SIMPLIFIED COLOR MIXING FOR OILS & ACRYLICS: Sandi Whetzel, Colorist,, Takes the Mystery out of Mixing Vibrant Chromas

Through the Eyes of a Child... 20x16 acrylic © Sandi Whetzel

Learn an economical system for consistently mixing the colors you want, while avoiding trial-and-error mishaps.  Whether you work in oils or acrylics, beginner through advanced are encouraged to participate in these hands-on exercises to create vivid chromas, complementary neutrals, lively blacks and various flesh tones to suit your individual style.  We'll explore color without pressure to perform.  With over 13 years of instructing and painting experience, colorist Sandi Whetzel takes the mystery out of color mixing.  Raise your paintings to the next level with eye-pleasing color choices.

ALL PAINTS ARE PROVIDED for this class.  Just bring a canvas tablet pad, a brush, palette knife, (if you have one) and mixing palette or shallow glass baking dish 9x13 or larger to mix colors.  Call Sandi Whetzel at 541-825-3525 for details.

Total cost for the class is $49, payable to Umpqua Community College.  To register, visit or call UCC at 541-440-7744 and reference class #10316.  The class will meet Wednesday and Thursday, July 14 & 15, 2010 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm in the Roseburg Senior Center located at 621 Madrone St., Roseburg, OR.

My art is brimming with bold, vivid, clean, beautiful colors.  I learned to mix all my own colors from a very talented artist and instructor who became my mentor, Bonnie Hill of Roseburg, OR.  After seeing her students struggle to mix clean predictable colors, Bonnie spent many hours exploring pigments to find the cleanest, strongest pigments to to mix the purest,  most intense chromas of all twelve colors of the color wheel spectrum.  This method makes it possible for students to achieve universal results every time.

Bonnie and I use only eight pure pigments.  This is the most economical and most efficient way to go.  We don't have to lug around too many tubes of paint, some of which might only be used rarely.  The specific pigments are the least toxic versions of the gambit of pigments to choose from.  We can make virtually almost any color, including rich, beautiful, harmonious blacks and any flesh tones desired.  Another bonus with this method of mixing is that we always know which partiular pigments were used to make all of the colors of the spectrum.  This is invaluable when going back into a painting to rework it and match the original colors.

I am looking forward to meeting and working with anyone living close enough to attend this class.  Students  had a great time and learned a lot the first time I instructed it last summer.  If you can't attend this class I do cover the same material briefly in my regular classes, Painting with Oils and Acrylics, Fall, Winter and Spring Terms.  For information about those classes contact UCC or the class schedule for each term.