Richard Schmid's Palette

[Chris Saper]

There have been such wonderful discussions about the breadth of palettes used, it may of interest to post an inventory, either of our own palettes, or those used by other painters. Here's Richard Schmid's palette:

Winsor Newton:

• Cadmium Lemon
  Cadmuim yellow pale
  Cadmium Red
  Yellow Ochre Pale (add Cad yellow pale to this)
  Terra Rosa

Rembrandt:

• Cadmium Yellow Deep
  Transparent Oxide Red
  Viridian
  Cobalt Blue Light
  Ultramarine Deep

Gamblin:

• Alizarin Permanent

Lefranc:

• Titanium White

Notes:
Source: extracted from Richard's website, 2001 (www.richardschmid.com). Richard also lists additional colors he uses; the above lists colors he indicates are always on his palette. He does not list manufacturers as an endorsement, but simply to indicate the colors he currently uses.

See Richard's magnificent book"Alla Prima: Everything I Know About Painting" and his website for additional discussion.

As a note, painter's palettes are often modified over time. If in this orother posts, more current information is available, please advise.

[Julie Gerleman]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your information on your oil palette. Do you have a set of favorite pastels as well?

Thanks,
Willow

[Cynthia Daniel]

Administrator's note: The answer to Willow's question can be found in a new topic at:
http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...=&threadid=399

[Richard Budig]

Chris:

I started with Daniel Greene, so my palette reflects his thinking. However, over the years, I

[Alexandra Tyng]

Richard,

I have to say I am in total agreement with you. Artists find so many recipes for the same colors. I'm not necessarily offended when people disagree about which palette is better, but I'm puzzled. Maybe the argument is really over color preference, i.e., the appearance of the finished painting.

Alex

[Richard Budig]

Alexandra:

Thanks for your reply. Funny how we change. For example, I re-read my own post and as I did so, kept saying, do I know this guy, because of the the last year or so, I have greatly reduced my palette.

Thanks to a guy you will bump into here -- Marvin Mattelson -- I have dropped my cad colors almost altogether. I find I can do almost anything with earth reds, (Venitian, English, Terra Rosa, and Indian Red), yellow (ocher), ivory black, raw umber, and white, and occasionally, cobalt/ultramarine and viridian.

Bang. That's it. Marvin (a VERY good artist) says these few colors will serve most human complexions, and I've found that they will.