BobBlast 162 — "Start with an Under Painting, Using Goof Proof Color Combinations."
Start with an Under Painting, Using Goof-Proof Color Combinations. Welcome Back to Another BobBlast! The universal color wheel can be a useful tool and reference guide when determining your painting concept. As every painter knows, the universal color wheel has twelve colors. Historically established are specific color combinations within this color wheel (such as complementary, triadic etc.) that have esthetically pleasing effects. When I first started painting, I relied on these specific twelve colors and resulting color combinations for my paintings. But now... having said all that, ten years ago I "jumped ship" and embraced a new color wheel with only ten colors. I then limited my paintings to using only four colors in combination. The results were thrilling for me! In this week's demo, my goal is to create an under painting - using one of my goof-proof color combinations. Red is my dominant color, covering approximately 80% of the surface. The next color - the focal point - is a beautiful blue and covers approximately 10% of the surface. The last two remaining colors are the spice colors - because they are accents, painted near the focal point and are only about 5% (each) to the painting surface. Just enough to draw your eye to the focal point! This under painting is very abstract and now I have the choice of developing it into a finished abstract painting or a more representational painting of a landscape, floral, still life, etc. When all four pure colors are placed on the painting surface, I can begin painting more vigorously toward my theme and intentions! Just another way to play with color! Works for me!

BobBlast 368 - "Color Combo Lesson"

BobBlast 418 - "What’s Your Point?"

The Painting Mistake That Instantly Looks Amateur

Most Artists Are Overpainting - Plein Air Shows You Why

BobBlast 109 "Best of BobBlast - Working with Color!"

BobBlast 327 - "Background Colors that Work."

Oil Painting Tip - Acrylic or Watercolor Underpainting - Which is Best?

BobBlast 452 - "How to Make a Polyptych into One Large Abstract Painting"

BobBlast 403 "Quick Guide - How to Paint the Light Source"

BobBlast 394 - "What a Mess! Part One

I Accidentally Discovered a Color Palette I Can't Stop Using

Build Dynamic Intuitive Abstract Paintings Using Layering Techniques

Zorn Palette Course: 1 - Introduction to the Palette

BobBlast 215 "Adding Loose Figures to your Abstract Painting - Part Two."

Frank O'Cain’s insightful demo, Color in Acrylic, May 12, 2025

BobBlast 623 - "Goof Proof Color Combinations, Part One - Abstract, Blue Dominant"

Ben Wohlberg: Evolution of an Abstract Painter

BobBlast 185 - "Contrast - Why Value Packs a Wallop."

Expressive Watercolor Painting - The Underpainting

