Limited Watercolor Palettes for Color Harmony
- LaLa
- Jun 28
- 1 min read
🌊 1. Coastal Landscape Palette (Earthy & Moody)
Perfect for ocean scenes, foggy skies, and natural textures.
French Ultramarine (PB29)
Burnt Sienna (PR101 or PBr7)
Raw Umber (PBr7)
Optional: Cobalt Teal (PG50) for a cool accent
Mood: Calm, grounded, atmospheric
Mixes: Deep shadows, muted greens, stormy blues, warm neutrals
🌸 2. Floral Palette (Soft & Romantic)
A go-to for botanicals, still lifes, or light-filled portraits.
Quinacridone Rose (PV19)
Hansa Yellow Light (PY3)
Cobalt Blue (PB28)
Mood: Bright, airy, elegant
Mixes: Clean purples, soft greens, delicate warm tones
🔥 3. Dramatic Warm Palette (Bold & Expressive)
Great for abstracts, portraits, and expressive mixed-media work.
Pyrrol Red (PR254)
Quinacridone Gold (PO49 or PY150/PR206 blend)
Indigo (PB66 or mix your own from Ultramarine + Burnt Sienna)
Mood: Rich, passionate, high contrast
Mixes: Fiery oranges, warm neutrals, inky shadows
🍁 4. Earth Tones Palette (Natural & Timeless)
Perfect for fall foliage, landscapes, or toned-down still lifes.
Yellow Ochre (PY43)
Burnt Umber (PBr7)
Cerulean Blue (PB35)
Alizarin Crimson (PR83 or Permanent Rose)
Mood: Muted, rustic, nostalgic
Mixes: Dusty greens, antique purples, warm neutrals
🖌️ Tips for Using These Palettes:
Try creating a mixing chart for each palette to see the full range.
Stick to just these colors for an entire piece — you’ll see more harmony!
Use layering instead of adding more pigments for shadows and depth.
