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Originally Posted by Richard Budig
Sanden mixes (or used to mix) just 10, three of which are "neutrals," and he gets kicked around for doing so.
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Richard, my impression is that Sanden is criticized by some for
selling his pre-mixed colors, not for
pre-mixing them. Many artists premix strings of color because they have found systems that work for them. Other artists mix colors in ways that may appear more haphazard, but are actually based on certain color combinations that work well for them. And I'm not talkng about mixing the same colors every time--on the contrary, there could be an infinite number of mixtures, but along certain consistent principles.
Marvin, the fact that you are asking people to come see you in action points to the fundamental difference here. You are saying this is YOUR method, and you are willing to show anyone and share it with anyone who wants to see how you do it. You may have adopted the Paxton palette, but it has become "Marvinized" or adapted to your own preferences. You are not offering to premix your strings and sell them--you want to show people how to do it themselves. At least this is how I understand what you do from talking to you and hearing what your students have to say.
Back to the general discussion: In my experience, the
process of mixing is essential. If you have any premixed tubes, you are not experiencing the process of mixing for yourself. There's a discovery that happens when you go through the process of choosing your own palette and using the colors. Over time, you wear familiar paths through the wilderness of possibilities, and when you see a color in life, you know how to mix it.
Just a note on colors like clear colors vs. earth colors: they are so different. They have different textures, consistencies, degrees of opacity and strength. I would choose cad yellow for very different reasons than I would choose ochre or raw sienna. Sure, I could start with cad yellow medium and mix up something that looked similar to raw sienna, but to get really close I'd have to use some earth browns, and then why not use raw sienna? In fact both cads and sienas are pretty "pure" pigments in their own way. In my mind they are a far cry from premixed pigments.