The Benefits of a Reduced Palette and How to Use It

Pallette 5. Analicia Garcia Priego. 2022.

If you've ever dabbled in arts and crafts, you might have encountered the issue of choosing an appropriate palette for your work. From textiles to acrylics, picking a palette is important to ensure that the piece you're creating is cohesive and unique. However, if you're on a budget, or if you can't obtain certain pigments, you might be faced with having to make do with the colours you do have.

Let me tell you why I think this is not a disadvantage, but rather an opportunity. Back in 2015 I applied for the Arts Institute of Chicago. At the time I was a full-time high school student and my budget for art supplies was quite limited. I began using what I call a 'reduced palette' by accident. When I finished a tub of paint, sometimes I realised that buying a new one would be too expensive, or it would not make sense financially. So, I decided I would just not buy the colour I wanted and just continue painting with the colours I did have. At first it was a big challenge to figure out a way to make the colours I had work for the particular piece I had in mind, and sometimes I got so frustrated I wanted to toss my canvas out the window. I kept going, though, and eventually I submitted my portfolio to the AIC.

The feedback I got took me by surprise. The professor that reviewed my portfolio said that my paintings as a whole, as well as my sketchbook, made for a very cohesive portfolio in terms of colour palettes and styles. He even congratulated me on finding new ways to use the same pigments over and over again. I had not made the choice of having a reduced palette intentionally, but I wasn't about to tell him that! What I said was 'thank you' and when I went home I began to do some research on reduced colour palettes.

Palette 5. Analicia Garcia Priego. 2022.

With time I came to a decision on what a reduced palette meant for myself, and I'm sure there are tons of definitions out there that aren't close to mine. My definition is: a reduced colour palette is made by three to four colours that are similar to each other, plus white and black. My 2015 palette had green, blue, ocher, black, and white. It worked well for me, and I kept using the same palette minus the ocher when I ran out of it. Nowadays I opt for a slightly larger palette, but I like to challenge myself from time to time and pick three colours to paint with.

Trying out a new palette. Analicia Garcia Priego. 2022.

Finally, because my neurodivergence likes lists, here are five benefits of using a reduced palette:

1. You challenge your creativity by having less options and you'll find you surprise yourself by how you can adapt your style to the colours you've chosen.

2. Your paintings have a more 'cohesive' look without you having to plan them too much.

3. You may find it easier to work with bigger palettes later on because you're used to inventing new ways to work with the reduced palette.

4. It helps you stay on budget since you don't need to buy a big tub of paint that you're only going to use once.

5. It helps you be more conscious of how wasteful you are being (or not!)

So, what do you say? Are you ready to give the reduced palette a try?