What Is This Thing We Have With Blue?

Detail of Dinghy-4 in Blue and Green 5"x7" oil on canvas

I've painting a lot of blue lately. Just like I've been wanting to be by the water, I'm drawn to the color blue. It's probably because in times of trouble, I look to things that are calm and serene, like the sky on a cloudless day and the water reflecting it.

Summer Marsh 8"x10" oil on canvas

Have you ever noticed how the sky is a darker blue high up over our heads and can be almost light blue-green at the horizon? And how the blue of the water becomes darker when there's a stiff breeze? There are so many blues! Peacock blue, swimming pool turquoise, the blue of lilacs, deep cobalt blue, the purple blue of shadows on the snow, I'm sure you can add many more.

Detail of Spring Marsh Reflection 5"x7" oil on canvas

How does the artist paint all these blues? The easiest way is to start with the two blues shown below. Then with the help of some white, two yellows, and two reds we can mix all the colors of the rainbow, including all the blues, greens, and other colors in these paintings. Learn more about this limited palette here.

phthalo blue (left), ultramarine blue (right), and below mixed with white