The Artist’s Guide to Mixing Colours: Get the Most from Your Watercolour Palette

The Artist’s Guide to Mixing Colours is a practical watercolour handbook by Jenny Rodwell. It focuses on getting the most from a watercolour palette through clear, systematic mixing. This digital PDF edition is available for instant download.

This guide starts with a standard 12-colour palette and shows how to mix a wide range of clean, vibrant colours. It also explains how to avoid the muddy results that come from overmixing.

Book Overview

Published in the UK in 1996 by David & Charles, The Artist’s Guide to Mixing Colours offers a practical approach to watercolour mixing. Jenny Rodwell provides straightforward advice for choosing colours, mixing them in the right proportions, and building a personal palette. The book includes illustrated charts for 132 colours that can be mixed by combining any two colours from the popular palette.

It also covers whites, blacks, tone, special palettes for portraits, figures, architecture, landscapes, and light. A glossary and index make it easy to use as a reference during painting.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• A simple, systematic method for mixing watercolour without creating mud.
• Guidance on selecting a palette that suits the subject and the light.
• Easy-to-follow charts showing 132 two-colour mixtures from a 12-colour palette.
• Practical advice on mixing greens, violets, oranges, and other challenging colours.
• Help with using whites and blacks effectively while preserving transparency.
• Special palettes for portraits, figures, architecture, landscapes, and seasonal light.
• A glossary of colour terms and a full index.

Why This Book Matters

Successful watercolour painting depends on confident colour mixing. This book turns that skill into a clear system based on simplicity and controlled mixtures.

For artists who want to move beyond trial and error, the book provides a reliable reference for choosing colours and mixing them with purpose. Its practical charts and subject-specific palettes remain useful for both students and experienced painters.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, so no physical item will be shipped. Once your purchase is complete, you can access your PDF immediately.

The file works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and other PDF-compatible reading apps. You can read it on the device that suits your painting workspace.

FAQ

How soon will I receive the book?
Access is available immediately after purchase. The download link is provided as part of the digital delivery.

Will a physical copy be shipped?
No. This is a digital edition, supplied as a PDF file.

Can I read it on any device?
Yes, the PDF is compatible with most reading apps, including Kindle apps, tablets, desktop readers, and mobile devices.

Download The Artist’s Guide to Mixing Colours and keep a practical colour-mixing reference close at hand while you paint.