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It’s about controlling those mixtures. Certain colours mixed together are going to make mud. It happens easily… here are some of the common reasons that mud happens: 1. Too many colours on the palette – and they are doing their own mixing with very little help from you. 2. The brush didn’t get completely clean, and you are mixing colours without even knowing it 3. The rinse water is – well – muddy. Even just a little. 4. Using a black pigment in mixtures. Since black is already a mix of several colours, it’s a recipe for disaster in most mixtures. 5. You are painting a swamp scene :). And here’s an important point that flows from #5 – there are definitely times you want muddy colours. They can be beautifully expressive and give a lovely contrast when used near more intense colour. It’s about being able to control when the mud happens – that’s what makes for happy painters and pleasing paintings. 

 

Imagine: the most delicious dessert you know of is in front of you. Are you going to take one little tiny bite and set it aside? Imagine: it’s a sweltering hot day and you are beside a gorgeous pool. Are you going to only put one foot in? Sad to say, that’s what it’s like to try to paint with teeny tiny bits of colour on your palette or your brush. Why not put out generous gobs of luscious colour and load up that brush? It’s the only way to really enjoy painting.