I cannot be the only artist who has been seduced into buying one those attractive artists’ sets without giving enough thought as to whether the selection of colours is suitable for the type of work I want to do. I have definitely been guilty of using the same favoured pigments and being reluctant to broaden my horizons and try other paint colours.
I trained at a traditional, atelier-style art school and for many years it just didn’t occur to me that, while I wanted to be more contemporary in my work, I was handicapping myself by using the traditional palette selection of the Old Masters. A lot of my frustration in being unable to achieve the vibrancy I was striving for was due to the rather limited, earthy, selection of colours in my paint drawer.
No one palette or colour selection has more merit over another, but each one should be carefully considered in order to give yourself the best possible chance of achieving your finished goal.
Choosing your palette
It is best to start with as few colours as possible and master handling
