Two Little Experiments in Color

I’ve been playing with a new palette, and these two little paintings—Blue Country and Artifact—were part of that experiment.

One of my favorite ways to break out of a color rut is a box of cards called Color Cube. I have Volume 1, and it is remarkably good at making me consider color combinations I wouldn’t ordinarily reach for.

I was also painting over some of my old paintings, which is something I love doing. The earlier work doesn’t necessarily disappear; bits of it remain underneath and become part of whatever comes next.

And yes, there is also the practical consideration that art ain’t free. 😂 If a piece of paper already has paint on it, why not give it another chance?

The two paintings took the palette in very different directions.

Blue Country feels wonderfully open, full of distance and air, with turquoise, pink, cream, gold, and deep green gathered around darker forms.

Artifact is more intricate. Soft color gathers around a dark structure, and something familiar seems to emerge underneath—not quite identifiable, but organic and recognizable in feeling.

Two little experiments. Two very different results.

Both Blue Country and Artifact are part of my new Emerge collection, and are now available for sale on my fine art website!