I have a 16-well palette which I love so of course I fill it up with 16 colors. But without realizing it, discipline falls away and the tendency to focus on local color kicks in. Before I know it, I have too many colors on the paper and I end up with a muddy mess, no uniformity and a lack of light-to-dark-value.

When you start to paint, read books about watercolor, and take workshops you hear a lot about “working with a limited palette”. The benefits of restricting a watercolor sketch to 2 or 3 colors is a discipline and pays of in several benefits (especially for the beginner!) as detailed in Shari Blaukopf’s book Working With Color (@2019 Quarto Books)

• Forces a focus on dark and light values

• Enables the emphasis of a focal point in the sketch

• Achieves chromatic unity and harmony

But as much as I knew that limiting my palette was could achieve better results, it was not until I took Stephanie Bower’s Understanding Perspective online workshop in November-December 2020 that I had what Stephanie calls an “a-ha moment”. Stephanie Bower’s two books have been indispensable resources: Understanding Perspective (@2016 Quarto Books) and 101 Sketching Tips (@2020 Quarto Books). Watching Stephanie on Zoom navigate her tiny Cotman palette filled with tube colors I know really get what a limited palette can achieve in terms of beautiful simplicity.

A limited palette in no way means limited hues because a variety of colors can be achieved through adept color mixing. I actually think that the entire 6-session workshop with Stephanie Bower was done with three colors: Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Yellow Ochre and Ultramarine Blue. Burnt Sienna and Quinacridone Burnt Orange were brought in when needed to warm things up or achieve a glow of reflected light. “Magic Gray” is the combination of Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Sienna and a “molecule” (as Stephanie says) of Permanent Alizarin Crimson.

Limitation ends up being a core strength as warm and cool mixes can be made with just 3 colors and before you know it, the finished sketch looks great!