There are a number of unshakable rules, following which the color scheme in your work will be harmonious Save it and use it
Use as little black paint as it is possible.
Every art school teaches this rule. Artists mix chromatic (colored) grays and work without darkeners. And if you can’t do without black at all, use it a little, mixing it drop by drop with rich, spectral, pure colors. More about of using dark tones we will speak tomorrow on "Dutch still life secrets" course.
Do not mix colors located opposite each other in the color wheel (complementary colours) mechanically on the palette with brushes. This applies to contrasting colors: yellow and purple, red and green, blue and orange, and so on, kill each other when mixed and enhance each other when placed side by side.
With layer-by-layer painting, especially with water-soluble paints (gouache, watercolor), each next layer is applied more easily and more accurately, because we do not want to hurt the previous layer. In this case, you should especially beware of grouting the paint into the bottom layer, as it will be mixed with the color of the next layer. When two complex colors are mixed, they give something completely off-color. Therefore, stack layers on top of each other easily and quickly.
Do not mix more than 3 different colors, especially in the very first painting exercises, in order to accurately mix a beautiful, sophisticated, complex color, but not get into excessive color confusion or unpleasant disharmony.
To accurately determine whether the result is a complex shade or dirty, try to name your color mix. What is it: marshmallow pink or chocolate; aquamarine or warm yellow-green. If you describe the color in words, everything is in order.