Very often in conversations between teachers and students of applied art, people talk about a fascinating phenomenon in the world of color: sequences.

A question that almost always comes up is, “Can black be completely covered with yellow?” ou “Why don’t you always get the same result when mixing these colors?”

All these questions really have only one answer: SEQUENCES!

A sequence in art simply means “before and after” — the order you follow to get a certain result. Often this is referred to as "layering" ou "glazing. "

When you paint and want to mix colors, you have to understand this phenomenon to know exactly how much of each color to use to get the tonal value you want.

For example, if you mix yellow and red, you get orange — but what kind of orange?

• If you apply yellow first, then layer red on top, you’ll get an orange with a yellow dominance.
• The first color always dominates, even if the second color is more visible.

But if you reverse the order — red first, then yellow — is the orange the same?

No!

It will have a red predominance and look noticeably different.

In sequences, the colors are superimposed, not mixed before.

Even when you pre-mix colors before applying them, thinking about the sequence helps you see which color will dominate.

In my videos and photos, I show the various stages and practical examples to study sequences.

I used sheets of rigid plastic, cut to size, and coated them with a layer of Sol aquarelle transparent, tinted just enough so I could experiment freely.

When you tint the ground, the saturation and hue drop, so the color isn’t at its maximum mass tone — but it quickly shows you which color pops out.

I diluted the ground as much as possible for smoothness. I also created a triad with Lamp Black (see photo) to have two mixed colors, plus a dark shade made from the two combined.

On other pieces of plastic, I layered the ground twice in some areas and once in others to create sequences of quantities — so I could test how more or less paint changes the effect.

I also made color charts with regular watercolor sequences, and one where I applied color first, then an undertone with Neutral Tint.

Neutral Tint is very important for studying sequences and creating undertones.

• If you use it as a base first, you get a sort of monochromatic grisaille that makes the color appear much darker.

• If you use it as a glaze afterward, you get the classic “color fade.”

So in this case, sequences are fundamental!

When working wet-on-wet, the effect of sequences is even more striking because the colors mix more freely in their “wet explosion.”

For certain realistic effects — like rust — applying red earth tones first and green afterward gives you that classic rust look. But if you invert the sequence — green first, then the earth colors — you get a darker tone that looks like rust at an earlier stage.

Sequences don’t limit your palette — they actually double it, giving you countless colors and subtle effects you can create just by changing the order or quantity of your layers.

Try it! Study your sequences, and watch your colors transform.