I recently received a question from a reader of BIG ART, small canvas who had a really good question about how to make sense of all the colors in each of the palettes. So here goes:
Color Theory for Complementary Palette
I have an update for the three complementary palettes that I've been using. They are in my book on pages 27-29 of Big Art, Small Canvas. As some of you may know Daler Rowney doesn't make Chrome Green anymore. Or rather they have renamed it Yellow-Green. I also substituted a couple of colors since another palette color was close enough. Some colors are not substitutable but to make purchasing easier I looked for ways to reduce the number of colors needed. Also, using Winsor Violet Dioxazine is much less expensive than Bright Violet by Old Holland.
There is a reason for each color used for each of the three palettes.
There is a true color, a warm version of the true color, a cool version of the true color, a light neutral version of the true color and a dark neutral version of the true color.
I also included a favorite color for a certain reasons (which I will explain in the palette).
In the ORANGE/BLUE palette:
For the oranges: Cadmium Orange is the true color
Chrome Yellow hue is the cool color
Cadmium Red deep hue is the warm color
Naples Yellow is the light neutral
Mars Violet Deep is the dark neutral color
For the blues: Cobalt Blue is the true color
Winsor Blue hue is the cool color
Mauve (blue shade) is the warm color
Violet Grey is the light neutral
Indigo is the dark neutral color
In the RED/GREEN palette:
For the reds: Cadmium Red Deep Hue is the true color
Permanent Rose is the cool color
Cadmium Orange is the warm color
Indian Red is the light neutral
Purple Madder is the dark neutral color
For the greens: Permanent Green Light is the true color
Winsor Green is the cool color
Sap Green is the warm color
Yellow-Green is the light neutral
Raw Umber is the dark neutral color
Permanent Green Deep is used for making black
In the YELLOW/PURPLE palette:
For the yellows: Chrome Yellow Hue is the true color
Yellow-Green is the cool color
Cadmium Yellow Deep is the warm color
Naples Yellow is the light neutral
Raw Umber is the dark neutral color
For the purples: Bright Violet (or Winsor Violet Dioxazine) is the true color
Ultramarine Violet(or Mauve Blue Shade) is the cool color
Permanent Rose is the warm color
Violet Grey is the light neutral
Mars Violet Deep is the dark neutral color
Purple Madder is a favorite and used as a dark warm
