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Split Primary Palette

A Split Primary Palette is an awesome way to really narrow down your palette to just 6 colors and still be able to make clear intense mixes of all the colors. This page is going to walk you through what it is, why to use them and what colors you should pick.

Due to the very limited number of colors, Split Primary Palette is a fabulous way to learn how color works and how to mix colors. It’s not necerssarily THE palette your painting career is going to be built around. Nevertheless, it’s a very interesting exercises to do.

A Split Primary Palette contains 6 very specific colors.

  • 2 warm and cool yellows
  • 2 warm and cool reds
  • 2 warm and cool blues

Below is a video showing you how the Split Primary Palette works and how to select colors:

Below are list of colors I personally would select from mixture of brands or from single brands. These are for suggestions only, and you can absolutely change up the colors to suit your needs. As I test out other brands, I will be adding to this list, so come back another time if your favourite brand is not listed here.

My personal choice – mixed brands

  • Warm yellow – Holbein Permanent Yellow Deep Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool yellow – Holbein Aureolin Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm red – Holbein Scarlet Lake Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool red – Daniel Smith Quinacridone Rose Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm blue – Schmincke Ultramarine Blue Finest Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool blue – Holbein Phthalo Blue Yellow Shade Jackson’s Amazon USA

Daniel Smith Essential Set – this is a pre-made set by Daniel Smith and I like the set a lot Jackson’s Amazon USA

  • Warm Yellow – New Gamboge Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Hansa Yellow Light Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Pyrrole Scarlet Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Quinacridone Rose Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – French Ultramarine Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Phthalo Blue Green Shade Jackson’s Amazon USA

Daniel Smith Alternative – this is my selection

  • Warm Yellow – Hansa Yellow Mid Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Lemon Yellow Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Permanent Red Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Quinacridone Rose Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Phthalo Blue Green Shade Jackson’s Amazon USA

Holbein – this is the alternative selection that I think are much better than their introductory set

  • Warm Yellow – Holbein Permanent Yellow Deep Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Aureolin (this one is lightfast) Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Scarlet Lake Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Quinacridone Magenta Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue Deep Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Phthalo Blue Yellow Shade Jackson’s Amazon USA

Sennelier

  • Warm Yellow – Sennelier Yellow Light Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Lemon Yellow Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Sennelier Red Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Rose Madder Lake (this one is lightfast) Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – French Ultramarine Blue Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Phthalocyanine Blue Jackson’s Amazon USA

Schmincke

  • Warm Yellow – Pure Yellow Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Lemon Yellow Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Scarlet Red Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Magenta Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue Finest Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Helio Cerulean Jackson’s Amazon USA

QoR

  • Warm Yellow – Benzimidazolone Yellow Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Hansa Yellow Light Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Pyrrole Red Medium Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Quinacridone Magenta Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Phthalo Blue Green Shade Jackson’s Amazon USA

M. Graham

  • Warm Yellow – Gamboge Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Yellow – Hansa Yellow Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Red – Cadmium Red Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Red – Quinacridone Rose Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue Jackson’s Amazon USA
  • Cool Blue – Phthalocyanine Blue Jackson’s

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