Restricted palette

[Tony Robinson]

Ok, if anyone fancies another project following the success of the Scannell Challenge, how about trying a restricted palette?

• Perhaps do one painting using just Black and White (or another monochrome colour),
  
• one using 2 colours., warm and cool - for example, Ultramarine and Light Red (or similar) plus White,
  
• and a third with these colours plus Lemon Yellow (or Cadmium Pale), or try the Anders Zorn palette which was Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre, Black and White. 

Just a thought, like.
Anyone fancy trying this?

For more on the potential benefits of this austere approach: Gurney Blog and Robert Simone's Blog

[Tracy O'Brien]

I won't be able to rely on my trusty black and white for the next two, which is going to be really really tough!!! Was a lovely evening up by the Blue Light - though very windy. Was fun chasing after bits of paper!

[Elaine Hurst]

Great job, Tracy! It feels like a wood cut, or lino cut, which I love both. What is the Blue Light?

Tracy O'Brien said:

I won't be able to rely on my trusty black and white for the next two, which is going to be really really tough!!! Was a lovely evening up by the Blue Light - though very windy. Was fun chasing after bits of paper!

[Tracy O'Brien]

It's a pub just on the Dublin Mountains, overlooking all of Dublin - amazing view. There's a car park with benches where you can sit and quietly work away!

I haven't done lino cutting in years but would love to give it a go again!!

Elaine Hurst said:

Great job, Tracy! It feels like a wood cut, or lino cut, which I love both. What is the Blue Light?
Tracy O'Brien said:

I won't be able to rely on my trusty black and white for the next two, which is going to be really really tough!!! Was a lovely evening up by the Blue Light - though very windy. Was fun chasing after bits of paper!

[Philip Dundon]

Thanks for the new challenge Tony, I must have a go at this. Anders Zorn sounds really good. I'll try all three.

[Tom J. Byrne]

Hi
This is a great exercise. I did this one last year. So I hope to get out to do some more this week.
Tom

[Elaine Hurst]

This is wonderful!

Tom J. Byrne said:

Hi
This is a great exercise. I did this one last year. So I hope to get out to do some more this week.
Tom

[Tom J. Byrne]

Thank you. I used acrylics. It was interesting to see how they effected the painting process. In fairness they aren't normal acrylics. It's a combination of medium and pigments that I make up myself and they run around the surface with a consistency like milk. It makes for a nice smooth finish. I intended it as an underpainting but realised I was making it too dark but was happy enough to continue because it looked interesting. I've done a few since. Can I post nudes here or are we strictly landscapes?

[Elaine Hurst]

No one could laugh at this! It is very nice!!

Kevin Lewis said:

Well here's number 1 Windmill at Tacumshane and guess what it's done with oils! Think I shall stick with my watercolours. No no, I'll give this challenge a go first though as long as ye all promise not to laugh.

[Elaine Hurst]

I keep coming back to your landscape. It has a fantastic feel and depth. A place that it seems would be wonderful to sit in and just enjoy the outdoors.

Tom J. Byrne said:

Hi
This is a great exercise. I did this one last year. So I hope to get out to do some more this week.
Tom

[Tom J. Byrne]

Thanks for the reply Tony.
Here's a nude. Drawn from the live model. The pose was about and hour and a half. I painted a mid grey over the entire surface which was dry before I started the drawing. You can see the drawing for the foot still there.

I added the highlights and shadows first, then started painting in the mid tones. I went back over the highlights to refine them later. Squinting your eyes helps to figure out what shade of colour is darker than another. I choose acrylics because they are fast to dry but watercolours are very nice, for the same reason and they force you to think quickly, which usually improves things.

[Kathryn Townsend]

Tony--what a great idea--just what I needed today--a focused exercise. I posted four sketches with different combos of colors on my blog:
http://kathryntownsend.blogspot.com/2010/06/limited-palette-studies...

I may do more tomorrow!

[Tom J. Byrne]

That's lovely work Kathryn. Very inspiring.