The Power of Grays
Some painters are all about color and tend to avoid grays like the plague. But, if you really want to get more color in your painting, introduce more grays. The grays actually bring out the color. The contrast with all the grays can be beautiful. Ned Mueller knows many landscape and figure painters who love to paint outdoors on a gray day because the colors truly pop once they are sprinkled in.
Sometimes, beginner painters think they need to paint gaudy and bright. But, the key is learning how to orchestrate that with grays. You could paint a whole painting in gray. Then, once you have everything grayed down and add a pure color someplace in that painting, that color will be the brightest thing around. If you want an instant center of interest, paint everything gray and add a couple of pure colors. They truly bounce out to the viewer.
Days End-Lagos, Portugal, Oil on Linen by Ned Mueller
People tend to think artists who use grays have a lack of knowledge of color, but it is totally the opposite. Russian painters call them “noble grays.” And this is truly what they are! They really can be strong. People say you can be a colorist, but a good colorist can be someone who paints beautiful grays. You don’t have to use all of these crazy bright colors. People who are knowledgeable about painting and what good color is can relate to this. When people think of the color gray, they think “dull, boring, or no color.” But it is actually the opposite. It is all about your knowledge of color and how far you are on your color journey. It is a concept students need to put some mileage into to see the beauty of it.
“Sometimes, beginner painters think they need to paint gaudy and bright. But, the key is learning how to orchestrate that with grays.”
When Ned Mueller started off, he painted subjects and colors that would sell. He knew if he painted a certain scene or figure in a certain way, he could make money. But, he got to the point where it was not sustainable for him to paint for the market rather than himself. This can be the same with color. Do not be afraid to use grays over bright colors. Grays are not dull or boring, and they can in fact make color stand out in the right painting. Experiment with concepts like this, if you are able, so you can focus on growing as an artist. All great artists are open to experimentation!
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To listen more on noble grays, listen to Gabor and Ned on the Paint & Clay podcast here.