Every artist eventually discovers that color isn’t just something you use, it’s something you learn, something you chase, and something you occasionally argue with in the studio like an old friend who refuses to behave.
Color is chemistry, history, psychology, culture, and pure magic all rolled together. It’s the reason two nearly identical yellows can make your artwork sing… or make it look like you dunked it in soup. And here at Art Supply Center (in case you need a reminder, we’re Portland’s oldest art supply store run by bona fide art nerds) we take that magic very seriously. But like, fun seriously, not tax-audit seriously.
The ASC Color Lab Series is our ongoing exploration into everything that makes color so fascinating, from the science of mixing to the strange, wonderful stories behind the pigments in your paint tubes.
Why Color Matters More Than You Think
Color mixing is hands-down one of the most powerful skills an artist can build. Not because you “need” to know it (modern paints come in every hue imaginable) but because mixing color trains your eye, deepens your intuition, and helps you understand why your materials behave the way they do.
When you sit down with a palette, a brush, and a couple of pigments, you start to see subtleties you never noticed before: temperature shifts, undertones, granulation patterns, transparency, and even drying differences. This isn’t just technique, it’s an ongoing relationship with your materials.
And the more you mix, the more confident and creative you become. That’s why the Color Lab exists: to help you reconnect with color as a playground rather than a formula.
Pigment Lore: Color Stories Worth Telling
Behind every paint tube or pencil stick is a tale. Sometimes it’s scientific, sometimes scandalous, often surprisingly poetic. We’ll be diving into these stories regularly, but here’s a tiny appetizer to set the tone:
A Mini Color Story: Why Quinacridone Became Everyone’s Best Friend
Quinacridone (pronounced quin-ac-ri-done, in case you were wondering) pigments were originally developed for automotive paint in the mid-20th century because cars needed colors that wouldn’t fade under the sun. Artists quickly realized these pigments were more lightfast, more vibrant, and more transparent than many traditional paints. Today, quinacridones (especially Quinacridone Magenta and Quinacridone Gold) are beloved for their glowing undertones and incredible mixing range. They’re basically the extroverts of the pigment family: always ready to brighten up the party.
The Color Lab posts will bring you more of these stories. We’ll be exploring all of it: why Hooker’s Green has a questionable backstory, how Yellow Ochre and Raw Sienna came from opposite ends of the earth, and why Mummy Brown is exactly as unsettling as it sounds.
The Joy of Swatching (Yes, It’s a Whole Art Form)
Swatching is the color world’s version of getting to know someone on a first date, except instead of asking about hobbies, you’re asking: “Are you transparent? Do you granulate? Do you stain everything you touch? How do you behave with black?”
A swatch is simply a sample of how a pigment looks and performs across different conditions. That can mean a full gradient from mass tone to tint, wet-on-wet experiments, opacity tests, glazing layers, lifting tests, or mix samples with other colors.
Swatching isn’t just documentation, it’s a low-pressure way to explore color, tune your eye, and uncover new ideas.
In ASC Color Lab posts, you’ll see new swatch sheets, color challenges, palette explorations, and tips for swatching across watercolor, acrylic, marker, colored pencil, ink, and even gel prints.
Seasonal Palettes Worth Playing With
Color has seasons. Both in nature and in mood. Seasonal palettes aren’t just aesthetic, they’re an excellent way to push your color mixing in new directions.
Here are a few palettes we’ll explore in future Color Lab posts, along with what you can learn from each:
Cranberry & Copper – Warmth + Glow
Great for exploring warm shadows, metallic accents, and earth-tone mixing.
Icy Blue & Plum – Temperature Play
Perfect for learning how cool tones interact and how to create depth without adding black.
Fir Forest Neutrals – Natural Pigment Study
A beautiful entry point into earth pigments, greens, and muted palettes.
Vintage Gold & Teal – High Contrast Harmony
Learn about complementary colors, value balance, and historic pigments.
Pink Snowstorm – Pastel Power
A surprisingly technical palette that teaches dilution, tinting strength, and subtle temperature shifts.
What’s Next in the ASC Color Lab
This is just the beginning. In future posts (all tagged with Color Lab) you’ll see:
- Pigment spotlights
- Color-mixing experiments
- Step-by-step palette-building
- Seasonal color challenges
- Color stories from history
- Swatching exercises
- Tools and tips we love
- Downloadable color guides
- And plenty more nerdy goodness
We’ll be playing, learning, mixing, swatching, and occasionally squealing over a particularly beautiful granulation pattern. All in a day’s work at ASC.
Ready to explore color more deeply? Stop by Art Supply Center and let us show you new pigments, favorite tools, and the art-nerdiest swatching tips you’ve ever heard. Bring your curiosity and maybe a notebook.
4 Responses
Great idea! I love experimenting with different pigments — especially when two colors with the same name in two different brands react differently when mixed with other colors that are also named the same! I know how to read the pigment ID numbers, but that is only part of the story, as I’m learning. Seems almost like the color names are, in the words of a famous character from Pirates of the Caribbean in reference to the pirate code of behavior: “…they’re more like guidelines, not hard and fast rules.”
Kathryn, this is such a sharp observation and you’ve already uncovered one of the sneakiest Color Lab truths!! Pigment IDs tell you what is in the tube, but not how it’s going to behave once it hits the paper. The binder, grind, pigment load, and transparency all play a role in how that color mixes—so two “identical” pigments can still produce wildly different results downstream.
One fun experiment (if you haven’t tried it yet) is to mix each version of that pigment with the same neutral or secondary and compare the bias it reveals. Suddenly those “guidelines” become very chatty. Thanks for bringing this level of curiosity to the Lab!! This is exactly the kind of nerdy joy we love to see.
I love this! And, your writing is so great and fun.
Thank you
Thank you! We’re so glad you enjoyed it!! Writing these is half the fun. 🎨✨