Weekly BobBlast Issue 549

Back to the Basics - Use the Color Wheel

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

This BobBlast continues with the basics! The focus this week is on color and basically… using a color wheel. Remember that a color wheel—anyone's color wheel—is a tool to help you create a successful painting.

When I start a painting, I consider my 5 Cs:

•Concept (or theme)

•Composition

•Color Combination

•Continue the series

•Commit to the series

A color wheel helps me get started in a clear, focused direction. After starting with my determined color combination, then I like to expand the palette with a variety of close colors... for instance, if I start with red, I will also incorporate red-orange and orange. I work this way whether I am using the Standard Color Wheel or my Goof-Proof Color Wheel.

Another fun color exercise I often do in the studio is working with transparent color. The question always comes up about what is the difference between transparent, translucent and opaque? Simply put, the main difference is how much visibility shows through to the surface:

•Transparent allows the surface to show through. Can also give the surface a fair amount of luminosity.

•Translucent is between transparent and opaque. When applied on top of another color, the lower color shows as a mix.

•Opaque color covers the surface completely.

Watch the video and see two tubes of Holbein Artist Acrylic Paint. The Marigold is transparent—you can easily see the dot pattern under the swath of paint on the label. Compose Blue #2 however, is opaque and you don't see any dots. Continue to watch the demo and see the Compose Blue #2 acrylic completely cover black, while the transparent Marigold acrylic allows the black and white flowers to show through.

My New Year Thoughts…

•Back to the basics

•Set your studio goals

•Experiment often

•Paint more!

•Have fun with Color!

January & February Online Events!

Workshops

•January 30, 2025

Loose Figures in an Abstract Painting

Click here for more info

•February 25, 2025

Painting Light & Shadow

Click here for more info

Demos

•January 14, 2025

How to Paint with Acrylic Inks

•February 14, 2025

Diptychs and other Multiples

Click here for more info

Come Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, CA

2025 Mentor Workshops!

•March 13-16, 2025

•August 7-10, 2025

•September 25-28, 2025

•Nov 6-9, 2025

Click HERE for more 5 day and 3 day Studio Workshops



Sign up with a deposit for any In-Person Studio Workshop

before 1/31/25 and receive $100 off on your balance!

Traveling Bob – In-Person Workshops!

•January 18-25, 2025

Tropical Paint-Cation! Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico

Casa de Los Artistas

Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 

Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295

Click here to register and for more info

Bob made a cool video with a demo—Click here!

•April 6-12, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Hudson Valley Art Workshops, Greenville, NY

Contact Kim LaPolla (518) 966-5219 or (888) 665-0044

Click here for more info

Burridge Online Coaching

• Private one-on-one

Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies

Click here for more info

Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, California!

Mentor, 5-day Instructional, Figure Painting and One-on-One Workshops

Click here for more info.

Contact Kate@robertburridge.com for questions.

2025

•January 14, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“How to Paint with Acrylic Inks”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•January 18-25, 2025

Tropical Escapaint! 

Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico

Casa de Los Artistas

Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 

Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295

Click here for more info

•January 30, 2025

Loose Figures in an Abstract Painting - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•February 14, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Diptychs and other Multiples”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•February 25, 2025

Painting Light & Shadow - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•March 1-2, 2025

Painting with Dry Pigments, Chalks & Powders - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•March 10, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Painting Heart Air Balloons”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•March 13-16, 2025

Robert Burridge Studio Mentor Workshop

Come paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, CA

(includes individual mentor time, demonstrations and personal theme development)

4-day Workshop/Mentor Program, limited to 7 enrollees

Contact kate@RobertBurridge.com for fees and details.

Click HERE for more info.

•March 28-30, 2025

3-Day Instructional Studio Workshop

Larger and Looser Abstract Painting 

Robert Burridge Studio, Arroyo Grande, CA

Contact Kate@RobertBurridge.com for fees and details.

Click HERE for more info

•April 6-12, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Hudson Valley Art Workshops, Greenville, NY

Contact Kim LaPolla (518) 966-5219 or (888) 665-0044

Click here for more info

•April 6-12, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Hudson Valley Art Workshops, Greenville, NY

Contact Kim LaPolla (518) 966-5219 or (888) 665-0044

Click here for more info

•April 17, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Gluing a Watercolor Paper Painting onto a Wood Panel”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•April 22, 2025

Neutrals! How to Create and Use! - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•April 25-27, 2025

Robert Burridge 3-Day Instructional Studio Workshop

Painting with Dry Pigments, Chalks & Powders

Robert Burridge Studio, Arroyo Grande, CA

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

Entire 2025 Workshop Schedule — click here!

Hope you have enjoyed these short, weekly blasts!

Sign up on my website and keep watching. There are lots of them!

Click HERE to view BobBlast Issue 549 video!

Back to the Basics - Use a Color Wheel!

Weekly BobBlast 549 - Video run time 6 minutes, 49 seconds

Remember!

You can always get a 10% discount with this code: BOBBLAST

Burridge Loosen Up Workshop Combo

Can’t make it to a Robert Burridge Workshop? This is the perfect combo for you to learn & practice Bob’s Loosen Up Painting Techniques!

Includes:

Loosen Up Workshop Notes

Goof-Proof Travel Color Wheel

3 Essential Art Studio and Plein Air Guides

•Click here to order - Printed Loosen Up Combo

•Click here to order - Digital Loosen Up Combo

Buy a Digital Creativity Combo

eWorkbook, Travel Color Wheel 

and a set of 3 Studio Guides!

•Click here to order - Digital Creativity Combo

To read about Bob's studio practices, intentions, and painting tips, check out his 

Loosen Up and Studio Notes eWorkbook

•Click here to order - eWorkbook for iOS or PC/Android

For more info about Bob's Workshop Schedule click here.