Working with a neutral palette

Light Falls | 12 x 24 | Oil on Canvas | © Beth Cole

I have been experimenting with a more neutral palette lately, using one red, blue and yellow and mixing all the grays and more saturated colors from there. I quite like the experience. It has worked well for my plein air outings, too.

The colors I am using are ultramarine blue, a medium red, I think it is called perylene red, and cadmium yellow medium. Both of the paintings in this post were painted with this palette.

Light Falls | 12 x 24 | Oil on Canvas | by Beth Cole

The painting above is titled “Light Falls.” It started with a need to get out of the house and see something besides my four walls. Perhaps you can relate.

We ambled our way through the southern part of Custer County (Nebraska), where there is a good mix of the old and new, the sturdy and the fallen.

The roof of this old barn was so lit up in comparison to everything else around, it really caught my eye.

When I got home, I grabbed my sketchbook and gave it a try. Committing it to pencil helped me see I did indeed want to paint it. In my mind the subdued tone represents the passing of time.

Like this barn, some memories fade and become soft with the passing of time. The memories may catch light now and again, but soon, they fade, perhaps even more. We can celebrate when the light falls on sweet places, bringing glimpses of what once was but surely never will be again.

Constancy | Oil on Canvas | 24 x 30 | © Beth Cole

Constancy | Oil on Canvas | 24 x 30 | by Beth Cole

Here is another neutral palette painting, I have titled it “Constancy.” Some things you can depend on in life. The sun will rise, and it will set. The barn embodies constancy in a sense. It is a place on which you can depend to keep, store, nurture and protect what has been entrusted to you. I like thinking about the stability and stewardship that a barn represents. All good thoughts.

Next post, I’ll share some of the plein air work I have been doing lately with the neutral palette. We have had some gorgeous days in these parts. Hope you are well, body, mind and spirit. Thanks for following along with my art journey. I am grateful for you.

-Beth
Soli Deo Gloria

PS - I am whisper announcing the opening of Paint Every Day and the Paint Every Day Challenge. Since you are a loyal blog reader, I wanted you to know! Much more noise about it coming soon, but feel free to mosey over and see if you’d like to join the Painting Challenge. I have a 50% off coupon (FRIEND) you can use through June 15th if you and a friend want to do it together.