How to Paint with a Limited Palette (and Why)

Discover why using just a few watercolors can make painting simpler, more fun, and more "you."

✅ Quick Overview

• Limited palette definition: Using a small, intentional selection of colors in your painting.
• Why it’s great for beginners: Simplifies choices, improves color-mixing skills, and creates harmonious results.
• Typical beginner sets: 3–6 colors you can mix into dozens of shades.
• Benefits: Saves money 💰, boosts confidence, and develops your color sense.
• How to start: Choose a basic set of colors and try small, pressure-free projects.

1. Intro — Why "Less" Can Be More in Watercolor

When you’re just starting watercolor, it’s tempting to grab every pretty color on the shelf. But here’s the thing — more colors can actually make things harder. You spend more time deciding which blue to use than actually painting! (Been there. Still love you, Cobalt 💙)

That’s where a limited palette comes in. Think of it as your watercolor "capsule wardrobe" — fewer choices, but they all work beautifully together.

Painting with fewer colors doesn’t mean limiting your creativity. It means simplifying your toolkit so you can focus on learning, mixing, and creating without the overwhelm. The result? Paintings that feel cohesive, confident, and uniquely yours.

I used to think, "But why limit my palette when there are so many pretty colors?" The first time I painted with just three colors, I thought it would feel restrictive — but it was the opposite. I found it freeing. I mixed shades I’d never made before, and my paintings suddenly had a harmony they’d been missing.

PS: I’ve got a Halloween-themed limited palette roundup scheduled later this month — think pumpkins, ghosties, and a witch or two! 🎃👻 These exercises are the perfect warm-up before you try those projects.

2. What is a Limited Palette?

A limited palette means picking a small number of watercolor paints (often 3–6 colors) and committing to using only those for a painting or project.

It’s not about denying yourself color variety — it’s about giving yourself a set of colors that naturally work together. You’ll spend less time deciding, more time painting, and your finished piece will look like it all belongs together. (Like packing for a weekend trip and realizing every outfit matches. ✨)

 3. Why Paint with a Limited Palette?

🎨 Color Harmony

When all your colors come from the same few paints, they naturally share undertones. This "everyone gets along" effect makes your painting feel balanced, even with bold contrasts.

🖌 Improved Color-Mixing Skills

With fewer paints to choose from, you quickly learn how colors interact. You’ll discover how to mix your own greens, purples, and browns — a skill you’ll use forever.

💛 Simplified Decisions

No more second-guessing which yellow is "right" — you have one, and you make it work. Your brain says "ahhh," and your brush says, "let’s do this."

💰 Cost-Effective for Beginners

You don’t need a giant set to make beautiful art. Fewer paints mean less money spent and more value from each tube or pan you own.

🌟 Consistent Style

Using the same colors across several paintings can help you develop a signature style people recognize.

4. Choosing Your Limited Palette

🎯 Start with a Primary Trio

A limited palette often begins with the three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Pick one of each, and from just these three, you can mix an incredible range of colors.

This is a mixed trio that combines warm and cool versions of the primary colors.:

👉 Example: Ultramarine Blue (warm), Quinacridone Rose (cool), and New Gamboge (warm).

Or start with the warm primary version:

👉 Example: Warm red (Cadmium Red) + warm blue (Ultramarine) + warm yellow (New Gamboge)

 Or the cool primary version:

👉 Example: Cool red (Alizarin Crimson) + cool blue (Phthalo Blue) + cool yellow (Lemon Yellow)

For an expanded 6-color Primary Limited Palette:

👉 Example: select a warm + cool version of each primary (6 colors total). This combination gives you brighter, cleaner mixes.

Both approaches work! If you’re a beginner, start simple with three paints — then explore warm and cool variations once you’re comfortable mixing.

🪶 Consider Adding a Neutral

Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, or Payne’s Grey are great for shadows and toning down brighter mixes.

🌸 Think About Your Subject

• Flowers  →  bright pink/magenta  +  leafy green

• Landscapes  →  earthy Yellow Ochre  +  muted green  +  sky blue

• Urban scenes  →  cool greys  +  brick reds  +  deep blues

🖍 Beginner-Friendly Examples to Try

1. 🎯 Primary Trio: Ultramarine Blue, Quinacridone Rose, New Gamboge

2. 🌿 Earthy Trio: Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Ochre

3. 🌸 Floral-Friendly: Permanent Rose, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue

4. 🏞 Landscape-Friendly: Cerulean Blue, Burnt Umber, Payne’s Grey

        💡Tip: If you don’t have Payne’s Grey, Raw Sienna makes a good alternative. It warms up the palette and leans more toward sunny landscapes, while Payne’s Grey gives you moody skies and strong shadows.

5. How to Practice with a Limited Palette

The magic happens when you explore your palette’s full potential! I encourage you to try all of these watercolor practice ideas (they make for great warm-ups or a short painting session!):

• Make a color mixing chart or a casual scattered colored-circle pattern — swatch every possible combo your limited palette can make.
• Paint a small test subject — a flower, a tree, a coffee mug.
• Try monochrome studies — use one color + water to explore values (use more water/less color for lighter value, less water/more color for darker value).
• Challenge yourself! — paint the same subject twice, each with a different palette.

☕ Tip: Grab your beverage of choice, put on your favorite playlist, and spend 15-20 minutes just seeing what your colors can do. How they flow, how they blend, how they dry. No pressure. Just play :)

💡 Quick Note on Monochromatic Painting

A monochromatic palette uses just one color (plus water). It’s the most extreme limited palette — the "one-color" approach!

Why try it? It’s perfect for practicing light-to-dark values without worrying about mixing. And no, it won’t be boring — think "cozy sweater in shades of your favorite color" vibes.

6. Beginner FAQs: Working with a Limited Watercolor Palette

Will my paintings look dull?
Nope! Limited palettes often give you cleaner, more vibrant colors because you’re not mixing clashing pigments.

Can I mix black?
Yes! Try ultramarine blue + burnt sienna for deep, rich darks.

Do I need artist-grade paints for a limited palette to work?
Not at all! Student-grade paints work just fine for practicing limited palette skills. The key is learning how your paints behave and how they mix — that’s what makes the biggest difference.

When are limited palettes not the best choice?
Limited palettes are fantastic for building skills, but they’re not always ideal. If you’re working on a piece that requires very specific, hard-to-mix colors (like a realistic portrait with subtle skin tones or a brand commission with exact hues), you may want to use a broader palette.

Can I change my limited palette mid-painting?
Technically yes, but it can make your colors look less cohesive. If you do add a new color, try to mix it with one of your existing palette colors before using it — this helps it “blend in” visually with the rest of your painting.

What if I pick the "wrong" limited palette?
There’s really no wrong choice — you’ll learn something valuable from any palette you try. If the colors feel off, make a note of what you’d change next time. Every palette is practice for the next one.

Do I have to use the same palette forever?
Not at all — it’s a tool, not a rule. You can change it up anytime.

7. Easy Beginner-Friendly Project Ideas

Explore these projects with any of the limited palettes listed in Section 4 above, or go with your own colors:

• Paint a simple landscape with only three colors.
• Create an easy flower bouquet.
• Go abstract by painting wavy washes across your page.

8. Final Encouragement

A limited palette is one of the easiest ways to grow your watercolor skills, save money, and create art that just feels harmonious. By working with fewer colors, you’ll understand them better — and that’s what builds real confidence.

So this week, pick three paints you already own, make a little color chart, and paint something small. You might just be surprised at how freeing it feels. I’m over here with my brush, cheering you on. 💛

And later this month, we’ll have some spooky-fun inspiration 🎃👻 — I’ll be sharing a roundup of easy Halloween watercolor painting ideas, all with a limited palette. It’s the perfect way to put your new skills into action!

📚 References

• Hello Watercolor!, by Jeanne Dickson
• Learn Watercolor Landscapes Quickly, by Hazel Sloan
• The Joy of Watercolor, by Emma Block
• The Organic Painter, by Carne Griffiths
• Stunning Watercolor Seascapes, by Kolbie Blume
• Watercolor: Painting Outside the Lines, by Linda Kemp

🔗 Recommended for You

• Beginner's Guide to Watercolor Paintbrushes

• 🎨 Easy Color Mixing and Pigment Guide for Watercolor Beginners

• 5 Easy (Beginner-Friendly!) Watercolor Projects

🔁 What's Next on the Beginner Journey?

The key is to begin with small, simple steps. I created three free resources to support you:

1. 📕 Get the free Watercolor Lite: Beginner's Watercolor Glossary  – Perfect for first-time painters looking to understand supplies, tools, and techniques; or anyone who wants to feel more comfortable with how-to guides and video tutorials.

2. 💧 Download the free Watercolor Lite: Confidence Kit for Absolute Beginners – A relaxed guide to help you prep your brush, wake up your paints, and try your very first brushstrokes.

3.  🖍️ Get the free Watercolor Lite: Try-It-Out Guide for True Beginners – A playful PDF full of beginner-friendly mini projects designed for experimentation (and joy!).

Download one, two, or all three to get going at your own pace. No stress. No pressure. Just your brush, your curiosity, and a colorful painting day!