TODAY'S FEATURED POST

Feeling Gray Today

Howard Lyon

-By Howard Lyon   Color is a fascinating and challenging part of painting.  It can be defined as hue, saturation and value. Today, I am going to focus a little more on saturation. Saturation being how intense or gray a color is. Before I get going though, I think I need to add a disclaimer to this post. Painting from life is the best way to understand color. Also, photographs of paintings are by no…

READ MORE

EVERYDAY ORIGINAL

Horns of the high desert (Original Watercolor)

YESTERDAY’S POST

Image

The Power of Preliminary Studies

Julie Beck

May 16, 2025 - Preliminary studies are crucial to my process. Each artist approaches prep work different but as someone who teaches both technical skills as well as the importance of design and composition, I emphasize the importance of massaging the design before you get into the nitty gritty. Preliminary thumbnails help in a multitude of ways: Planning: Sketches help you organize ideas and create a clear roadmap, saving time and reducing frustration. Problem Solving: They allow you to identify and fix issues early, ensuring a more polished final piece. Creativity: Experimenting in sketches encourages creative exploration and innovative solutions. Confidence: Working through uncertainties in sketches builds confidence for the final execution. Cohesion: Planning ensures all elements work harmoniously, resulting in a unified piece. Efficiency: Resolving issues on paper or digitally saves time AND money. I mean, time IS…

READ MORE

POSTS BY CATEGORY

ART

ARTICLES

EDUCATION

EVENTS

INSPIRATION

INTERVIEWS

REVIEWS

RECENT COMMENTS

Recent Comments

  • Drift Boss on Beyond The Orbs Of SightWhat an inspiring read! I often find myself getting caught up in the technical aspects of art, but this reminds me to open myself up to…
  • Drive Mad on Beyond The Orbs Of SightVanessa, this piece really resonated with me. 'Beyond the orbs of sight' perfectly encapsulates that deeper connection artists often st…
  • Doodle Baseball on The Life of ChuckBeyond the stunning art, this project really highlights the enduring power of physical books and bespoke creations in an increasingly d…
  • Ragdoll Archers on The Life of ChuckThis is such a cool story of collaboration across different creative fields! From King's writing to Flanagan's vision and your stunning…
  • Name Generator on The Life of ChuckFascinating insight into your illustration process, Gregory! The balance between serving the story and maintaining your personal style…
  • Drift Boss on The Life of ChuckAs a huge Stephen King fan, and having seen Mike Flanagan's amazing adaptations, this article is fascinating! It's incredible to hear a…
  • Drive Mad on The Life of ChuckGregory Manchess, your work is consistently breathtaking. The way you captured the essence of 'The Life of Chuck' while making it disti…

ABOUT MUDDY COLORS

Muddy Colors is a collective of more than 20 artists, dedicated to providing a free, online resource for aspiring and professional artists alike.

With a library of thousands of articles, and a new one being posted each day, Muddy Colors is the largest educational website dedicated to the Fantastic Arts.

SUPPORT US ON PATREON

We are using Patreon as an opportunity to ask our readers for support in our endeavors.

These funds will be used to provide better content for our readers, maintain website expenses, and support aspiring artists through Muddy Colors programs and scholarships.