Limited Palette

[Jesse C. Draper]

Hi again,

You all must be getting tired of my student work

This was a very interesting exercise for me. I did all the drawing with the brush and had a very limited palette.


These were the only colors used:

Flake White

Chromium Oxide Brown

Ivory Black

&

Terre Verte

This was painted over many, many session from life, under the direction of Patrick Devonas.

[Sharon Knettell]

"You all must be getting tired of my student work."

Not at all Jesse. I think this is a good reminder that we all should consider ourselves as perpetual students and beginners.

What you doing, painting from life is very difficult. Very few artists today are willing and able to do this.

You have a very creditable painting and I applaud you and your teacher for limiting the palette, an important first step in figurative work. All too often we rush in full blast with all colors flying, unable to control the results.

Jesse,
Congratulations on a fine oil study. I see you live in the state of Utah. Do you study there? If so, were? Is it at an atelier affiliated with the late R.H. Ives Gammell? Quite a number of artists participating in this forum have that background.
Who, if anyone, taught you that palette? From the limited palette you've listed, you have only brown, black and green, asides from white. With those few hues, how does one mix flesh?
Much Thanks,
a.

[Linda Brandon]

Jesse, I am another person who really enjoys seeing your life work and I hope you post more of it and discuss the challenges of working with your palette. Sharon is right - all artists are students. And your painting is very good, solid and believable.

You have an excellent instructor and I would like to hear about his teaching methods.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Jesse, I think you have done a fine job with these colors. Just looking at the view of your whole painting, I like the way the figure emerges from the background. Feel free to post more of your work.

Alex