered & bought my own copy.
May 24, 2021
A great tool for an artist for colour combinations in general, landscape and portraits. very organized
September 12, 2021
Excellent so helpful one of the best on the market
March 17, 2024
I love how the book gets straight to the point of creating different color mixes. It is so simple and easy to follow.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews