Hazel Soan’s Art of the Limited Palette: A step-by-step practical watercolour guide

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 3 colours (up to 5 at the very, 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 3 colour combinations but also discusses when it’s not enough and at most 4 or 5 would do. 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.

Format: Hardback
Pages: 192
Imprint: Batsford/Anova UK
Publication date: 04/08/2022