My Color Palette

I'm often asked, "What colors do you use?"

Since we know that all colors are created from the three primary colors, this is a good place to start.

I start with a double primary palette - two versions of each of the primaries - red, yellow and blue, plus titanium white. I choose a bright and a dull version of each. You can vary your choices for these three primaries. This will give a slightly different nuance to your color mixtures.

Often a painting will require a special color. I add these as necessary but I always start with the basic primary colors and build from that.

When painting landscapes, I will add orange and burnt sienna - two very helpful and convenient colors to mix with blue to create a variety of greens.

If I am painting lilacs, I will add purple. I can mix a purple, but nothing says "lilacs" to me except Dioxazine Purple.

And seascapes will see the addition of Veridian or Thalo Green.

But I aways start with my basic 6 colors and add the extras. By keeping your color palette simple you will have better control over your color mixtures.

So, to answer the question, “What colors do you use?” Here is my current basic double primary palette.

Cad Yellow Light & Yellow Ochre

*Light Red & Alizarin Crimson

Ultramarine Blue & Cerulean Blue

Titanium White

Other colors as needed

*Just a note - Light Red, an earth color, is a very saturated, dull red. It is very strong, so just a bit goes a long way. A bit added to white makes beautiful, gentle pinks, just a bit added to other colors imparts warmth.

For a brilliant red, mix Alizarin Crimson with Cad Yellow Light. Interesting!

Now what to do with all the tubes of paint you bought and don't need... See ideas in my next post.

Happy painting!     Celene

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