Michael, thank you for the concern, you're like a guardian angel. Not to worry much though, I don't have enough disposable income to throw much money away. I've got to save for a decent easel next. Mine is a $30.00 wonder, if I sneeze it wobbles!
Michele, I agree totally, mud is simply the wrong neutral in the wrong place. Having a tool to help maintain some consistency in color choice, or creating your neutral tones is what I was looking for. I struggled with Josh's new haircut (the last portrait I did) because my color choice for the figure was not consistent with my background scheme. As soon as I changed it, all the pieces fell together. But that meant a lot of time spent agonizing over why, why, why. Now I get it. As a beginner, I like some rules, then when I break them later it will be through choice and not error.
Maybe this is one of the reasons and applications for color tools. So you can break the rules and fly!
Jean