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 pick a bright and a dull version of each.

Often a painting will require a special color or two. I add these as necessary but I always start with the basic primary colors - two versions of red, yellow and blue - and build from that.

When painting landscapes, I will often add a violet, orange or burnt sienna - three 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 Cobalt Violet.

Seascapes may see the addition of Veridian or Thalo Green.

By starting with the basics - 2 versions of the primary colors and adding the extras needed, 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, heavy, dull red. It is very strong, so just a little bit goes a long way. A bit added to white makes beautiful, gentle pinks, just a bit added to other colors imparts warmth. It may be a difficult color to handle but I like the subtle reds it produces.

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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