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Hazel Soan's Art of the Limited Palette: A Step-By-Step Practical Watercolour Guide
How to work with a limited palette, with step-by-step demonstrations.
One of the world's best art teachers shows you how to give spontaneity and lightness to your work with a limited palette. Using only three colours (up to five at the very most), is the most effective way to give your art a fresh feel. With an array of paintings, techniques and step-by-step demonstrations, renowned artist Hazel Soan goes through a range of specific colour combinations that work.
Each chapter looks at a different combination, guided by a principal hue or pigment property. For landscapes she discusses cool blue and warm yellow, for gardens transparent reds and complimentary green, and for seascapes warm blue, cool yellow and granulation. The author explores the almost inexhaustible three-colour combinations but also discusses when four- or five-colour combinations would enhance or work more efficiently. This ensures your work is more cohesive, light and brings out the beauty of the watercolour medium.
This extensive guide is packed with demonstrations, work in progress and finished paintings – and every single painting will have the colours itemized, making this not only a great technique book but great resource for colour combinations. Ideal for all painters, new or experienced.
One of the world's best art teachers shows you how to give spontaneity and lightness to your work with a limited palette. Using only three colours (up to five at the very most), is the most effective way to give your art a fresh feel. With an array of paintings, techniques and step-by-step demonstrations, renowned artist Hazel Soan goes through a range of specific colour combinations that work.
Each chapter looks at a different combination, guided by a principal hue or pigment property. For landscapes she discusses cool blue and warm yellow, for gardens transparent reds and complimentary green, and for seascapes warm blue, cool yellow and granulation. The author explores the almost inexhaustible three-colour combinations but also discusses when four- or five-colour combinations would enhance or work more efficiently. This ensures your work is more cohesive, light and brings out the beauty of the watercolour medium.
This extensive guide is packed with demonstrations, work in progress and finished paintings – and every single painting will have the colours itemized, making this not only a great technique book but great resource for colour combinations. Ideal for all painters, new or experienced.
- GenresArt
192 pages, Hardcover
Published August 4, 2022
57 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 22, 2023
Less is more
As a late beginner artist, I was finding the choice of palette colors overwhelming at times. It seems every artist has their likes but wasn’t always understanding why. This book helped clarify those reasons and I’ve begun choosing my own palette based on what I’ve learned.
As a late beginner artist, I was finding the choice of palette colors overwhelming at times. It seems every artist has their likes but wasn’t always understanding why. This book helped clarify those reasons and I’ve begun choosing my own palette based on what I’ve learned.
November 3, 2022
Outstanding guidance on watercolor painting with a limited palette; simplifies color theory, takes us back to the basics of how to mix a variety of secondary and tertiary colors from a modest selection of warm and cool primary colors. The color mixing charts and definitions plus easy exercises and examples all demonstrate that 'less is more'!
December 26, 2024
I have read A LOT of watercolor books over the years, and I find Hazel Soan's content to be among my favorites. This appears to be a bit of a mix of already published content from other books, with some new stuff. I read the initial copy from my library and wanted to grab a copy for myself, which was a bit spendy because it's a UK-only printing. Anyway, a great overview of watercolor techniques for advanced beginner to intermediate painters, with some great ideas and examples for more advanced folks too.
March 3, 2024
Essential Reading for New Water Colour Artists
As a new watercolour enthusiast and practitioner, I bought this book on the recommendation of one of my Patreon tutors. For any aspiring artist it is essential reading. It explains the complexities of colour temperature, hue, colour combinations and the relationships of the colour wheel in simple, clear terms. I would definitely recommend it. Fascinating reading and lots of beautiful paintings by Hazel.
As a new watercolour enthusiast and practitioner, I bought this book on the recommendation of one of my Patreon tutors. For any aspiring artist it is essential reading. It explains the complexities of colour temperature, hue, colour combinations and the relationships of the colour wheel in simple, clear terms. I would definitely recommend it. Fascinating reading and lots of beautiful paintings by Hazel.
October 30, 2025
This is not a step-by-step book - mostly it is a discussion of various concepts that are used in watercolour painting. All the concepts have good examples and there are five assignments. One nitpick I have is that it uses some fugitive pigments, for example Alizarin Crimson and Aureolin, without mentioning that they are fugitive. Another is that it uses paint names, never mentioning pigments.
November 17, 2024
a must read for all artists
Hazel’s understanding of pigment and how they work together in a limited palette is inspiring! She shares her knowledge without muddying the words for even the newest to art student. A definite must read for even experienced artists!
Hazel’s understanding of pigment and how they work together in a limited palette is inspiring! She shares her knowledge without muddying the words for even the newest to art student. A definite must read for even experienced artists!
July 10, 2025
The use of color and limited palette!
I have several of Hazel’s books but this book really breaks down the process of color in detail and the benefits of a limited palette. Highly recommend this book!
I have several of Hazel’s books but this book really breaks down the process of color in detail and the benefits of a limited palette. Highly recommend this book!
January 2, 2026
who knew?
I now understand so much more about colors and mixing and am excited to start experimenting with the many color combinations she has introduced.
I now understand so much more about colors and mixing and am excited to start experimenting with the many color combinations she has introduced.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews