The Surprising POWER of a Limited Palette

I'm experimenting with watercolor paintings that use only 2 colors!
Are two colors really enough?
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Also, feel free to leave comments below; I read each and every one. 😀
Follow me on Instagram @e_olson_art
Andrew Cadima's Instagram ➡️ / andrewcadima
Dylan Scott Pierce Watercolor Channel ➡️ / @dylanpiercewatercolor
My reference photos are from Pixabay.
Materials:
🎨 QOR Transparent Pyrrole Orange 11ml tube ➡️ bit.ly/3V7u1RM
🎨 Winsor & Newton Antwerp Blue ➡️ bit.ly/4a9DzzI
🎨 Sennelier Cobalt Voilet Light Hue ➡️ bit.ly/3VcbHH2
🎨 Daniel Smith Quinacridone Gold ➡️ bit.ly/49KCX47
🎨 Michael Harding Belladonna ➡️ bit.ly/3PhicEI
🎨 M. Graham Hooker's Green ➡️ bit.ly/43eXyej
🎨 Dr. PH Martin's Bleed Proof White ➡️ bit.ly/2MjyM9y
📜 Arches 140lb Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper Block 7.9"x7.9" ➡️ bit.ly/4abDn3h
🖌️ Silver Black Velvet Round Brushes Series 3000S ➡️ bit.ly/BlackSilverBrushes
🖌️ Silver Brush Ultra-Mini Brush Set - Detail Brushes, Set of 4 ➡️ bit.ly/3V8HQ2l
🖌️ Princeton Velvettouch Filbert Grainer 3/8" ➡️ bit.ly/2DfBBnq
🖌️ Da Vinci Colineo Synthetic Kolinsky Sable Brush - Round, Size 12, Short Handle ➡️ bit.ly/3MdqknC
🖌️ Hake brushes ➡️ amzn.to/3TwwbJq
Please note, some of these links are affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission at no cost to you. This allows me to continue creating helpful and entertaining free content! I only recommend products that I use and love.

[@saarseth2057]

I am head-over-heels in love with the tiger, but honestly, I love all of them.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you very much!

[@maureencepiel959]

This is a great video for those artists who feel they cannot afford all the colors suggested in other videos! Thank you for these 3 suggestions. Great color mixing!!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

My pleasure!

[@catherinemello9617]

Love all of them but I think the tiger is my favorite. Could you add this style of painting (just using warm and cool) to a mastery tutorial? I feel this would be very beneficial.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yes, at some point! Thanks for the nice comment! 🙌

[@shamardaniel4819]

It’s crazy how just two colors can give you a world of tone and hues to get lost in. And you found a tiger in yours! This a very cool trick I use to keep me from buying more paints!!😂

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much 😀

[@banerjeeanamika.19]

I am on your daughter's side...love the vintage Lion vibe. Ooh thanks, Emily for sharing and inspiring us to try 2 color-only paintings. So much looking forward to trying it myself

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I hope you'll try it! 🙌

[@nellkrams3698]

Wow! That’s amazing!! The tiger painting … if I hadn’t seen you painting it, I wouldn’t have believed it was painted with only two colors, it’s just that magnificent. The other two are stunning, too! When you said limited palette, I had no idea you meant just two colors! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

So glad you enjoyed this one!

[@anitadavidson1266]

I love the very soft focus look of the bear. He may not be so colourful, but if felt he had a little mystique about him that I love. Your talent always leaves me with a dropped jaw Emily. I am a newish member of watercolour mastery (3 months), and yet I remain so afraid to try at my age (57, with a disability), that I just don’t. You ought to hear the million excuses I trot out - shameful…! 👩🏻‍🎨🖌️🎨🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@suujafe]

I love seeing the different contrast in each painting between using two analogous or two complementary colors. And of simplifying and thinking about a painting from the perspective of the warm and cool aspects of the picture I’m copying. My two favorites were the tiger (for the bold contrast) and the bear (for the soft contrast). Love this video! Thank you Emily!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks so much for the nice comment!

[@emowtion1]

Wow the tiger !!! You nailed it !!!

[@chandrascherzinger3200]

All gorgeous, but my favorite is the Tiger but I'm more drawn to those colors

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you! 🤗

[@astridbloem6571]

Emily! They are all fantastic. You are amazing. Thank you for sharing. The tiger is crazy good with just the two colours. You can’t even tell it’s just two colours. The lion however, looking at it you know something’s different and I love that, so he’s my favourite.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much!

[@Wacky_Whimsy]

If someone had told me the two colors for the Lion, I would not even have thought it possible if I had not seen it with my own eyes - the range of lights and darks you got with those two particular pigments was astonishing.

[@elisecharlenefineart]

Thank You! Not only are you a fabulous videographer, water-colorist you also a giving person to support other artist. It is wonderful when a large KZbinr Shout out a smaller creator.

[@ssangari]

OMG I NEED a tutorial for the bear and the lion or at least one of those!!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I'll consider it! :)

[@suzanneb8996]

Amazing ! As we learn more about painting, we figure out we don't need many colors to create beautiful paintings! Thank you for another great video and for keeping me inspired!

[@lourdesgallegos7508]

I can’t decide, they are all three gorgeous! I would love to see a real time video using this technique.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Noted! :)

[@redbird8257]

I absolutely love all the animals and the use of only two colors on each animal. I hope these get added to the mastery classes as I would love to try these out. Thank you for a truly great lesson. 🐅🦁🐻

[@sharonschuyler6800]

Awesome, Emily! I love all three. Oh that I could ever achieve a painting of that magnitude! Nicely done as always.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much!

[@Maria_Lourdes]

Let me know in the comment which one is your favorite.... All of them!!! 😍😍😍

[@diadumenos82]

I am watching one more time: this video is a masterpiece and that Bear seems real. Please do portraits and animals in this way again. ❤

[@carolhestand2561]

Tiger! I am alittle partial. The range of color from 2 options was amazing. Also thanks for more info on the Qor paints.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

My pleasure!

[@joannarowley9220]

I loved this video! I am usually very careful to mix exact colors, but I could see how painting with just 2 or a limited palette would actually be liberating. I'm going to show this video to my husband; I was trying to explain to him the other day that as long as you get the values correct, it really doesn't matter what colors you choose.

[@lomarenr1598]

Love, love, love all three. It’s too hard to choose which one I like the best. All three are beautifully painted. Very inspirational. I’m going to definitely try using two colors in my next project and see what transpires, something I probably would not even attempt to try if not for this video. ❤

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

So glad you want to try it! 🙌

[@tonyphillips9145]

Hi Emily 3 fantastic paintings you make them look outstanding so much talent I love the bear So glad i became a member you always inspire me to try new techniques Thank you so much

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks so much 😊And thanks for being a member! 🙌

[@natlisan]

I love them all!!! My favorite though is the Tiger! It really jumps off the page.

[@barbarag7831]

These are all amazing! I do love that bear so much! Thanks for showing the possibilities with a limited palette.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks for watching!

[@mono4171]

The lion looks amazing. Really unique watercolor look.

[@sherrynash4421]

These are gorgeous! A beautiful demonstration of using just 2 colours. Bravo!!

[@nanetteatienza4297]

This is truly amazing using only 2 colors. Love the tiger the most but they are all wonderful. It’s so remarkable. I guess, understanding the colors in your palette will help most artists paint and achieve the right colors they want rather than buying individual tubes which is very expensive. I truly admire your work and your wet on wet technique. Hoping to see this in your tutorial site. I am a patron for years now. You are a good artist.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yes, I think it's fun to collect a lot of different colors-but totally unnecessary! :)

[@alicem1111]

I loved the bear especially. You could try green and red. You’ll get a super nice dark and get to struggle to avoid any hint of Christmas 🤓.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Ooh I do love a good red and green painting! 🙌

[@alicem1111]

I love when they use that combo in movies ex Amelie ❤

[@marlenedobney396]

Who would've thought this would be possible! Simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

You are so welcome!

[@jajakaborge]

Yay! I was waiting for this video

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Glad you liked it!!

[@lisahanash7010]

Great work! I haven't painted with two colors yet! Expect black and white!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

That's a great start!

[@NicoleDeWinter]

I like the bear. ❤

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

🙌

[@lisam2537]

Those were amazing I think the bear was my favorite honestly I don’t think I could choose they were all fantastic

[@EugeniaLoli]

After spending thousands on paints, I have realized that the best results come by picking only TWO colors, plus a Sepia OR a Payne's Grey as your "black" (basically, as your enhancer). And you pick one of the two enhancers based to if you want the painting to be warm or cool. But the main colors, for new artists, should just be two. Adding more ends up in very kids-like paintings, too colorful (unless you're a master of course, in which case you don't overdo it easily, so having a larger palette is not a hindrance).

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Less is more! 👍

[@sooziecougs5425]

Oh my gosh they are all so beautiful, the tiger I think. Wow, I learned so much here. Thank you Emily.

[@ChantelleArts]

Wow these are amazing! I really love that final purple shade, it worked so well with the green 😍

[@melisabailey9219]

I am in your class on line. Would love for you to break down these classes in your on line class. I am trying to limit my palette to try to keep colors from competing with each other. I love how you did this.

[@Xen_28]

My jaw is on the floor, what kind of magic is this

[@lenapuro801]

I’m brand new to water color so this was fascinating! I’ve been able to get great results with acrylic but it would be fun to try to get similar results with warm/cool mixtures. Thanks so much!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Go for it!

[@crystalheart9]

Turned out beautiful, thank you for sharing.🐯🦁🐻💖

[@carmenbauer8822]

I love all 3 animal paintings but have to go with the Bengal tiger, living in Cincy! Very cool to see what can be done with just two colors - thanks!

[@joyceshields9156]

These are awesome! The tiger is my fave, probably because it is incredible to get the accuracy of the tiger’s color with just 2 paint colors. The other two are awesome too. Also, mixing the brands is eye opening to me. Have you ever watched David Walker? He only has 7 colors in his palette.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I haven't heard of David Walker! I'll have to check him out! :)

[@Lacroix999]

I went to college and majored in studio art where we had to do a self portrait in only two colors of our choice, not necessarily complementary colors. I chose my two favorites, purple and green and was super excited to start thinking I was going to just love the assignment especially since I finally had a reason to use my pretty new purple oil paint color. After I got started, it didn’t take long before I knew I made a huge mistake and needless to say, it was not a good choice or one that I thought all the way through because when I was done, I looked like the Hulk 😂😂😂 It was still a good lesson learned in colors though!

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

They're all lovely and the tiger is my favorite!

[@vickivm5165]

These are amazing Emily 😍

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you!

[@mariem5990]

WOW !! I love all of them . Thank you for the wonderful video.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

You are so welcome!

[@liaclark2393]

just amazing what talent thank you for sharing

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much!

[@lisaholden3227]

such fun! this was a wonderful little break from life, to watch you paint these. Thanks Emily.

[@marikareimer4411]

Hello Emily, I love the tiger, but I love them all! 🤗

[@Lovinthesimplelife]

I just love all of these! You are beyond talented! Would love a longer tutorial 🩷

[@kidough4979]

Tiger 🐯 but they're all INCREDIBLE 🎉 I will absolutely have to try this!!!

[@kellyro77]

Beautiful work. I've been pushing myself to experiment with unique limited palettes, as well, and I always find the end result is just so expressive and unique. I've been favoring Caran d'Ache Neocolor Its lately, and been playing with a limited palette of Vermillion, Golden Yellow, and Turquoise Green. (If I were to name watercolor equivalents, perhaps Roman Szmal Cobalt Teal, Roman Szmal Nickle Azo Yellow, and Mission Gold Light Red are close equivalents.) It's especially challenging when your subject reference doesn't really have anything close to those particular colors, or, when your subject has violet, for example, but your colors won't ever mix anything very close to violet. Just have to interpret the color in a new way! Thanks for sharing!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Interpret the color in a new way-exactly! 🤗

[@RebekahLeaPhelps]

wow they are all gorgeous Emily

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you, Rebekah!

[@duffycat7021]

Very expressive! Less is sometimes more. I like the book by Hazel Soan: "Art of the Limeted pallette".

[@suel4269]

Have you watched the KZbin interview with her about the book? She’s amazing.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Love Hazel Sloan!

[@glenda7921]

Tiger! Wow Emily, just wow.

[@user-nd7rg5er5g]

I'm stunned and short for words, but fantastic work!

[@chiarasola826]

Gorgeous ✨✨✨ The tiger is amazing 🐯❣

[@diadumenos82]

With only 2 colors 😮😮😮😮😮 ? The Lion is amazing .You are so talented ❤❤

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you! 🤗

[@mwestb1959]

I would love more limited palette paintings.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Noted! 🙌

[@ridingmom700]

Gorgeous all of them!

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Emily, I liked all 3 paintings and I believe that mixing multiple pigment colors is quite difficult for most beginners and is never the "easiest" task for most! I believe it can be done, in fact, you did it! I think it just shows how good of painter you are, well done. My favorite if your forcing me to pick would be the Bear. The most striking is the Tiger, just because! I just watched Denise Soden's most recent video featuring 3 colors, not usually picked for a painting and she also created a wonderful painting and exercise! Stretching ourselves as Artists is one way we can grow our skills and expand our reach into other areas of expertise, yes? I think so. Thanks for this lovely video and sharing your paintings with us. Please take care and have a lovely day!

[@LuisAlvaradoR]

demasiado espectacular, el tigre es mi favorito, pero no por mucho, los tres están super espectaculares!!!

[@kristynerickson6101]

This was masterfully done and so inspiring! The lion was my favorite, but I love all three. I can’t wait to try this myself.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

So glad you feel inspired to try! 🙌

[@melindaavila498]

Thank you! So much fun to watch, and think, Hmmm, I think I will give this a try!

[@Sandrinesgallery]

Amazing result! Thank you for sharing.

[@revinakeener7299]

all are great but I love the tiger!

[@pbzie]

Amazing. I loved all 3!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yay! Thank you!

[@cherylchamlies1695]

❤this tutorial! Tiger though all powerful.

[@lmkstamps]

The tiger is amazing!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you!

[@sowmyakarthik817]

Wow what a great masterpieces mam I love the tiger and lion the best the bear is also so realistic and so beautiful thanks for sharing mam 🤩🤩🤩🤗🥰

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

My pleasure! 🙌

[@sarajamal799]

Wow! Magical results and amazing skills!

[@chorserider]

That’s awesome

[@zenlife1200]

I've been trying out some limited palettes after reading Hazel Soan's Art of the limited palette. I learned a lot out of the book but one thing I remembered today, when you were painting the lion and not able to get a dark dark, was that to get a really dark dark you must use two transparent colors. The cobalt violet you used was opaque. I'd be curious to see the difference if the lion was painted again but with a transparent version of the cobalt violet was used. The Belladonna in the last painting was semi transparent and you got great darks with it so maybe as long as a color is at least semi transparent and not opaque you can get good darks with it? I highly recommend the book. I bought it digitally but I refer back to it quite often so I might end up buying a hard copy of the book too. Love your paintings.

[@moniquer.9659]

That's amazing! ✨

[@deniseturnbull8254]

Incredible!! Beautiful!!

[@annejameson3425]

AMAZING!

[@IlovecoffeandArt71]

love love love this!!

[@tinazhou8600]

Thank you for sharing!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

My pleasure!

[@mcruz2187]

Wow, just wow 🤩

[@juliec.]

I love them all.

[@williammcneill2753]

I am almost tempted to try this myself.

[@susanwilson1276]

Just fabulous!! Love them all! Great ideas 😊

[@atl17isfast]

Nice work! They all look good.

[@tonyabeauchamp3087]

All are beautiful!! You are so talented!!!

[@user-ob8de6cg2z]

That was awesome I loved them all!!!

[@Belcih]

The three are amazing ❤❤❤

[@sonyaoart]

They are all awesome, but I think the lion is my favourite. I sometimes pick two random colours just to see what I can do with them. How do you like the Colineo brush?

[@weill6872]

So good..!!!

[@Oceans1974]

Amazing!! Will these pr something like these 2 colours paintings be included on your Mastery site?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Not sure yet! Thanks for the nice comment! 🙌

[@ZeeCeeCreations]

Thanks, Emily, you are amazing!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Aw thank you!

[@jesmarco374]

Absolutely Awsome

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you!

[@joykruczay]

Fabulous in your talented hands! Any color combo you think would be helpful would be great. I likely have mentioned it before, Apologies if I have mentioned this before, but Hazel Soan's "Art of the Limited Palette" (discussed in an interview with her on YT), is really outstanding and has many more combos that produce amazing results. Also, in a workshop I took with Tony Couch, he stated to paint it any color, as value and design were most important.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Absolutely! Design and value are key!

[@nancymckay7691]

I vote tiger but I liked them all

[@graciethebluejay]

Beautiful! Do you trace/transfer your sketches or draw them? Thank you.

[@JGSewell]

Stop it the tiger is only two colors. Wow how do you do that?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

🤗🤗🤗

[@jcepri]

For the record, your eyebrow shifts are better than Andrew Cadima's. Just sayin'.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Hah hah, that means a lot! 🥹