The split primary palette

A dive into colour mixing magic

through out our acrylic lessons we will be diving into the split primary palette this is a more modern version of the classic red, yellow, and blue that will help you with colour theory in your art. Let’s explore why having a warm side and a cool side to your primaries can be a game changer!

What’s the Deal with Split Primary Palettes?

Traditionally, artists have leaned on three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. But sometimes, when you mix these basics, you end up with a bit of a colour conundrum, creating dull, muddy hues that don’t quite pop. Enter the split primary palette! Instead of one version of each primary, you get two:

Warm Red & Cool Red

Warm Yellow & Cool Yellow

Warm Blue & Cool Blue

This means you now have six carefully chosen colors that open up a world of vibrant mixing possibilities.

Warm vs. Cool:

These temperatures are pretty self explanatory - On one side, you’ve got the warm colours, which have a friendly, sunshiny vibe thanks to their red or orange hints. On the other side, there are the cool colours, who bring a calm, breezy feel with their blue or purple undertones.

Warm red - leans toward yellow/orange common pigments include cadmium and vermillion

Cool red - leans toward blue/purple common pigments include alizarin and quinacridone

Warm blue - leans toward red/purple common pigments include ultramarine

Cool blue - leans toward yellow/green common pigments include pthalo and cerulean

Warm yellow - leans toward red/orange common pigments include cadmium, Indian

Cool yellow - leans toward blue/green common pigments include lemon and hansa

Why does this matter?

When mixing colours - if you mix the 3 primaries together - you are going to get brown (a muddy colour) this is something that you want, but you also want to be able to control - having a less vibrant colour gives you depth, it helps with concentration on your focal point, objects that are further away are less vibrant to the human eye so mixing colours in the right quantities is very important. Have a split primary palette allows you to create a vibrant colour if you wish by mixing the correct colour or adding a contrasting colour if you wish to make it less vibrant.

Mixing Magic: The Benefits in a Nutshell

1. A Broader Palette, Less Fuss:

Instead of stocking your studio with a gazillion colours, you’re armed with six powerhouse colours. This forces you to explore the art of mixing, deepening your understanding of colour interactions while keeping your toolkit streamlined.

2. Better Colour Control:

Having both warm and cool versions means you get to be the boss of color temperature. Need a punchy orange for that sunset scene? Reach for warm red and warm yellow. Craving a serene, moody blue for your night sky? Cool blue is your go-to.

3. Vibrancy Without the Mud:

By matching like with like, your mixes remain clean and lively. The split primary palette minimizes the risk of dull, muddy mixtures leaving you with that wow factor every time you blend.

4. Limited palette:

Having a limited palette allows you to create harmony in your paintings - you can use the same colour throughout to let everything roll together.

Let Your Creativity Run Wild!

I hope this fun dive into the split primary palette has sparked your curiosity and inspired you to experiment with your own mixes. Happy painting, and may your colours always be vibrant!

Let me know your thoughts on the split primary palette