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Color: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors
Millions of people have learned to draw using the methods of Dr. Betty Edwards's bestseller The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. Now, much as artists progress from drawing to painting, Edwards moves from black-and-white into color. This much-awaited new guide distills the enormous existing knowledge about color theory into a practical method of working with color to produce harmonious combinations.Using techniques tested and honed in her five-day intensive color workshops, Edwards provides a basic understanding of how to see color, how to use it, and-for those involved in art, painting, or design-how to mix and combine hues. Including more than 125 color images and exercises that move from simple to challenging, this volume explains how what is really there rather than what you "know" in your mind about colored objectsperceive how light affects color, and how colors affect one anothermanipulate hue, value, and intensity of color and transform colors into their oppositesbalance color in still-life, landscape, figure, and portrait paintingunderstand the psychology of colorharmonize color in your surroundingsWhile we recognize and treasure the beautiful use of color, reproducing what we see can be a challenge. Accessibly unweaving color's complexity, this must-have primer is destined to be an instant classic.
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
October 5, 2021
I've been studying colour for decades now and I realize that this review is the opposite of what most people have written. I believe that this book needed at least another expert on colour to clarify an important amount of information that, according to my research, is outdated and incorrect. For example, by basing her choice of primaries on spectral colours, she automatically eliminates the colour coded PV 19, which is now considered the primary red because it is a magenta red and not found in Newton's prismatic (spectral) range. Similarly, Phthalocyanine Blue (often referred to as green shade) PB 15, does not contain any green and is recognized as the primary blue now. And to introduce the idea that value is a wheel rather than a scale is unhelpful when referring to her concept of "opposite values," wherein the values at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock are exactly the same (and 1 and 7 and 11 and 5 ditto). This was so very disappointing. There are other problems that cancel out some of the good parts of the book, such as her analysis of hue, value and intensity. Unfortunately, she ignores temperature altogether. The illustrations are excellent.
I counsel my students to avoid this book in favour of James Gurney's and Nita Leland's books and have been waiting for a better, updated version worthy of the research Edwards usually does.
I counsel my students to avoid this book in favour of James Gurney's and Nita Leland's books and have been waiting for a better, updated version worthy of the research Edwards usually does.
May 15, 2019
Update: I foolishly thought there may be shorter works on mixing and matching colors, looking at the books on color at some local libraries showed me how wrong I was. I've up the rating to a five, it's the best out there that I can find for now.
Edwards has been teaching: drawing, painting, and other art topics for many decades. She found that students that did well in her color theory classes had a problem in mixing and using colors in their art. She totally revamped her color theory curriculum, this book is the result of that work. Most of the exercises included do not require drawing skills, so anyone can pick up this book and get something useful from it.
One key skill is the ability to see colors as values, the equivalent of mapping colors onto a gray scale, another is how colors affect the perception of other colors, and how habit play a role in how we perceive colors.
She covers the traditional YRB color wheel with a side note that while CMYK is good for printers, decent pigments for implementing it doesn't currently exist. After covering some theory, the practice portion starts. A selection of paints, brushes and other items is laid out and the mixing and painting begins. Students wind up making their own color wheel that has several alterations to help analyze object colors. You also make wheels to show color intensity, along with mixing matching swatches. A bit of color harmony theory is added at the end.
Next comes some simple still life instruction using folded color paper, the end goal of which is to select and mix the appropriate paints to match the colors of the paper model. A bit more difficult than it sounds, several painters tricks are discussed that can aid in accomplishing that goal. Finally, the student paints a floral still life, some drawing skill is required.
The book wraps up with a bit of touchy-feely chapter on the meaning and symbolism of color, the author does warn you that this is a pretty subjective topic. Questions like what colors you like, dislike or associate with certain emotions are asked and I'm sure that it plays well in a classroom.
If you master this material, you should be able to paint a picture that accurately represents the colors in any scene you care to reproduce. Also, this is an art book that you can read on a screen, all of the important color reproduction will be your work and not from the book.
Edwards has been teaching: drawing, painting, and other art topics for many decades. She found that students that did well in her color theory classes had a problem in mixing and using colors in their art. She totally revamped her color theory curriculum, this book is the result of that work. Most of the exercises included do not require drawing skills, so anyone can pick up this book and get something useful from it.
One key skill is the ability to see colors as values, the equivalent of mapping colors onto a gray scale, another is how colors affect the perception of other colors, and how habit play a role in how we perceive colors.
She covers the traditional YRB color wheel with a side note that while CMYK is good for printers, decent pigments for implementing it doesn't currently exist. After covering some theory, the practice portion starts. A selection of paints, brushes and other items is laid out and the mixing and painting begins. Students wind up making their own color wheel that has several alterations to help analyze object colors. You also make wheels to show color intensity, along with mixing matching swatches. A bit of color harmony theory is added at the end.
Next comes some simple still life instruction using folded color paper, the end goal of which is to select and mix the appropriate paints to match the colors of the paper model. A bit more difficult than it sounds, several painters tricks are discussed that can aid in accomplishing that goal. Finally, the student paints a floral still life, some drawing skill is required.
The book wraps up with a bit of touchy-feely chapter on the meaning and symbolism of color, the author does warn you that this is a pretty subjective topic. Questions like what colors you like, dislike or associate with certain emotions are asked and I'm sure that it plays well in a classroom.
If you master this material, you should be able to paint a picture that accurately represents the colors in any scene you care to reproduce. Also, this is an art book that you can read on a screen, all of the important color reproduction will be your work and not from the book.
December 6, 2013
Though this book is now ten years old, it is invaluable for beginners who want a working knowledge of color. Edwards teaches us succinctly and clearly just enough theory and then puts a paint brush in our hands and provides a series of graduated exercises.
Edwards bases her approach to color on brain science, specifically the observation that the brain longs for balance and creates after-images that are complements in hue, value, and intensity to the initial image. The exercises that she has designed bring all of these concepts alive and embed them in consciousness.
Edwards takes nothing for granted when she coaches. For example, she teaches that in pigments there is no true blue or true red. These two hues have trace chemicals that cause problems in mixtures with other pigments. As a result, painters need both a warm and a cool red as well as a warm and a cool blue.
The first exercise that Edwards introduces is creating a color wheel (hue). Next, a value wheel and several intensity wheels help to sharpen understanding of the other two attributes of color. Then students move on to the major project that illustrates the themes that Edwards has developed. This project, Edwards writes, is “like a musical fugue with a theme that is stated and then restated with variations.” Having chosen a pleasing piece of fabric or wrapping paper, the student recreates it, first matching the colors used, then creating a section with the complements to the original colors, another section with opposite values, and a third section with opposite intensities, then repeating the original hues. Interestingly, several student projects have been bought right off the walls of California State University at Long Beach, a highly unusual happenstance, and something Edwards attributes to the balance achieved by this method.
In the final chapters of the book Edwards takes on the problems of color constancy and simultaneous contrast. Both of these technical terms have to do with the difficulty the brain has in actually registering the color that the retina sees. She provides guidance and exercises in her trademark economy and clarity. She ends her book with a chapter on the symbolism of color.
Edwards bases her approach to color on brain science, specifically the observation that the brain longs for balance and creates after-images that are complements in hue, value, and intensity to the initial image. The exercises that she has designed bring all of these concepts alive and embed them in consciousness.
Edwards takes nothing for granted when she coaches. For example, she teaches that in pigments there is no true blue or true red. These two hues have trace chemicals that cause problems in mixtures with other pigments. As a result, painters need both a warm and a cool red as well as a warm and a cool blue.
The first exercise that Edwards introduces is creating a color wheel (hue). Next, a value wheel and several intensity wheels help to sharpen understanding of the other two attributes of color. Then students move on to the major project that illustrates the themes that Edwards has developed. This project, Edwards writes, is “like a musical fugue with a theme that is stated and then restated with variations.” Having chosen a pleasing piece of fabric or wrapping paper, the student recreates it, first matching the colors used, then creating a section with the complements to the original colors, another section with opposite values, and a third section with opposite intensities, then repeating the original hues. Interestingly, several student projects have been bought right off the walls of California State University at Long Beach, a highly unusual happenstance, and something Edwards attributes to the balance achieved by this method.
In the final chapters of the book Edwards takes on the problems of color constancy and simultaneous contrast. Both of these technical terms have to do with the difficulty the brain has in actually registering the color that the retina sees. She provides guidance and exercises in her trademark economy and clarity. She ends her book with a chapter on the symbolism of color.
August 18, 2009
Informative overview of color theory as it relates to painting and mixing colors. My reason for reading it was to cultivate a better color-sense, not as much to learn to paint, so a lot of the instruction wasn't helpful to me. However, I'm still glad I read it.
October 18, 2022
Imagine a world without colors !
May 1, 2016
Betty Edwards describes in detail the method she has used to teach art students how to paint. Just as her earlier book - Drawing with the Right Side of the Brain - was to some extent a training course in how to look at the world, this book is a serious training course in the understanding and appreciation of colour. In particular, she wants her students to develop the skill of identifying and naming the exact hues, shades, intensities of colour they encounter. Is the yellow of that daffodil to be made with a little added red, or a little added violet, or some black or some white or what? There are so many yellows the task seems too hard but with her aid I think I may have started to crack it.
I say that I've read this book but it is not that type of book. After reading follows doing and I have approached the task without adhering to her strict requirements. There are practical obstacles, starting with the non availability of at least some of the colours she wants us to use. I can find them in oils but not acrylics. Instead I have cheerfully worked with the colours I do have. Maybe over time I will get closer to her exact instructions.
What emerges is that colour theory makes far more sense when you set about doing stuff with paint. Other books I have tried provide lists of prescribed colour mixtures. This is the book I needed to start learning to work out my own colour mixes and also to understand why they have the effects they do have.
I say that I've read this book but it is not that type of book. After reading follows doing and I have approached the task without adhering to her strict requirements. There are practical obstacles, starting with the non availability of at least some of the colours she wants us to use. I can find them in oils but not acrylics. Instead I have cheerfully worked with the colours I do have. Maybe over time I will get closer to her exact instructions.
What emerges is that colour theory makes far more sense when you set about doing stuff with paint. Other books I have tried provide lists of prescribed colour mixtures. This is the book I needed to start learning to work out my own colour mixes and also to understand why they have the effects they do have.
February 26, 2018
Un libro fantástico, que enseña desde los básicos los principios fundamentales de los colores, así como su denominación correcta y propiedades a la hora de mezclarlos y de combinarlos.
Lo recomiendo a cualquier persona que quiera adquirir conocimiento sobre el color, ya sea para crear arte o para admirarla.
Además, posee ejercicios de pintura muy entretenidos y didácticos.
Me ha encantado.
Lo recomiendo a cualquier persona que quiera adquirir conocimiento sobre el color, ya sea para crear arte o para admirarla.
Además, posee ejercicios de pintura muy entretenidos y didácticos.
Me ha encantado.
November 8, 2018
Da non pittore, ho evidentemente letto velocemente tutte le parti pratiche del testo, non trovando in quelle più teoriche l'approccio e il contenuto che mi sarebbe, forse, piaciuto trovare. Mi pare a ogni modo un buon testo per avvicinarsi a questo tema.
August 15, 2021
Lots of false information. Read James Gurney’s Color & Light instead.
September 10, 2022
I borrowed this book from the library. When I want to actually try the exercises provided I will buy a copy because it's obvious that this will need to have some serious time invested to go through the information. The lessons have info, sets of "passes" and reviews that , to be done correctly and completely, need complete focus.
The author, through her teaching, discovered what DIDN'T work for students and consequently came up with this better way.
Having read a lot about the subject I think this is the best book for me.
I will definitely buy my own copy.
The author, through her teaching, discovered what DIDN'T work for students and consequently came up with this better way.
Having read a lot about the subject I think this is the best book for me.
I will definitely buy my own copy.
April 24, 2022
I am sick and tired of professional artists criticizing Betty and her 'over-simplified' work.
I've done so many courses and worked with artists who can creating amazing stuff for themselves but they CANNOT teach other people how to see, think, process, and make sense of color, value, intensity, and art as a whole.
Betty Edwards is a Genius because she is a great teacher. She breaks down seeing color, understanding value, hue and intensity and getting complete beginners to put on paper what they see.
Negative reviews are by teachers who can't seem to teach.
As someone who can't just 'do whatever she likes' and 'just mix things around and see what happen', Edwards is the pivotal and singular force that has helped me go from scribbling without any positive outcomes to having me make pleasing art that I can share with my friends, family, and social media at large with joy.
If you're a beginner, get the book, do every single exercise. And you'll be stunned at your ability to finally SEE and create the art you want to.
I've done so many courses and worked with artists who can creating amazing stuff for themselves but they CANNOT teach other people how to see, think, process, and make sense of color, value, intensity, and art as a whole.
Betty Edwards is a Genius because she is a great teacher. She breaks down seeing color, understanding value, hue and intensity and getting complete beginners to put on paper what they see.
Negative reviews are by teachers who can't seem to teach.
As someone who can't just 'do whatever she likes' and 'just mix things around and see what happen', Edwards is the pivotal and singular force that has helped me go from scribbling without any positive outcomes to having me make pleasing art that I can share with my friends, family, and social media at large with joy.
If you're a beginner, get the book, do every single exercise. And you'll be stunned at your ability to finally SEE and create the art you want to.
April 26, 2021
Get it here:
https://b-ok.cc/book/460489/7da24b
The subtitle might give the impression that this book is irrelevant for digital artists.
It isn't.
It is a book on colour theory, and goes into great depths on the concepts of contrast, value, meaning etc. of colour,
all concepts still very relevant for digital artists.
One interesting thing to note is that I recognised the technique of 'grisaille' as one used by digital artists today, even though the book states that the technique was abandoned in the late 19th century as too time consuming! It's clearly worth studying the old ways.
https://b-ok.cc/book/460489/7da24b
The subtitle might give the impression that this book is irrelevant for digital artists.
It isn't.
It is a book on colour theory, and goes into great depths on the concepts of contrast, value, meaning etc. of colour,
all concepts still very relevant for digital artists.
One interesting thing to note is that I recognised the technique of 'grisaille' as one used by digital artists today, even though the book states that the technique was abandoned in the late 19th century as too time consuming! It's clearly worth studying the old ways.
June 24, 2008
This guide published in 2004 is by the bestselling author of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. This is a primer for people wanting to learn more about colour written by an author who focuses on making art theory and practice accessible. Of all the books concerned with learning about colour it's probably most suitable for those who are just starting to learn about colour.
March 8, 2017
A basic book on color theory written for art students. The author includes many hands on activities for learning about color with paints, and includes very basic instructions for readers with little to no experience painting. I think this would be a good book for anyone really interested in learning more about color in art.
October 11, 2014
This is the best book I have read on understanding color theory and how to mix colors. I refer back to it often even though I have been doing art for ten years. I highly recommend it!
May 31, 2015
Prestato, da anni, è ora di farmelo ridare, se mi ricordo a chi lo prestai..
February 21, 2016
Very informative, although a book that is probably only for beginners and introduction to colour theory. It probably deserves a reread, along with doing all the excercises mentioned.
March 12, 2018
I read Color because I had found Betty Edwards drawing book to be very helpful to improving my knowledge of art fundamentals. The major pros of this book are discussing the attributes of color (hue, value, and intensity) in practical ways that translate to technique in painting and by providing step by step instructions for how to proceed in painting, which is excellent for a novice like me.
The major cons for me revolve around the presentation of the neuroscience behind color. First, I think that a more fundamental description of why certain colors are primary, why mixing certain colors dulls them, and how color perception works would benefit this book. Secondly, much of the neuroscience is presented in a way that is not totally correct. For instance, color constancy is sometimes presented as a result of semantic knowledge, rather than constancy of color under different illuminations. Finally, the author makes some appeals to studies of aesthetics and color harmony, but leaves this discussion very vague and unconvincing.
The major cons for me revolve around the presentation of the neuroscience behind color. First, I think that a more fundamental description of why certain colors are primary, why mixing certain colors dulls them, and how color perception works would benefit this book. Secondly, much of the neuroscience is presented in a way that is not totally correct. For instance, color constancy is sometimes presented as a result of semantic knowledge, rather than constancy of color under different illuminations. Finally, the author makes some appeals to studies of aesthetics and color harmony, but leaves this discussion very vague and unconvincing.
April 5, 2018
I've found the information mostly elsewhere already in books I already have (good thing this is an inter library loan!). Text is a bit dense and my gut feeling is that I find James Gurney to be more helpful when it comes to things like color. My attention did catch at the value chapter, as that is something I struggle with; it's been a helpful feature in several other books I've read recently.
As for the content of the book besides lots of text, there are twelve-ish simple projects in this book, with maybe four or five illustrations by the artist and a few samples from her students. There are also some historical paintings for reference.
Overall, I found this to be on par with several DK art books I've read. It goes more in depth in the text, which is more college level, but the images and overall content don't really match the tone of the text, at least in my opinion. Maybe I'm just picky?
As for the content of the book besides lots of text, there are twelve-ish simple projects in this book, with maybe four or five illustrations by the artist and a few samples from her students. There are also some historical paintings for reference.
Overall, I found this to be on par with several DK art books I've read. It goes more in depth in the text, which is more college level, but the images and overall content don't really match the tone of the text, at least in my opinion. Maybe I'm just picky?
February 14, 2025
I become fan of Betty Edwards work when her book 'Drawing on the right side of the brain' just blew my mind with the unique approach to the drawing.
This book deals with the color and painting. I am not much into painting so i was hoping to get a new understanding of the colors.
And it did not disappoint. This book gave me new appreciation about the colors we see everyday.
You will get answers to things like:
Why some colors work together?
Why there are only few basic colors but still there are million colors?
How to paint? How to mix colors? Etc.
This book deals with the color and painting. I am not much into painting so i was hoping to get a new understanding of the colors.
And it did not disappoint. This book gave me new appreciation about the colors we see everyday.
You will get answers to things like:
Why some colors work together?
Why there are only few basic colors but still there are million colors?
How to paint? How to mix colors? Etc.
November 12, 2019
Dr. Betty Edwards is a professor of art at California State. The book is divided into three parts: part 1 about color; part 2, using the color wheel to understand hue, value and intensity; and part 3, harmony in color. I will order this book back in to read fully when I have time to address it fully.
January 12, 2021
Perfect for beginner painters. Too many exercises can still be beneficial to intermediate artists, but overall this book is geared toward the beginner. The layout is great, easy to read and comprehensive. Edwards is also passionate and attaches her enthusiasm to every passage in this book. Still worth a read even if the exercises don’t suit your process at the time of your career.
October 7, 2022
No l lo leí completo, pero es un buen libro si haces clases para trabajar color, interacción de color y forma. Se pueden sacar buenos ejercicios de ahí. Definitivamente no el el mejor libro de Betty, pero salva . Libro de consulta podría ser o conseguirlo en una biblioteca pública y digitalizar algunos ejercicios no más que eso
October 31, 2023
Well worth a skim. I am no artist, not even an art student, so I skipped the exercises and blitzed through the text. Charming, pleasant, and just the right level of overview for someone with no knowledge of how color functions who’s interested in learning basic color theory. I certainly picked up a thing or two.
This will genuinely have me peering at color for at least the next few weeks.
This will genuinely have me peering at color for at least the next few weeks.
July 1, 2025
Probably one of the best guides on mixing color out there. I use miniature paints (for dnd or tabletop gaming minis) so it’s not quite the same but with some research you can do a 1:1 comparison on the paints and this was was vastly more helpful than the other books or tutorials from the nerds about minis
December 24, 2017
Great book for learning the basics of color. I read it to check again some concepts and other things that I had forgotten, and I did a couple of exercises. Important for beginners, it trains your eyes and teach you how to see the world from the color perspective
August 15, 2019
A beautifully concise and accessible intro to color and color theory for artists and art teachers. The exercises and skills/concept progressions are very helpful and clearly are the work of a teacher and artist who has road tested these ideas.
May 13, 2020
So much fun for this color nerd!
I loved this book and I’m really excited to dive in and do more color studies. I felt like a total nerd studying this and taking notes and loved every minute.
I loved this book and I’m really excited to dive in and do more color studies. I felt like a total nerd studying this and taking notes and loved every minute.
January 4, 2021
I picked this up as I am a color enthusiast. At, it looked very promising, but then the middle dragged as more of an instruction on how to paint - not what I was looking for. The end was pretty good, with some musings on the emotional associations with color, so the overall okay rating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews