{"id":28424,"date":"2023-09-22T09:05:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T16:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.howtopastel.com\/?p=28424"},"modified":"2023-09-22T09:05:10","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T16:05:10","slug":"unconventional-colours-my-self-portrait-in-quirky-hues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howtopastel.com\/2023\/09\/unconventional-colours-my-self-portrait-in-quirky-hues\/","title":{"rendered":"Unconventional Colours: My Self-Portrait in Quirky Hues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever found yourself staring at your box of pastels, desperately searching for that one “right” colour? If you have, welcome to the club. It’s a dilemma that has plagued many of us, and today, I’m here to tell you that it’s time to break free from the shackles of convention and embrace the wild and wacky world of unconventional colours. We dug into this idea of using unexpected colours in the IGNITE! Membership this month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare to embark on a colourful adventure as I illustrate this post with the progression of my self-portrait, which ended up sporting some rather peculiar hues. This was all down to a twist of fate \u2013 the limited palette of pastel sticks I was exploring at the time. Now, I must say, with just 16 colours to play with a limited value range, it was like trying to create a rainbow with a teaspoon of paint lol! But oh, the creative restriction was nothing short of magical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\"Cover<\/a>
Cover of box of 16-piece Unison Colour soft pastels set<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/a>
The pastels in the 16-piece Unison Colour set<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Allure of Unconventional Colours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Picture this: I’m in a workshop, and a student calls me over and with a perplexed expression, asks, “I don’t have the right colour for this tree. What should I do?” I reply with a question of my own:  “What IS the ‘right’ colour?” The student\u2019s response? Usually a vague gesture towards some green in the distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, here’s the kicker. How many shades of green do you think exist in this world? Take a wild guess! (I have no idea by the way!) The truth is, there are so many greens that even a palette stacked with pastel sticks won’t have them all. That’s when I drop my favourite line \u2013 “Just use any colour!” Of course, I say it with a wink and a smile, but the reality is, you truly can<\/em> use any colour. Why not add some fun and go wild with a crazy, unexpected hue?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Reference<\/a>
Reference photo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Unconventional<\/a>
Thumbnail in pencil showing light, middle, and dark areas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Role of Values<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of why this works. It’s all about values. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Values do the work, colour gets the glory.” I’ve got my own spin on it \u2013 “Know your values, be free with colour!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Values continue to be the underrated heroes of art. They’re the backbone of your piece. They provide the foundation and structure. Once you’ve got those values nailed down, you can go all Derain<\/a> on your colour choices and still create something spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Unconventional<\/a>
Initial drawing in vine charcoal on UART 320 paper. Hmmmm!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Unconventional<\/a>
First layer on in three values<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Unconventional<\/a>
Definitely in the ugly stage but I push through!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Reasons to Use Unexpected Colours<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

So, why on earth would you want to use colours that defy the colours of nature? Well, here are a few good reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n