Written by Andrea Melione
The article originally appeared in ArtTrader Magazine, Summer 2011 Issue 15
Color is a very powerful thing. It can evoke moods and inspire great works of art. When I am at a loss when I sit down to my drawing board, I will sometimes have a palette in front of me to inspire doodles that might become drawings. But where do you go when you don’t have an inspirational palette? What if the colors you choose just aren’t working together?
A great saying from one of my favorite art teachers is “Don’t work in a vacuum!” Basically what he was telling me was that I didn’t have to feel alone, or that only great masters could draw inspiration from a blank page. The truth is that the great artists drew inspiration from many sources and that we can do the same.
I decided to use the paintings of Degas to create some limited color palettes of five colors each. The following paintings have wonderful color schemes if you take the time to really look. At first glance they may look a little brown and muddy, or gray and neutral, but you can find absolute gem-like hues tucked into a background or in a figure’s hair. Rich pumpkin orange, a glowing salmon pink, a deep amethyst purple, or a bright vermilion red – all of these colors were found in one of the four paintings.
I created some 2.5×3.5 artworks based on the palettes of Degas. Why don’t you try and play with his palettes as well?
 Germain Hilaire |
 Color Scheme |
| • Indigo • Dark plum • Light plum • Salmon • Wheat |
|
 Dancer at the Barre |
 Color Scheme |
| • Robin’s egg blue • Nutmeg • Buttercream • Caramel • Dark nut brown |
|
 Women Ironing |
 Color Scheme |
| • Gold • Chestnut • Nutmeg • Tree bark • Putty |
|
 Four Dancers |
 Color Scheme |
| • Cranberry • Medium brown • Salmon pink • Dusty sage • Folkart blue |
Here is an ATC made with the first color scheme:
 Color Scheme 1 • Indigo |
 Line Drawing |
 Acrylic paint added |
 Watercolor used to shade |
 Colored pencil added around the figure |
 Finishing details with white and black ink |
Updating...
