The Gap
When the black herds of the rain were grazing,
In the gap of the pure cold wind
And the watery hazes of the hazel
Brought her into my mind,
I thought of the last honey by the water
That no hive can find.
From The Lost Heifer by Austin Clarke
For a while I’ve not included black in my limited palette, usually of 3 colours. Not using black seems to be the norm by landscape painters. Probably because I use so few colours but I found it a bit restrictive. I would have to use a dark blue (Ultramarine or Prussian) to produce dark shadows and even at that it meant layer after layer of alternating red (Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber or Indian Red) and blue to build up the darks.
Here I have used Cobalt Blue and also black. It gives the painting a more ‘gritty’ look and in keeping with my current painting subjects – cold, wintery landscapes.
The colours used here are Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and Cobalt Blue, plus black and white.
Here’s the video, see you soon.
PictureS 
After seeing several dark, moody paintings, I’m enjoying this one in particular, with it’s light, and airiness. Thank you! I paint using acrylics and am a fairly new painter, but I can easily translate oil painting instructions into what I do with acrylics. I just have to know where I’m going with my painting further ahead than you with oils. I’m enjoying your lessons a lot.
Thank you Rosemary. Acrylics and oils are very similar, especially the oils I use, which are Alkyd Fast Drying Oils. They don’t dry as quickly as Acrylics but begin to ‘set’ in a few hours and are completely dry in 24 hours.
I love using prussian blue. It’s a versatile color! Did you get the greens in the foreground and bushes by mixing prussian and raw sienna?
Yes, but remember that there was a layer of Burnt Umber, painted with solvent only, underneath which was not completely covered by the green. This gave a deeper colour to the entire area bringing it closer to the viewer.
also, I like when the camera is panned back a bit so we can see what colors you’re mixing on your palette. That is very helpful!
I’m delighted you found it helpful.
Beautiful painting 🙂 Love the all colours from the limited palette. Wow, Clarke brings me right back to my Leaving Cert.!!!! “For the house of the painter
Is known by the trees.” 😉 😉 😉
Thanks Et, some things you can’t forget.