What better way to spend time in the studio than with family who also enjoy making art.

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One of my recent post-surgery plans is to build up a library of colour palettes to refer back to when I need colour inspiration. I have not really done this before. This is quite new to me as I’m usually very spontaneous when it comes to choosing colours. While recuperating I noticed different colour combinations that exist in sets around me. I thought they’d make some great colour palettes. Since I wasn’t up to making art I took a photo of each group of colours for future reference.

Get-well-carnations

What a lovely gesture from a neighbour; when I came home from surgery the flowers were there. They are still going strong after two weeks. The colour and scent are gentle but memorable. These flowers have lifted my spirit. The colours of the carnations, with my mother’s table cloth, remind me of Parisian colours which could be used in café themes, happy beach scenes, cottage gardens …just let your mind unwind and create your own scenes.

Why would I want to make colour palettes?

Sometimes we can get stuck in a rut. We think we’re being spontaneous but in actual fact we’re choosing the same colours, the same art materials, or the same food, same picnic spots, same actions… Because it is safe and comfortable and that’s why we do it. When we try something different it is out of our comfy zone and we feel stretched or challenged yet that’s when exciting things happen or are made possible. You paint new paintings, go on different romantic dates or eat new food. Just break out of the mould.

With different palettes we have choice. A colour palette is often made up of three to six colours. You can choose more but it is good to limit the amount of colours in one palette to create a cohesive image. The more colours you have the greater the potential for it being busy and cluttered; the less colours you have the more minimalistic it is, creating calm, tranquil or powerful images. If you use too many colours it can run the risk of being muddy.

One of the important things I consider is what message I want to convey through colour, textures and shapes; and how best I will do it.

Here’s my Carnation colour palette (1 ) and painting. I chose 8 colours. Maybe I could have used less colours. What do you think?

• 12cm x 12cm.
• Enmy acrylic pens
• and watercolour.

Using the pens in such a realistic image was a first for me. I wasn’t used to the flat effect it had but it was a good challenge. Initially I thought I wouldn’t use them like that again but after incorporating the watercolours I was delighted with the overall effect. I like the colours. I was a little worried it might look cold but the dominant use of red and touches of yellow-green warm the image.

What do these colours bring to mind for you?

I am looking forward to my next colour palette challenge.

I hope you have a happy weekend.

~Morag Noffke ~