Exploring colour: How I experiment before choosing a palette

In this video I experiment with colour studies to see what works — and what doesn’t — before choosing the palette for my palm tree painting series.

For this new series of palm tree paintings, I’m trying something I’ve never really done before: preparing the work with studies before touching the canvases.

Playing with colour before choosing a palette

Instead of jumping straight into painting, I’m taking time to explore — drawing, testing colours, and paying attention to what feels right and what doesn’t.

It’s the first time I’m working this way, and I’m documenting the process as I go. Surprisingly, it’s already teaching me a lot: it gives me structure, small deadlines, and a reason to really look at what I’m doing.

In this stage, I’m not choosing the palette yet. I’m simply exploring colour and noticing what happens.

An afternoon of colour experiments. This sponge technique turned out to be one of my favourite surprises.

Noticing what works (and what doesn’t)

I start with small sheets of paper and sketchbooks, testing random colour combinations for this palm tree painting series. Some marks work, some don’t — and that’s exactly the point.

I try different tools along the way: sponges, credit cards, soft pastels, oil pastels. Each one creates different textures and reacts with colour in its own way.

As I work, I start noticing patterns.

Some colours feel alive.
Some combinations fall completely flat.
Some textures suggest leaves or movement without trying to draw the plant too literally.

Certain pages I keep as references for the paintings. Others I let go.

This stage is less about making good drawings and more about training my eye to notice what feels interesting.

Sorting through the studies — keeping the ones that have something alive in them.

The next step

After these colour experiments, I’ll look at everything again and start narrowing things down.

In the next step, I’ll create a mood board and begin defining a more intentional colour direction for the series.

If you’re curious to see how the colour studies evolve, you can watch the full video here — and follow along on YouTubeas the palm tree series slowly comes to life.

You’ll see the experiments, the tools, and how I sort through the studies to notice what works and what doesn’t.

Some of the studies that made it to the “yes” pile. Little clues for what might happen on the canvases.