Embracing Limitations - Working in Limited Colours

Charlotte Wensley
Feb 20, 2022
2 min read

Updated: 19 minutes ago

Working with limited colours and materials can give us a new creative freedom to explore, experiment, test and try things out.

As creatives, I think we have a natural propensity for problem solving and finding solutions is something we do with every brushstroke or pencil mark.

| Its All About The Challenge

We are always moving our work forward with the ultimate aim of finding a satisfactory resolution of some kind. And whilst that resolution is different for every artist, I think we all focus on to overcoming challenges as we work.

Sometimes we create more problems than we solve, but this is the artist's way! Placing restrictions and limitations on our process heightens the challenge and makes us work harder, as we don't have an extensive collection of props to help us solve a particular visual problem. We also have to keenly focus our attention on the 'problem' at hand, as nuances are finer and its easier to miss potential solutions.

| Working With a Limited Colours Palette

In this video I'm working on a cradled panel to which I've added some collage elements. My colour palette is limited to blues and pinks - the yellow comes later!

This painting went on to become one of my Curiosity Series, which is all about working with limitations.