Intense Color and Step Three in Oils

Let's just review the steps we've used in our paintings so far.  First we used a thinned oil paint to block in the shadowed dark areas.   The we added the medium, slightly grayed or neutralized colors.  In this second layer we used the paint without any additives.  

Now we're ready to put the final paint on the picture - the lighter and more intense colors.  For this layer we will be using some oil to thin our color or we may use just the paint as it comes from the tube. 

In reality, once you are familiar with the process, you will go through more than three stages, always moving to the more intense and light colors and using less of the solvent and more of the paint from the tube and oil as an additive. 

Now to make those colors in the painting  sing.  Remember that colors that are intense will draw the eye to themselves.  So, as the artist, you can pull the viewer's attention to what you would like to show them is most exciting to you.

Up to this point we've been working in midtone, color but now is the time to add the intensity - bright and light!  You can get quite a lot of color without having competition if the painting is well grounded in neutrals. 

And you can add more dark tones, too, to emphasize the intensity.