You probably picked up this book because you love color as much as I do. Color is compelling. And though it’s not the only foundation of making art, it’s the one we connect to first. When I began creating color palettes to share with my students, I instinctively knew what would make great combinations, but I didn’t know why—nor did I know how to immediately achieve the same hues with paint.

I had a mission to discover everything I could about color. I have over three dozen books on color theory, color history, and color for home decor, but not one explained how to make the colors I saw and desired to create. I began experimenting with paint and expanded from there. Eventually, I landed on the formula I use today—mixing my own hues from the modern printmaker’s colors: primary cyan, primary magenta, and primary yellow. I discovered I could mix just about any shades from these three colors, plus white, and found they were far superior to the traditional Old Masters palette. From this, my system was born.

The more you play, the more possibilities for creativity will open up to you. Be curious. Create for the experience first. You can’t skip the practice, the process, and the patience to grow and become. When you are determined to live a creative life, the work must come before anything. Use this book to spark something in yourself, to study and explore everything about making art, and to discover what lights you up when you take the time to create for yourself.