Getting the Light Right: The Power of the Color Study
Color studies are the best way to test a color strategy before starting a painting and to expand your expand your color vocabulary.
Mitchell Albala is an award-winning landscape painter, workshop instructor, and author. His semi-abstract and atmospheric landscapes have been exhibited nationally and are represented in corporate and private collections. He is the author of three popular books on landscape painting: "Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice (Watson-Guptill, 2009), with 70,000 copies in print; "The Landscape Painter's Workbook: Essential Studies in Shape, Composition, and Color" (Rockport Publishers, 2022), which has been the #1 selling book on landscape in the nation; and "New Lessons in Landscape Painting: Key Concepts and Exercises in Color and Composition" (Rockport Publishers, 2026). Mitchell leads painting workshops in the U.S. and has offered plein air adventures in Italy. He is also a master mentor with the online mentoring community Mastrius. He has lectured on Impressionism and landscape painting at the Seattle Art Museum and has written for International Artist and Artists & Illustrators magazines. Mitchell also hosts a popular painting blog, which hold the #11 spot on Feedspot.com's "90 Best Painting Blogs to Follow in 2026." He is a Signature member in both the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society.
Color studies are the best way to test a color strategy before starting a painting and to expand your expand your color vocabulary.
Two works with strong notan design make their public debut this November and December
A brief introduction to notan, a powerful type of study that explores the underlying foundation of a composition.
Four key steps, often overlooked by plein air painters, can increase your chances of success.
Reflections on the “Acceptance” series as social commentary
Neutral colors can be mixed from primary colors, but a neutral pigment can be faster and help support the color direction of your painting.
Referencing photographs too closely can be hazardous to you work. Here are strategies to overcome the tyranny of the photo reference.
With a “color-priority” system, the Impressionists allowed colors to retain their intrinsic color identity.
In plein air we attempt a direct translation of color, while In the studio, we are freer to be inventive with color.
In the rush to color, plein air painters often overlook the essential first steps that will establish a strong composition.