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Renee Walden

We've built you a colour matching tool : Swatch Maniac

Published 11 days ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader,

I'm often asked what colours do I use? And how do I mix them?

Meet Swatch Maniac. It's something David and I have been quietly building together — me the artist, him the geek — and I shared it with my Patreon community first this week. The response has been wonderful, so I wanted to make sure you didn't miss it too.

You upload a photo, and it matches the colours to real, hand-painted swatches — not just a name on a label, but an actual swatch I've painted, so you can see and explore it. Use it when you're planning a painting and working out what colours to mix.

Right now it's built around the exact palette I use in all my lessons and Daniel Smith watercolours, so you can see exactly what a colour looks like on paper and how it behaves.

It's still early days — a genuine work in progress — and we've already started adding features based on the lovely suggestions coming in. More brands and a growing swatch library are on the way too.

Give it a try with a photo you've been meaning to paint, and let us know what you think. Feedback, questions, anything confusing — we want to hear it. This is for you, so we'd love you help us shape where it goes next.

It's free, runs right in your browser, and there's nothing to install.

With love,
​Renee & David
​
​PS​
​If you're a Patron and have tried it already, then make sure you click 'Refresh' in your browser to see the latest changes.

P.P.S.
If you know of someone who would enjoy this newsletter, then please forward it on. Thank you!

Renee Walden

Artist. Tutor. Sketchbook traveller

Helping others capture their memories in colour is one of the greatest joys of my artistic journey. On watercolour art retreats and in workshops I've watched people grow braver, laugh louder, make friends, and fill pages with art they never thought possible. I'm right there alongside them — and it's magic.

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