Unlock the Power of a Limited Palette
Ever feel overwhelmed by the endless options on your paint palette? You’re not alone. Many artists—both beginners and professionals—struggle with color mixing and harmony. But what if simplifying your palette could actually make your paintings better?
A surprising number of artists on Podcast swear by a limited palette. Jed Dorsey (Ep.27) explains why—and his reasons might surprise you.
What is a Limited Palette?
As the name suggests, a limited palette means restricting the number of colors you use. There are two common types:
3-Color Limited Palette: One red, one blue, and one yellow, plus white (for acrylic, oil, and gouache painters). Watercolorists can skip the white.
6-Color Limited Palette: Two reds, two blues, and two yellows (one warm and one cool of each), plus white. Some artists also include black.
At first glance, this might seem restrictive, but the reality is quite the opposite. With just three primaries, you can mix an astonishing range of colors.
Why Use a Limited Palette?
Dorsey points to two major benefits of using a limited palette:
It Builds Your Color Mixing Skills
When you rely on just a few colors, you have no choice but to learn how to mix them effectively. Instead of reaching for a tube of premixed green, for example, you experiment with blending blues and yellows to get just the right shade. This deepens your understanding of how colors interact, leading to more intentional choices in your artwork.It Ensures Color Harmony
Ever wonder why some paintings just “feel right”? A limited palette naturally creates harmony because all the colors in your painting are derived from the same small set of pigments. This means your shadows, highlights, and midtones will always relate to each other, making your final piece more cohesive.
Put it to Practice
Chances are, you already have a limited palette hiding in your current collection of paints. Try this:
Pick one red, one blue, and one yellow from your stash, plus white and black (optional).
Experiment with mixing different combinations. Notice which pairs create bright secondary colors (greens, oranges, purples) and which result in more muted tones.
Once you’re comfortable, swap out one primary for a different version—like replacing Hansa Yellow Light with Cadmium Yellow Medium—and observe how it changes your mixes.
A limited palette is one of the fastest ways to improve your color mixing skills while creating paintings with natural harmony. Give it a try and see the difference for yourself!