Over time, I have come to understand that color choices are very personal, and that there are no wrongs in laying out your palette, though some choices might be more hindering than helpful. Any hues can work together once you understand the different ways in which you can bring them into harmony. It's important to learn color theory, read about different color systems, and to study specific color palettes, but in the end, it is also important to know that there is a lot of leeway in applying these systems.
If you were to give ten different artists the same ten colors and ask them to paint the same scene, you would end up with ten very different paintings. This is the way it should be. Our color choices are but one of the ways in which we express our individuality as artists.
Having said that, this is the first of several posts I plan to make listing the color palettes of famous artists.
One of my favorite living landscape artists is Dennis Doheny of California. Doheny, a former illustrator, has won numerous awards since turning his attention to fine art in 1996, including the Frederic Remington Painting Award at the recent 2008 Prix de West Invitational. His level of detail, colors, and brushwork are all wonderful.
According to a recent article in the November 2008 issue of American Artist, Doheny's palette consists of the following colors:
• Winsor Green
• Cadmium Yellow Light
• Alizarin Crimson
• Cobalt Blue
• Titanium White
• Cadmium Orange
• Cobalt Violet
9 comments:
I really like Dennis' work too. It is a little tighter than I feel I can personally go without loosing the freshness. But I like it.
He DOES have some good color going on there.
Good post.
Dennis' work is great, reminds me a little of Clyde Aspevig.
I prefer Clyde's work he has this amazing way of making you think he put in a lot of detail but its really very loosely painted.
His palette is interesting all very high chroma pigments. I like a balance of high and low.
Windsor Green is Phthalo Green which is a very intense green.
It shows how well this guy can paint as he does control it well.
Here's Clyde's palette:
Titanium White
Viridian Green
Cobalt Blue Light
Ultramarine Blue Deep
Alizarin Crimson
Burnt Sienna
Sap Green
Cadmium Yellow Pale
Medium or Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Red Light
Frank- Thank you. I like freshness too, like the feeling of a bathroom that's only just begun to be tiled...
Jeff- I like Aspevig a lot also. Thanks for listing his palette: it does have that nice balance of warm and cool in each hue. A pretty basic palette, but the basic palettes are often the ones which work best.
I was surprised to see the colors in Doheny's palette. It wasn't what I had expected.
I think Doheny may have studied with Aspevig at one point.
Just found your site from Jeremy Lipking. Really enjoyed your informative posts. Was an illustrator for a long time inspired by NC Wyeth's work. Keep up the great insights and the &%$&#++@% who threw the burger doesn't matter. Their are always assholes to deal with in life.
Dennis' work IS beautiful... Can't wait to see his winning painting in person when I visit the PMCA this weekend.
While I like Clydes work alot, I think there is something so honest in the detail of Dennis' paintings. The way his colors work you through the painting is just incredible. Doheny never studied with Aspevig, although I believe they know eachother quite well!
My name is Diane Doheny and I live on the seacoast in New Hampshire. I am a photographer and writer and found Dennis Doheny's landscapes sensational. Wonder if we are related??
Are you sure its Cad Yellow light? I think it may be Cad Yellow Lemon. Anyway, I agree, Doheney is a modern master. To do that kind of detail, yet have the overall color, design and feeling so good is truly wonderful.
I too admire the Doheny ptg. A wonderful execution in every way. Faultless. My family would love it if I could paint like Dennis.
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