3.11.2009

Color Checking

Sample of color checking papers

I am working on a triptych of canvases that are 18"x 36". When I get excited about a painting I just want to start! But I made myself slow down and spend some extra time planning before I started painting. With this size canvas, making a mistake on the color I'm using could cost a lot of time and money. I am painting a scene from the Farmers' Market with a booth of geraniums in bright sunlight, so I want to keep the reds and greens clean and intense. I spent about an hour looking at my reference photo and going through my colors and deciding on a palette. I painted samples on the edge of paper so I can hold it up to the reference or the painting. I also made notes as I mixed the colors and I can now file the papers away for future use. Dave the Painting Guy showed a different kind of color checker that he saw on The Carder Method website. (There's a very short video clip that shows how to use it)
So far this has been working great for me. I find that I am feeling much more confident as I paint and since the decision for the color has been basically made, my mind is free to focus on other things.
Do you have any methods for picking a palette or checking your color?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow... a large piece that you're chomping at the bit to start. I'm eagerly waiting for you to start too. Hopefully you'll post some in progress shots?

Honor Bradley said...

Thanks for the information. I can really see the advantage to doing a color chart in advance. Honor

Helen Parkhill said...

As a compliment to your work and your blog I am tagging you. Keep up the beautiful painting. I look forward to seeing your triptych!

jsicignano2.blogspot.com said...

Great idea. I must learn to plan before jumping into a painting. That is why I get stuck half way through. Thanks for the tip

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