This is a story of a sketchbook. A sketchbook that was started in June of 2024 with color studies – especially triads – in mind. The plan was to mix the colors of the triad and then paint with these colors. I started with triads I carefully picked. With triads that matched a photo that I wanted to paint or triads that I wanted to explore. I tend to choose at least one favorite color for each triad. Is that really exploring when there is always a color I know well? But it was hard to choose from all the colors I own, so I fell back to the colors I know best. Additionally, it was hard to always search and pick photos to paint. It was decision fatigue over and over. So I stopped eventually. After only four triads.
In my art practice I am driven by exploring colors, how they work, how they can depict light and shadows. How they influence me and the painting. Painting with random triads is something I wanted to do for a long time. I loved the idea. But somehow I never started. A year or more ago I already sorted all of my colors into red, yellow and blue categories. I added all colors except white. So when Logan suggested the Triadvent, I was not only prepared. I was totally hooked and so ready to start the challenge!
How I picked random colors
I use artistpigments.org to organize my collection. I decided spontaneously and by gut feeling which color belongs in which RYB category. On the screenshots below you see how I sorted my colors. Not always logical, but by instinct and my perception at that moment. I added the blacks to the blues and most browns, oranges, and burnt oranges to the reds. I divided the greens between yellow and blue, with putting most greens to the blues. The purples went to the blues, except those purples that are leaning to pink. In the end I had 49 yellows, 81 reds and 69 blues. A big enough collection to make it truly random. I picked my colors by using a random number generator. I didn’t use a color twice.
To get an idea of what the triads are capable of, I painted a color wheel first with 4 steps in between each of the three colors. After that, at the bottom of the page, I mixed all three colors together with varying proportions.
The great relief
Picking random triads freed me from my decision fatigue which colors to choose. Additionally I chose to paint things from my desk and room, to free me from my decision fatigue to search for just the right photo as a reference. I narrowed down my working steps even more by using direct watercolors for my paintings – no ink or pencil sketch beforehand. Just take the brush and go for it.
I really loved that experience. I felt so free. It’s so fun and interesting to mix colors and be surprised by them. And for painting: Usually I want to match the colors I see, but I loved getting into the mindset that I can’t match the colors.
I managed to paint 16 triads in this stressful December. I finished my sketchbook with this challenge. It’s full of color stories now. It tells my adventure of mindful color exploration and curiosity. I found this challenge really inspiring and want to explore more random triads in the future. I will certainly start a new sketchbook with even more color stories to tell.
In my following post I talk about my learnings and conclusions for Triadvent.