The author would for some reasons be inclined to offer an apology for this work in its present form, because it falls so far short of what might be expected in a comprehensive treatise on the subject of which it treats. To understand colour mixing the student should first carefully study colour theory, and then the properties of pigments. But it will be observed that there is but little relating to theory in this work, and the reasons are given distinctly, and are, in brief, that the subject is too complex a one to render it possible for it to be dealt with in the limited range of these pages, while another reason is that the subject is very well covered in several books published in late years by Professor Church, George H. Hurst, Professor Rood, and others.

The author, however, has ample justification for the publication of this little work in the fact that he has during the last fifteen years received, in his capacity as editor of painters’ publications, enquiries almost daily for a book giving colour mixtures, with actual samples of colours, in other words, one which would be useful to the man who wants to mix paints but who has not made a study of the subject.

A critic might object that it is impossible to give accurate colour mixtures, because the actual appearance of colour varies according to the light in which it is viewed, and also because the result obtained by mixing coloured pigments of different manufacture must vary greatly according to the quality of those colours. All these objections have been carefully borne in mind in the preparation of the contents of this work. It has been assumed that the colour mixtures will be viewed in an average good light, and it is further assumed that the colours which have been employed will not necessarily be of the very best quality but certainly not those which are very inferior. The chapters on colour testing, etc., have been added not only because these properly form a part of the subject, but because so many painters are deficient in a knowledge of them.

It need only be added that every one of the mixtures given in this work has been carefully made with the actual colours. The preparation of the list has been no inconsiderable work. The author therefore leaves his little book in the hands of practical readers in the hope that even if it falls short of being a complete treatise it may, at least, prove of some service in everyday work.