David Howell PPRSMA
WORKING METHODS -
I’m always amazed at the range of colours that are available from manufacturers, because I don’t actually need many. I work with around 12 – 15 tried and tested pigments that I know will work for me anywhere and with any subject. They consist of the primary colours in warm and cool versions and a selection of earth colours.
PRIMARY COLOURS
COOL WARM
Cobalt Blue Ultramarine Blue
Alizarin Crimson Cadmium Red
Cadmium Lemon Cadmium Yellow
There are less expensive alternatives, especially for the cadmium colours but I love the strength of them.
EARTH COLOURS
Yellow Ochre : Raw Sienna : Light Red : Raw Umber : Burnt Sienna : Burnt Umber
That’s a basic 12 colour palette that gives me any colour or tone that I need. There are no greens because a whole selection of natural greens can be made from using the primary colours. I occasionally add one or two others – Cerulean blue is lovely for colder skies and water, whilst Brown Madder is a softer alternative to Alizarin. Prussian Blue occasionally gets an outing but as a very strong staining pigment, needs care and Sepia comes in handy for dark accents. I use ‘Artists Quality’ paint in both pans and tubes from various sources but predominately Winsor & Newton, Old Holland, Sennelier and Daniel Smith.
PRIMARY COLOURS
COOL WARM
Cobalt Blue Ultramarine Blue
Alizarin Crimson Cadmium Red
Cadmium Lemon Cadmium Yellow
EARTH COLOURS
Yellow Ochre : Raw Sienna : Raw Umber : Burnt Sienna Burnt Umber : Light Red
That’s a basic 12 colour palette that gives me any colour or tone needed. There are no greens because a whole selection of greens can be made from using the primary colours. I occasionally add one or two others – Cerulean Blue is lovely for colder skies and water and Prussian Blue occasionally gets an outing but keeping it simple means that I don’t have to carry so much. Inevitably, there is a wider range of pigments in the studio but this limited selection is still my primary choice and so many of the experiments end up in a drawer.
My books, ‘Painting In Oils’ and ‘Painting with Watercolour’ cover the subject of paint and equipment in much more detail as well as the whole process of developing painting skills, as well as the essential elements of composition and contruction and are available directly from the publisher at www.crowood.com or on Amazon both in Europe and the USA and from other online art material suppliers.
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