Back in 2020, when I was in the midst of creating 100 Portraits of Ava by Karen project in 100 days, one of the most helpful constraints I used to make quick creative decisions was working with a limited colour palette.
At the time, I selected three colours including white. Limiting my palette helped me focus on tone, shape, and expression without getting overwhelmed by endless colour choices.
Recently, I have been curious to see how the addition of just one more colour might expand the possibilities. So this time around, I selected a four-colour palette:
- Burnt Sienna
- Raw Sienna
- Ultramarine Blue
- Titanium White.
In addition, a passing conversation with a friend led me to mix the colours using the mother colour method. I selected Ultramarine Blue as the mother colour. Each colour mix includes different amounts of Ultramarine. Even those that look like they are mostly a mix of Raw Sienna and Titanium White.
Although it is a subtle shift, it opens up a whole new world of colour mixing. I am excited to explore what new tones and moods emerge from this combination.