The best magazine
A mother color is a color you use in every mixed color in a particular painting. You can either use it as the starting point for the colors you create (mixing another color into some of your mother color) or mixing a little of your mother color into every color.
The logic behind using a mother color is that it harmonizes all the colors in an individual painting. It helps to create a subtle unity in both the color and composition across the painting.
A mother color can be used as a dominant color (or color theme) within a painting, or it can be used less prominently. A danger with using a mother color too strongly is that the colors are too similar (in tone and hue).
If you're working with glazes rather than physically mixing colors, you can use a mother color as a layer in the color you're building up. A final glaze with a mother color may be just what a painting needs to pull its components together.
You can select whatever color you wish as a mother color. It can be a neutral gray or brown mixed from the leftover colors on your palette, or it can be a straight-from-the-tube color.
Poll: Do You Use a Mother Color?
(Vote by clicking on your choice in the list)
1. Yes, for ages
2. Yes, but I hadn't realized the technique had a name
3. Occasionally
4. I've not heard of the concept before
5. I knew about it, but haven't ever tried it
6. No, I don't like the results
7. Something else (post a comment to tell us)
(View the results of this poll so far...
)
Source: ...