When I first began to explore watercolor pigments and how different colors combined and reacted, I quickly became confused. I was constantly searching through my sketchbooks for mixes and colors or trying to decipher what was in a previous mix.
For example, I have a page in an old sketchbook with a lovely, dark teal that I mixed. The color swatch has a heart drawn by it, and that’s it. Now I can’t even remember mixing it, so the recipe is lost forever. {Sob.}
Keeping a designated mixing sketchbook allows me to document & organize the pigments I’ve tried and how various mixes perform.
This helps me avoid repeats or colors-too-close-to-tell, especially in my palette. Keeping up with mixes I've tried allows me to greatly expand or change my palette by swapping out a few colors instead of purchasing new ones. In the words, it saves me money!
Plus, I really don’t like “messing up” my regular sketchbook with a bunch of mixing experiments. My regular sketchbook is my art journal, so I like to keep it pretty.
I'm now working my way through my third color theory and mixing sketchbook. In fact, I'm currently using two simultaneously so I don't have to wait for paint to dry before I can turn the page. (Maybe I should have titled this post Keeping Designated Mixing Sketchbooks... plural.)
I highly encourage you to explore color theory and mixing with the colors in your palette, and I share reasons why at my post here. Below are ideas for setting up a mixing sketchbook.
Organizing a Mixing Sketchbook
The first pages of my mixing sketchbook are for reserved for paint swatches. These are grouped mostly by pigment colors. For example, all yellow pigments (PY) on one page, all blue (PB) on another and so on.
I only swatch colors I currently own on these pages along with the brand, color name, and pigment info. I don’t make any additional notes because I can easily find additional pigment information online.
Sometimes I'll put the same pigment on multiple pages. For example, even though Venetian Red (PR101) is a red pigment and is with the reds, it is visually close to Burnt Sienna (PBr7) and Quin Burnt Orange (PO48) so I've also included a swatch with the earth colors.
With convenience colors, or watercolors with a blend of two or more pigments, I just choose whatever page is their best visual representation. For example, M. Graham’s Nickel Quin Gold is a blend of PO48 and PY150, but it looks like a yellow to me so that’s where it goes. Same with watercolors that aren’t labeled with a pigment symbol like Chromium Green Oxide or Bloodstone Genuine.
When I'm experimenting with mixes and discover one I really like, I’ll paint a swatch of it onto its appropriate color page and note its recipe. (Like the burnt sienna/phthalo blue mix above. So juicy!)
The pages of color swatches in my current mixing sketchbook:
- Earth/Oranges (PBr & PO)
- Blues (PB)
- Yellows/Ochres (PY)
- Greens (PG)
- Red/Violets (PR & PV)
- Neutrals/Blacks (PBk)
The rest of the sketchbook is used for mixing experiments. Though I make careful notes on what each mix contains, I don’t journal my thoughts or any additional notes because I’ve noticed that as my experience grows with a pigment or color, sometimes my opinion of it changes.
As you can see in the pages above, I'll also use my mixing sketchbook to explore various colors before beginning a painting or when wondering what colors work best for certain subjects. Maybe I should start calling it my experimenting sketchbook, because that's actually what it is!
After completing a mixing experiment, I’ll often scan the mixes in and rearrange them into a chart. (You can see and print an example of a green chart here or black mixes here.) This organized, printed version of my previously messy mixes is extremely handy for quick reference, but there are a few drawbacks. The printed version is never an exact representation of the colors, and many pigments flatten during the process and lose a lot character.
However, since watercolor isn’t really a science but an art and it's rare to be able to mix the exact same color twice, I don’t worry about the drawbacks too much. These charts give me a good idea of what is possible with colors and help me better understand what happens when certain pigments mix. And that's all I really need!
Tips for Keeping a Watercolor Mixing Sketchbook
- Don’t Splurge
There’s no need to get an artist-grade sketchbook for mixing. Just make sure the paper is decent enough to avoid pilling or buckling. Currently I’m using a 9x12-inch Strathmore Visual Journal [affiliate, so thanks!] with watercolor paper. It cost less than $15 and works great.
- Avoid Smooth Papers
Cold pressed or textured paper works well because the hills and valleys often bring out the pigment’s hidden attributes and allow granulation to settle.
- Go Big
I enjoy mixing and can get carried away sometimes, so even the 9x12 I’m using can seem a little small, especially when I’m working on a chart. Make sure you grab a sketchbook big enough for your needs.
- Paint Generous Swatches
Don’t be miserly with the paint! Make color swatches large enough to go from full strength to wash. Bigger swatches more easily display the pigment variation and gradation and give a more accurate representation of the color.
- Label Like Crazy
It’s easy to get caught up in the throes of a mixing experiment and forget what you just mixed and charted 5 minutes ago. Immediately label colors and jot notes on mixes— don't wait!
Alternatives to a Mixing Sketchbook
Keeping a mixing sketchbook works for me. It is a low cost, low maintenance way to keep up with things. Plus, I don’t own bins full of watercolors. (They are oh so fun to play with, but really, how many tubes do I actually need? Not a lot, I’ve discovered.) Therefore I don’t need an advanced organizing system.
Some artists prefer making watercolor paint chip cards and organizing them on binder rings or in card files. Small mixing samples can also be organized this way.
This binder system posted on Wet Canvas is impressive, but this level of organization requires a lot of time and a need for it. Regardless, a binder can make a great mixing notebook and allows one to rearrange, add, or remove pages.
To help with practice and organization of mixes, I've shared a free, blank watercolor mixing chart (pictured in use above) that you may download and print.
There is enough space to mix up to 7 colors which will result in a whopping 21 additional colors. Plus, there is room at the top for a 3-hole punch so you can organize the charts in a binder. Instructions for printing and using the chart are included at this post.
If you have discovered a convenient way to keep up with watercolor swatches & mixes, I'd love to hear about it. Leave me a comment below, and happy mixing!
