Pecking the Palette

Once I’ve got a sketch or idea in place, I love the part where I get to pick a palette … whether it’s one colour or every colour of the rainbow. In this case I wanted just three colours and I immediately had an idea in my head of the look I was after.

Pink-ochre-ish may not be an official name for a colour, but I was thinking pink with a little warmth and I was instantly pleased with how it sat with the grey tones.

This is really an example of the kind of warm-up sketch I create to get my day started, or a relaxing evening doodle. I might make a linocut or woodcut from it at a later date, and maybe add some flowers or foliage.

I’m considering carving three separate blocks for the print, or it could end up as a limited edition reduction print (which is how it has been naturally planned). I’m not sure yet – it may even become a pattern of palette pickers?

Pecking the Palette printmaking plan