My basic palette
Today I like to share the colors that I recommend to all my new students and the palette of colors I am working with. My colour palette works on using two of each primary colors, with the addition of Titanium white and Burnt Siena. Working with a limited palette will create a unity throughout your painting . It is not to difficult to paint with only three or four colors ,but requires some practice in colour mixing .The benefit of using less colors is a more harmonious painting. By limiting your palette, you are forced to discover the full possibilities of each colour as you work.
Here are my basic colors :
Lemon yellow
Cadmium yellow
Cadmium red
Alizarin crimson
Cerulean Blue
French Ultramarine
Burnt Sienna
Titanium white
When you mix a colour on your palette do not stir it to much or you may dull the mixture. Use of the palette knife for mixing will help you obtain a more vibrant colour. Keep the use of white to a minimum. The white neutralizes your colour and often causes a chalky look. As you experiment with the mixing of colors you will also discover that some colors have a greater staining power than others.
Below see a colour chard that I use in my art classes to explain some basic colour mixing .
“”Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.””
