Cooler Palette

"Blooming Delights" oil on wood panel, 6"x12"

I have talked about going outside my comfort zone as an artist before.  This time it's with a cooler palette along with painting roses...always a challenge.  From time to time, I feel the need to try different colors (if only for one painting), brushes, surfaces, or subject matter.  It's a good thing.  Eventhough I continue to learn and develop with every painting I do, a new set of challenges pushes you more.  I always gain something important, often an "aha" moment.  Now mind you, that aha moment could be a good or bad one! For this painting I used mostly, Viridian, Burnt Umber, Alizarin, Rose Quinacridone, Cad Yellow Pale, Indian Yellow and Titanium White.  I used a very small amount of Ultra Marine and Cobalt.  For the most part, my challenge here was using Viridian and Burnt Umber for the shadows and dark background.  (Perhaps I was influenced by the recent small painting I did (see below) of "Paris Rouge" - a cool palette of colors.) Though my shadows and dark background is usually dictated by the objects and the light source in my still lifes, it is often a combination of Raw Sienna, Ultra Marine and Alizarin.  As for painting roses, it's been a slow process.  I took advantage of the many blooms I had this summer, studying, sketching and painting roses.  More challenges await.