Limited Palettes

I found this quick overview of the benefits of using a limited palette on the blog of illustrator James Gurney. The above image (taken from the linked post) demonstrates the range of colors that can be created from just three or four paints. You can also clearly see why there are a dozen different "reds", for example, in the paint aisle of the art store. All primaries are not created equal, and different varieties of red/yellow/blue will give you different results.

Here are some more combos you can try out:

Limited Palettes

#1
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cadmium Red Light
Alizarin Crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Titanium White

#2
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Alizarin Crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Titanium White

#3 “Earth Palette”
Yellow Ochre
Raw Sienna
Indian Red
Raw Umber
Black
Titanium White

Three “Black” Mixtures
• Burnt Umber & Ultramarine Blue
• Cadmium Red Deep & Ultramarine Blue
• Alizarin Crimson & Pthalo Green

Key Color Attributes
Value: Relative Lightness and darkness of the color.
Hue: What basic color is it? (red, blue, yellow, etc.)
Intensity: How vibrant or dull the color is. (electric blue vs. faded denim blue)
Temperature: Is it a warm or cool version of the basic color?


—based on information from Brent Watkinson (www.brentwatkinson.com)