Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

Color mixing can be tricky; mixing mud is what we try to avoid. There is a place, however, for that muddy color. Neutral grays well placed can enhance the pure spot of color you want accented. Eugene Delacroix was a master at using 'mud' for the surrounding areas to the more pure mixtures. He really made the skin tones almost glow. Degas and his use of grays surrounding pure color.

Rembrandt Van Rijn completed at least 90 self portraits; paintings and etchings. The first one Rembrandt adds interest by placing the head a bit off center and looking slightly out. The highlight on the right side keeps the viewer focused within the painting. The next painting also has the light coming from the right side but the head is centered and looking toward the viewer. The lighting adds intrigue.  The last portrait has the lighting coming from the upper right. It is interesting with the mystery figure appearing on the left. 

The accent color in a painting, also called the discord color is added right at the focal point. Is the overall key value dark, the accent should be light or a light painting the discord should be dark. The accent can be made using a color contrast. If the predominant color scheme is warm make the accent cool; if the color scheme is cool, the accent should be warm. Below are some Gauguin paintings; observe how he handled the 'spice color'.