Looking Past Muddy Colors into Correct Values

[patindaytona]

I figured out I think why I always keep going over and back on my paintings. Tonal Value.  I tend to end up grabbing any color around and messing that aspect up. But my real intention is to get values in order. So, maybe with all that overworking, I'm learning to SEE more. I suppose color can come at a later stage, but at least for now I am still thinking hard of value.
I will look over worked and muddy. I wonder if that is a part of color gone bad, or is that also a matter of values gone bad? Hard to see beyond the muddy color and know for sure.

[valweb]

Pat I agree with you tonal values are most important.  Never be afraid to make something too dark (dark as you see it).  I read somewhere I think in was in one of Helen van Wyks painting books.  You cannot have a light if there is no dark.  You can sometimes turn your colours to mud by adding a brown to darken.   Nolan will be able to help you with this one.  Keep trying....

[thegrindre]

I believe Nolan taught us to lighten our color by applying the next color up on the wheel toward yellow and to darken a color, the next color down towards purple. Payne's gray, brown and black aren't supposed to be used. This is how I've been doing it, anyway.
(There is an exception to this though as with most everything else around here...  )

Happy 

[nolan]

that is correct Rick

Always remember : you can't have bright lights without dark shadows, so even if the colour is off, if the tonal value is correct, you will get the depth in the painting

[thegrindre]

Yee Haa! Lookee me go
I'm learnin' something around here after all. 

[Val]

Yee Haa! Lookee me go

Nice skirt...   Sorry couldn't resist!    .........I like your pompoms too! 
 Sorry, Sorry     

[thegrindre]

No, no, that's my cheering section for makin' a touch down. 

[valweb]

 

[Val]

  Just teasing Rick, Very glad you are having a good time learning here despite my somewhat warped sense of humour sometimes. But then...that means your now officially part of the family. You've just been illegally adopted! 

[thegrindre]

I love you, Val  and I love your humor. I look forward to your smart aleck remarks, wise cracks and snide innuendos. I love that type of humor. Flat and dry is my cup of tea.

Please don't stop. I really am a fan of yours. 

Now, about this illegal adoption...       

[Val]

Wow.... do I really do all that?!  Guess I can't use the  anymore....if my halo slips it'll choke me! 

[thegrindre]

Oh, reminds me of a joke;
What the difference between the words, illegal and unlawful?

[Val]

OK...I'll bite. What is it? 

[thegrindre]

One's a sick bird... Badda boom! 

[Val]