John, Well, there are two colors I need to buy, the cobalt violet and I have naples yellow but there's probably another tube labeled NY Deep. I am heading over to the materials forum to read your posts.
Chris Saper is probably rolling her eyes if she's reading this thread, because she knows I have her excellent new book. I came from a landscape background with a Very limited palette (six or seven colors - mixed any shade I needed and had a unified palette). I always have figure within my landscapes but their skin tones consisted of a simple warm where the light hit, one halftone and then a cool in the shadows (simple and effective). Now it's a landscape of the face and very subtle value changes. No trees to mark the passages
. I remember the first time I read John Howard Sanden's Book and saw all the recipes and color choices. I felt the same way I do when I am in a large clothing store. Too many choices.
I feel that I should be developing my own palette and hopefully in time I will. (probably I am and don't realize it) Right now, I stand in front of my easel and it's information overload time. If there are any golfers out there, I feel the "rules" running through my head, in the same fashion as when you line up your tee shot.
Karin, I have seen the artists standing in front of the old master paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, copying. It's such an excellent experience. In the spring, I will get in there and really study them again. I will be looking at the Sargents in the American wing with new eyes. I used to go into the Met a lot and hopefully soon will feel comfortable enough to do that again.
Renee